Sport-Express | Henry Domercant: "Spartak's minimum task is to get to the Russian championship semi-final"

09.08.2010 While everybody is discussing new million-worth acquisitions of “Zenit” football team and “SKA” hockey team whose financial capacity seems unlimited, another Saint-Petersburg sports symbol – BC “Spartak” – attempts not to be left behind. Another expensive acquisition of the red-and-whites is one of the best Euroleague sharpshooters who was interviewed yesterday by the “Sport-Express”.

Henry DOMERCANT

Born on December 30, 1980 in Chicago (Illinois, USA). Height 193 sm. Weight 95 kg.
Shooting guard.

During 1999/2000 - 2002/03 seasons he played for “Eastern Illinois” university team in the NCAA first division. Having moved to Europe he played for  Turkish “Kar??yaka” (2003/04) and “Efes Pilsen” (2004/05, 2005/06), Greek " Olympiacos " (2006/07), Moscow "Dynamo" (2007/08) and Italian "Siena" (2008/09, 2009/10).

He is the best shooter (27,9 points per game on an average) of the NCAA-2002/03 first division, the champion of Turkey-2004/05, two-time champion and the Cup of Italy holder -2008/09 and 2009/10, and Italian SuperCup holder-2009.

His average statistic performance in the Euroleage is: 3 seasons, 67 matches, 12,6 points (three-pointers scored - 46,5 per cent), 3,2 rebounds, 1,5 steals and 1,2 passes.
He holds the Bosnian citizen passport.

Since August 2010 – he has been playing for Saint-Petersburg “Spartak”.

Let us remind you that before Domercant “Spartak” welcomed such well-known players as forwards Stephane Lasme (ex-“ Maccabi” Tel Aviv), Dijon Thompson (“Hapoel” I), Miha Zupan (“Olimpija”), Vladimir Dyachok (“Yenisey”), central player Petar Popovic (“Estudiantes”), the Russian national team playmaker Anton Ponkrashov (CSKA) and the Universiade-2009 silver medalist guard Alexey Kotishevsky (“Radnicki”). However it is Domercant whose joining the team according to Alexey Karvanen, the red-and-whites sports director, signified a grand finale of the summer selection- who became the most famous Saint-Petersburg club newcomer. When the “SE” reporter called him, this 29 year old American was…in the bus of Bosnian national team with which he is currently trying to get to the European championship-2011. Domercant was given a Bosnian passport several years ago and since then he has been trying not to miss the games of his “second homeland”s national team.

- Henry, we congratulate you on your joining “Spartak”. Did the fact that you had previously played in Russia for Moscow “Dynamo” influence your decision to continue your career in Saint-Petersburg?
- Thank you! It is not true that I chose “Spartak” because of “Dynamo”. (Laughs). The thing is that this team offered the best conditions for me, the management and the coach let me realize that they are really interested in me. These are the main reasons of my choice.

- You have already played in Saint-Petersburg when you were in “Dynamo”. What was the impression the city made on you?
- Honestly speaking I cannot tell you a lot about this city. I only remember that it is very beautiful, nothing more. But I know that “Spartak” has changed a lot by now, a lot of new good players have joined the team.

- Why did you sign the contract for as much as three years? Usually American players prefer to sign short-term contracts and move to a new club each summer.
- I cannot agree that all the American players are like that. Take CSKA for example where Holden and Langdon have been playing for a long time. As for me, our coach (Zvi Sherf – “SE” note) explained to me that the new “Spartak” project is meant for several years. And I want to be a part of it as long as possible. The more so because I don’t doubt its success.

- We have heard that Spanish “Unicaja” was interested in you. Why did you refuse to play for Malaga?
- It was because “Spartak”s offer was more appealing. I mean not only money but those long-term prospects I have mentioned as well. Yes, I admit that currently “Unicaja” is playing in the European League while “Spartak” is not, but who knows what can happen in two or three years?

- Are you acquainted with any of your new team mates?
- I am acquainted only with Stephane Lasme as a played against his “Maccabi” in the Euroleague quite a few times. I could have mentioned Zakhar Pashutin, but as far as I know he has moved to Kazan.

- There is an opinion that last season “Spartak” was already playing quite well but the team obviously lacked a strong second “number”
- Are you trying to say that my joining the team will solve the last problem?! (Laughs.) Well, I don’t mind. I am ready to benefit “Spartak” as much as I can. But the most important thing is that we should always win.

- Have you already had a thorough discussion with Zvi Sherf?
- Of course. He described the season plans and my role in the team: I liked it all. By the way, Sherf is another reason of my joining “Spartak”. He is one of the most authoritative coaches in Europe. Besides he is well acquainted with the Russian championship peculiarities as he coached not only “Spartak” but “Dynamo” as well.

- While you were playing for “Siena” for the last two seasons did you have time to monitor the Russian championship events?
- I cannot say I’ve watched a lot of games. “Siena”s schedule was quite dense. Besides my last year in Italy was not easy for me personally. I watched just a couple of Russian games on TV. In other cases I studied statistics on the Internet.

- What tournament task is Zvi Sherf going to set for “Spartak”?
- We are to be among the first four teams and the higher the place the better. I personally always want to be the first so I’m satisfied with the task.

- These are the tasks for Russian championship. What would you say of the European Cup in which “Spartak” is taking part?
- We are to win there, as the European cup winner will get to the European League. And I’ve got used to taking part in this tournament in the recent years.

- Why did not “Siena” get to the Euroleague “Final Four” last year?
- (Laughs.) Well, to dream of the “Final Four” we should have first got to playoffs. But we didn’t manage this (“Siena” took the 3rd place in its group in Euroleage “Top-16” being defeated by “Real” and “Maccabi” – “SE” note). Though I have to admit you question: according to its potential “Siena” was one of the strongest clubs of the recent years in Europe and should have got repeatedly to the “Final Four”. But potential and results in sports often differ. We can assume that something the team did was wrong as it did not succeed much in the Euroleague. And this is given the fact that we kept winning in Italian championship with a great advantage.

- This summer almost all the leaders including you left “Sienna”. Will this be hard times for the club?
- We shouldn’t dramatize it. It’s just that many players’ contracts terminated at the same time. “Sienna”s financial situation is stable.  It is still one of the most prosperous clubs in Italy.

- What does your playing for Bosnian team bring you?
- It’s an interesting experience. You see, I have no chances to play for the USA national team though taking part in the European championship is quite a challenge as well. Besides, Bosnian national team is not so weak. For example we have such a superstar as Mirza Teletovi?. I think he is remembered in Russia by the games of “Baskonia” and CSKA. And you probably know our central player Ratko Varda who used to play for “Khimki” not long ago. I am sure that next autumn you will see me in the European championship in Lithuania. Our qualifying group is not an easy one: Macedonia, Ukraine, Great Britain and Hungary, however we are able to defeat them.

- When are you going to join “Spartak”?
- I cannot tell you for sure. But there is one thing you should not doubt: Henry Domercant will join “Spartak” in his ideal shape and will work hardly starting from the very first trainings.

Alexander YAKOBSON
Saint-Petersburg