Jovana Jaksic is playing her fifth season in Luxembourg. After playing for Wiltz and Ettelbruck, the 31-year old Serbian guard joined Sparta Bertrange in the 2021/22 season.
Next to her playing career in Bertrange, Jaksic is part of the coaching staff at VIBBALL Echternach. „Every day of mine is related to basketball. This is my second season with Sparta, and I feel very satisfied and happy to be part of that team. I work as a coach in Vibball Echternach and enjoy working with children! The people from that club are my friends who also helped me through my career in Luxembourg, and I enjoy working with them. I must say that the support of the children always gives me additional strength and motivation. »
Picture: Jaksic at the Coque in Kirchberg with VIBBALL
In the current season, Jaksic has further established herself as one of the top players of the LBBL with 23.5 points, 4.4 assists, 7.8 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game. „Personally I think that I can always do better, and I try to give my best for my team. As a team, I think that we achieved our goal for the first half of the season. We should be satisfied, but we must continue in the same rhythm. The chemistry in the team is very good. It gives us strength even when we don’t play well and keeps us together! The fact that we are together for the second season gives us advantages. »
Sparta is second in the league standings with an 8:3 record, tied with T71 Dudelange. Jaksic is confident that her team will be able to compete for a title at the end of the season. „Next to Gréngewald and Dudelange, the two Eurocup teams, Sparta is the third favorite to fight for that championship title! Last year we reached the semi-finals which was a big success for us. This season would like to go one step further. »
Picture: Ant Deister (FLBB)
On January 21st, another big highlight is scheduled for Jaksic and her team when Sparta will play against T71 at the Coque in Kirchberg in the Lalux Ladies Cup semi finals. Last season, Jaksic had an extraordinary performance (39 points) to lead her team to the cup final. „Actually, my first game in Luxembourg was at the Coque in 2018 with Wiltz. Since then, I always feel good when I play there. Against Dudelange, the most important thing is to play our team game. This season in the league, they were better both times, but the Cup is a special competition in which the favorite doesn’t always win. » In order to advance to a second straight cup final, Jaksic notes that the support by the fans could become crucial. „I would like to take this opportunity to thank our fans for their support throughout the season. Their cheers are a big source of motivation for us. I would like to invite you all to the Cup semi-final (21.01) and would be thrilled to see you in large numbers. Let’s make it a memorable event together! »
Schedule Cup semi finals:
Saturday (January 20th)
Women: Amicale Steinsel – Gréngewald Hueschtert
Men: Etzella Ettelbruck – Résidence Walfer
Sunday (January 21st)
Women: Sparta Bertrange – T71 Dudelange
Men: Sparta Bertrange – US Heffingen (+10)
Picture: Ant Deister (FLBB)
Before Sparta will play in the Coque and try to upset Dudelange, the team will have two more LBBL games. On Sunday (January 7th), Sparta play against the winless team from Zolwer. A week later, Sparta will host AB Contern, an important game to confirm the good position in the league standings.
