Pic credit: FC Bayern basketball

Federico Perego is an Italian coach that is currently the head coach of the FC Bayern Mun ich NBBL (U-19) team. He gained experience in Italy with Prima Veroli, Bennet Cantu and Pesaro. In Germany he was on the Bamberg coaching staff for 5 years. He spoke to germanhoops.com before the NBBL Top 4 tournament in Berlin.

Thanks Federico for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on reaching the NBBL Top 4. How proud are you of the team for reaching the TOP 4? It had a very up and down season?

I think that we did a great job the whole season with the boys. We played the season until the playoffs with super young guys. Many guys didn´t play with us as they were with first team or Pro B team. We changed how we run our youth program. We focused heavily on the individual development of our players. Everybody worked very hard and I´m very happy the guys can live this experience in Berlin.

You lost the first game of the season by 34 points to IBAM and then lost the second game of the season, but swept them in the playoffs. I call that a great turn around.

Yes for sure. This shows how much the players improved. I feel like in the playoffs we controlled 75% of each game against IBAM. This tells the story of how far we came despite never practicing as a team together. I give a lot of respect and thanks to Emir Mutapcic. We all worked hard and followed one path.

What is your summary of the season? You enter the 2024 Top 4 with a 7game winning streak. Is the team playing it´s best basketball now?

I don´t know if it´s our best basketball, but we are playing solid. Now we are trying to put together ideas and form the right chemistry for the top 4. We have to improve our defense as we are playing the best team with Vechta. We need to be focused.

FC Bayern Munich scores 80 points per game and allows 75 points per game. What is the team´s biggest strength?

I believe that if we can move the ball well, then we have many weapons to score the ball. Everybody knows Khartchenkov and Kalu, but we have the possibility to score much with many other guys. I feel like if we can balance our offense then we could be a problem for all.

FC Bayern Munich as usual have very talented players especially with Ivan Kharchenkov and Martin Kalu. Are these 2 guys the top 2 guards in the NBBL?

They are two very talented players, but the top 4 will also showcase other very talented players. Vechta also have two very talented players with Kayil and Bonga. Ivan and Martin are very interesting for German basketball. I don´t remember ever seeing any young players in the last years that had a body like Kalu or guys that have the pure talent of Ivan. They are still young and have all the tools together with hard work to become great players. We will see a lot of good young talent at the Top 4.

I love to watch Ivan Kharchenkov. The kid is fearless. He will be so motivated after losing in last years semi-final. Could a tournament like this up his draft potential?

I believe that any high competition like the Top 4 will attract scouts and others. I think the Top 4 will also be important for us to see how they react and then to know how we can help them improve. It will be a good showcase for everyone.

I like to watch Ivan Volf and Dominik Dolic. How have you seen their development this season?

These 2 guys are good examples of guys that came from playing less last season to getting more minutes this season and taking advantage of it. They worked hard this season and got minutes right away in the Pro B. They were main guys in the NBBL for us this season. Volf worked on his body a lot this season and had a big impact in the IBAM playoff series.

How raw is Desmond Yiamu. How valuable is he in your offense?

He is very talented on offense. He has great basketball instincts. He is a big threat on offense. When he is connected on defense, then he is a modern day big. He can switch, guard almost all positions and is a very good rebounder. He was one of our other guys that stepped up in the NBBL and was our main 5 man in the Pro B.

You have won 8 titles in Italy and Germany at the pro level. Was it a tough adjustment coaching boys?

I actually began to coach youth basketball 20 years ago in Italy. The biggest adjustment now was that much has changed in coaching boys from 20 years ago. I have coached many great players the last years. Guys that played Euroleague or went to the NBA. For example in Bamberg I coached Zisis. I try to take things from players like that and try to incorporate it into my teachings with the young guys. I tell the boys that it is a long way to become a great player. They have to be able to control what they can control. Making sacrifices is part of the journey. It is a challenge trying to help young players. We are trying to help them reach their dreams. It is difficult, but it gives me energy.

How do you feel did you grow as a coach having experience coaching young men?

It was a new experience. We never practiced together as a team during the week, but met on Sundays for games. I had to find a way to adapt and find solutions during games. I had never experienced this in my life. Important for me was having a very close relationship with Mutapcic. Every day was different and you had time to improve. We stayed together all day for 15 hours.

The Young Rasta Dragons will battle FC Bayern Munich. In a way this is like a final. Is it not a bit disappointing that this is the semi-final and not the final?

To be honest, you may think that, but Ludwigsburg won our division. We lost both games to them. One doesn´t necessarily have to think that this game is the final. Ludwigsburg can be seen as the favorite. I however feel that Vechta is the best team. They have the most players. If you want to win the title, you have to beat them. This will be a big challenge, but we will take matchup in best way. We embrace the challenge and will try to be as competitive as possible.

This will be a very interesting game. FC Bayern Munich have a very deep roster, but I feel like the Young Rasta Dragons Vechta roster is deeper. What kind of a game can we await?

I think that the game will be of high intensity. I hope that it will be a fancy game where all the fans will have joy to watch.

This game will pit the top guards Jack Kayil and Joshua Bonga against Ivan Khartchenkov and Martin Kalu. Do you feel like this game could be decided by the guard play? Rasta Vechta have a deep roster and more experience than FC Bayern Munich. What will be key to getting win?

I believe that these 4 players will be very important for both teams in this game. We will prepare for it as if we are expecting their best team. We will prepare as if Gruenloh were to play. We will have to create a defensive system where we are aggressive and be aware of guys like Petric and their other wings. I think that the team that plays the best team defense will have the biggest advantage to win.

Who will win the other final between BBA Porsche Ludwigsburg and Oldenburg?

I know Ludwigsburg well, but haven´t really followed Oldenburg yet. Ludwigsburg is very aggressive and athletic. They also have 2-3 dangerous players like Esli Edigin. I see Ludwigsburg as one of the candidates to win the game.

How did your 5 years in Bamberg shape you as a coach?

Bamberg was an amazing experience for us all. It was a time where it was the right moment for right people in the right place. I will always remember these years. The time shaped me as a coach, because I worked with so many amazing players together. It was a life experience.

You won 3 BBL titles. Which was the sweetest?

The first 1 I think. The first title was kind of a surprise as nobody expected us to win. It was super emotional. Who can forget the crazy shot by Dwan Robinson against Munich.. It was so special because it was the first title for many.

In 2008 you coached rookie Kyle Hines. Since he has won 4 Euroleague titles. If someone had told you in 2008 that he would become the greatest American Euroleague player what would you have said?

I coached Mike James in 2013 in the third division and I remember him telling me that he would play Euroleague one day. I told him hold on Mike, cool down a bit. And now he is the leading scorer in Euroleague. It is crazy how it sometimes goes. When Kyle Hines arrived in 2008, he helped us win the second division. What was clear right away was his unbelievable work ethic. He was always the first at practice and the last to go. He also had high energy. On top of that he was a super nice guy as well. He earned every success that he has. I have only heard good things about him from people that worked with him. He is a great story for the young kids. Nobody expected him to become the Kyle Hines that we all know. He didn´t come to Italy as a known player.

Thanks Federico for the chat.