Savic A giant under two flags

Legend has it that in the Virtus locker room, in the 1997/98 season, not a fly would fly when Danilovic spoke. Sasha's presence alone was enough to intimidate and silence anyone. In reality, scratch scratch, there was someone who could not only allow himself to talk to Sasha. But also contradict him. Without fear. That player was Zoran Savic. As long as he remains on the parquet, in a singlet and shorts, they call him the Gentle Giant. Because circumnavigating Zoran is not easy. Zoran smiles, lends a hand to everyone. But for his team, because the opponents, whoever they are, must experience special care.

Whoever goes to the free throw line, after a foul by Zoran, usually shoots two (personal ones). It is difficult for Zoran to concede a basket plus the extra, because in defense, he makes himself heard. He has giant and heavy hands. Educated only when he goes to shoot.

A winner, Zoran, one who puts one trophy after another in the cabinet. Touring Europe, among other things, without staying in the same place for more than two seasons in a row. The only nation in which Savic does not have fun is Turkey. He arrived in Istanbul in 1998, immediately after the experience with Juventus. But Efes is not yet the battleship that we are used to seeing now,

Born in Zenica, which would be in Bosnia-Herzegovina, on November 18, 1966, Zoran first plays in Caplijna, then in Celik Zenica. But it is in Split, with the jersey of Jugoplastika, that Zoran begins to assert himself. Two Champions Cups arrive in series, with some characters…

In the team there is Dusko Ivanovic, now coach of Virtus. The same group includes Zan Tabak, who we will also see in Italy and also Petar Naumoski. But the champions are Dino Radja and Toni Kukoc. Then Barcelona, ​​Paok (Greek Cup and a Korac Cup), Real Madrid, Virtus, Efes, Barcelona again (a championship and a King's Cup) and Fortitudo. Before Yugoslavia falls to pieces, he has time to win the 1990 World Cup in Argentina and the 1991 European Championships in Rome. Then, after Serbia is recognized on a sporting level, he wins the Olympic silver at the Atlanta Games in 1996 and the gold at the European Championships in Greece (1995) and Spain (1997).

In Virtus he wins the Italian Cup at the first attempt – Roberto Brunamonti is on the bench, Chicco Ravaglia on the field –, but it is in the following season that he reaches the peak. Even if the feeling, with Ettore Messina, does not take off immediately. In that team there are many tall players, John Amaechi, Augusto Binelli, Alessandro Frosini and Rascio Nesterovic.

There are so many that, in one of the first days, against Varese, Messina sends him to the stands. The beginning of the end? No way, Zoran is too intelligent. His teammates call him 'Big Head', because in addition to his size he has a really sharp brain. In the gym, during training at Arcoveggio, he is a spectacle. Before starting he starts a series of one-on-ones with Claudio Crippa and Hugo Sconochini. Zoran knows his place, he knows how to use the weapon of goliardic humor. The young Ravaglia pays the price, who every now and then ends up in the ball cage.

A champion, Zoran for whom we choose two moments. The Champions Cup in Barcelona, ​​where in addition to the team trophy he takes home the title of MVP. Messina's doubts were linked to the use of Zoran as a power forward. To do so he has to shoot threes - at least that's what the modern basketball manual says - and Zoran adapts. So much so that the final with Aek is decided precisely with one of his threes.

And the championship final? Game four, played at Fortitudo's home. Wilkins misses the three-pointer, Abbio doesn't: Virtus wins in a sprint and brings the series back to parity. Teammates run to the locker room because they feel the weight of the opposing team's cheering. Everyone runs to the locker room except one. Except Zoran, who first angrily slams the ball on the ground, then celebrates towards the black and white segment, heedless of the opponent's anger. Indeed, almost challenging it.

But it is destiny that Zoran and Fortitudo meet again. This time not as rivals, but as friends. The welcome is not the warmest: 'Savic an employee', the banner of Fossa. Who does not dispute it, but is not convinced of the hiring of someone who played and won with Virtus and who, in what went down in history as the neuroderby, mistreated, sportingly speaking, poor Gregor Fucka. The employee (initially ignored) Savic, becomes one of the darlings at the end of the season. So good and intelligent, Zoran, that he hangs up his boots and becomes a manager of substance. It is he who lays the foundations for the second championship of the Eagle. It is he who, in the summer of 2003, after the disappearance of Virtus (stripped, but not bankrupt), gets the right moves right. First Matjaz Smodis, then Marco Belinelli, for whom there is a queue at the home door (Treviso, Virtus Roma, Siena). Very good at misleading the press. "Vujanic? He will go to Barcelona", he assured. Even though he has the contract signed by Milos in his pocket...

Zoran wins as a manager, who then returns to Spain. And now? He is the general manager of Partizan. They say that it is difficult, perhaps impossible, to resist, in Belgrade, the outbursts of Zelimir Obradovic. There is only one who can stand up to him. His name? Zoran Savic. Because the two are friends and respect each other. Because Obradovic recognizes Zoran's intelligence.

Savic himself says that at the end of the season he could even retire, to devote more time to his family. But it is difficult to believe him. Also because in Belgrade, with limited budgets, he builds intelligent and fighting teams. If this were not the case, how could we get along with Obradovic?

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