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Jovana Nogic: “I wish all games were like the Super Cup”

Jovana Nogic’s move to UMMC this summer was one of the most notable transfers in Russian sports in 2024. One of the leaders of the Serbian national team relocated from Turkey’s Beşiktaş to Russia, further increasing the chances of the Yekaterinburg club defending all domestic titles. This week, UMMC won the Super Cup, narrowly defeating Nika - the local team in Syktyvkar (73:69). In an interview with Izvestia, Jovana spoke about her decision to move to Russia, the 2024 Olympics in Paris, the talent of Maria Vadeeva (Klyundikova), and her nickname.   

— Looking at your career, it seems you know Serbian, Portuguese, Spanish, English, and probably Turkish.

— No, I wanted to learn Turkish, but it was a bit challenging. But I do know French.

— Your nickname, Yo-Yo, is quite obvious and a bit childish. How did it come about?

— It’s very simple. My parents started calling me that when we moved to Portugal. The Portuguese language doesn’t have a sound similar to our “Jo” (yo), so my name sounds like “Zhovana”. For convenience, they started calling me Yo-Yo. It became a very recognizable nickname for me throughout my life.

— Why did you choose the numbers 11 and 17? They aren’t the most popular choices in basketball.

— Initially, I always played with number 8 in Portugal, for no particular reason. I had to change my number due to the death of a Benfica player who wore that number (Pedro Raimundo — Izvestia). I took number 11, but in the national team, a more experienced player wore that number, so I switched to 17. It just worked out that way. Later, I ended up playing with 17 in both the national team and my clubs.

— Are you a true “Benfiquista” (a Benfica fan - Izvestia)?

— Yes, absolutely!

— Oh, let me test you. Who is your favorite player in Benfica history?

— I’ve always liked Di Maria, who’s playing now. From the past, I liked the Argentine player wearing number 10 and a hairstyle like Maradona's…

— Pablo Aimar?

— Yes, exactly! But my all-time favorite is Eusebio. I never saw him play live, though, so I didn’t mention him right away.

— Oh! Eusebio is very well-known here. In the third-place match at the 1966 World Cup, he scored the first goal against the USSR, we finished in the highest place in our history — fourth place.

— Okay, okay, then I won’t name Eusebio (laughing).

— Could you tell us how it happened that your family moved to Portugal?

— It happened after the war in 1999. It was quite difficult to stay in Serbia. My parents decided to emigrate to Portugal.

 — That’s where you started playing basketball. Let me ask a question that every Serbian boy or girl might find silly: why did you start playing basketball?

— For me, it is even simpler. My father is a basketball coach. When I was little, I would stay at his practices all the time to go home together. My choice was obvious. By the way, my dad organized a tournament in honor of Pedro Raimundo. Over time, it became international, and now teams from Canada and Spain come to participate.

— Portugal isn’t exactly the most basketball-oriented country in the world. In Russia, we’re very familiar with Ticha Penicheiro, who played in Vidnoje near Moscow for three years. Was she really a role model for many girls? Have you ever met her?  

— She’s a legend! The only representative from Portugal in the WNBA! Every girl wanted to be like her! I have met her since we’re with the same agency.

— You started playing for the Serbian national team at 14, but could you have played for Portugal as well?

— Yes, I had that option, but I made a somewhat selfish decision. I thought it would be better for me and my career. Playing alongside Sonja Petrovic and Jelena Milovanovic and learning from them is incredible. Playing under the guidance of Marina Maljkovic is also an immense honor!

— We aren’t very familiar with Portuguese basketball. Could you tell us how people there feel about our favorite game?

— The main problem is that there’s very little investment in basketball. Portugal is an incredibly football-oriented country, and basketball is still developing, especially women's basketball. There are talents, but they need to go to college or other leagues to continue developing. Basketball in Spain is stronger than in Portugal. The Spanish pay a lot of attention to developing women’s sports overall. In Turkey, the situation is a bit different. There, people support all teams and sports within the club system. I played for one of the “Big Three” clubs — Beşiktaş. Our fans offered complete support across all sports — football, basketball, volleyball! They supported everyone! Women’s basketball in Turkey is at a high level. I haven’t fully studied Russian basketball yet, but from our team’s home games, I can say I’m impressed. They even travel to away games, so everything is going well on that front.

— After Portugal, you went to the NCAA. How was that decision made?

— As I mentioned earlier, the level of basketball in Portugal isn’t very high, and I needed to develop further. In addition, it was very important for me to gain knowledge in another profession and get a degree. I achieved all of that at Providence University.

— What is your degree?

— A Bachelor’s in Computer Science.

— We mostly follow the men’s NCAA tournament and are used to seeing that Providence has never been a top-tier team, but they’ve produced an impressive lineup of outstanding coaches — Lenny Wilkens, Billy Donovan, John Thompson, Rick Pitino, Michael Malone. What does basketball mean to Providence? By the way, you played there all four years, which is quite rare.

— The Big East Conference is a highly competitive division; any team can challenge the favorites. That’s why I chose this university, knowing that every game provides a lot of room for growth. The advantage of the American college basketball system is that you have unlimited access to the gym, equipment, and the opportunity to work with coaches. You can practice whenever you want and as much as you want. The same goes for working with coaches. It’s a fully immersive experience. You can take extra courses, attend numerous competitions, and seminars with higher-level coaches. Overall, everything you need to grow and develop.

— What was the most important thing you took away from your four years of studying and playing at university?

— Discipline and, again, discipline. I also understood clearly that without hard work, nothing comes.

 — Am I right in understanding that college basketball in the U.S. is fundamentally based on discipline and training?

— Yes, in general. Discipline and following the game plan.

— After the U.S., you moved to Spain. How did your career progress there?

— Spanish basketball is among the best in the world. It’s an amazing league with strong players. I wanted to learn from the best and play against the best.

— After that, you played in Turkey. Where does their love for basketball come from?

— I think it’s because they’re very emotional, passionate, and enthusiastic people. They always treated me very well, and overall, they’re some of the best people on earth. I think the answer is pretty simple. Fans in Turkey are incredibly loyal to their teams, no matter what happens — they’ll stick with them. In countries that aren’t the wealthiest, sports are one of the few things that bring people happiness.

 — Here’s a strange question. Is it possible in Serbia to switch from Crvena Zvezda to Partizan?

— IM-POS-SI-BLE! Just like moving from Galatasaray to Fenerbahce. Serbians and Turks are very similar in this regard.

— You have a website with a lot of information that’s regularly updated, including photos from UMMC games.

— Oh, that’s my dad; he manages it and fills in all the sections.

— Now you’re playing in Russia. I’m sure you talked to Tina Krajisnik (former center of the Yekaterinburg club and Serbian national team) before making this choice. How was it really?

 — I wanted something new in my career. UMMC is one of the best clubs in European basketball history. Even though the team isn’t currently playing in European tournaments, they have amazing players here. Add to that a long history of victories. I asked Tina what she thought about moving to Russia. She told me everything and convinced me of this career move.

— So she’s responsible for this transfer?

— Let’s say she is (laughing).

— Sorry, but the Super Cup game can't be considered the best for you (18 minutes, 2 points).   

— Yes, I took a hit to the chest and couldn't continue the game. I don't even remember how it happened. 

— It was a tough game for you. When it was “+1” at the end, I even thought about overtime. 

— I never doubted our victory. It was a very challenging game, with many opportunities for both teams. We defended really well at the end, which is why we took this trophy.   

— I think not much can compare to the rivalry between the fans of Crvena Zvezda and Partizan, but the atmosphere in the arena was incredible. How did you find the organization of the game?     

— It was just awesome! I love that kind of atmosphere, especially in smaller arenas where it feels like the fans are right on the court, almost hanging over the players. Our fan sector always supports us on the road, but here, they faced some “resistance” from the local fans. It turned out fantastic! You could see that people put their heart into this game. The organization was top-notch! I wish all games were like the Super Cup.

— What can you say about women’s basketball in Russia right now?

— I haven’t played many games yet, but I can say that the league is very good. The level of allowed physical contact is quite high, so you have to be more aggressive. The level may have dropped slightly due to the current situation, but the league has become somewhat more challenging. You can’t just expect a win to fall into your lap.

— The Russian weather is a bit different from the Portuguese, Spanish, and Turkish. Have you felt the cold yet?

— Not yet, October has been wonderful. September was great too. I know it’s going to snow soon, but so far, I’m really enjoying it.

— The Super Cup medals were awarded by Andrei Kirilenko, the head of our basketball federation. Did you follow his games as a child?

— He’s a true legend. Anyone who plays basketball knows about him. It’s great that he attends games whenever he can.

— We watched the basketball tournament in Paris — maybe not as closely as before, but we still rooted for Serbia. What did your team lack in the quarterfinal game against Australia?

— It’s simple: they were a better team than us. There’s no other way to put it.

— The final game showed that the U.S. team isn’t as unbeatable as it seems.

— The fans were really hoping for an underdog win, but it just wasn’t quite enough. France has a very impressive team.

— Your teammate Maria Klyundikova has one more year on her contract with the Los Angeles Sparks. She’s not on the court right now, but do you think she could play in the WNBA?

— I can say she can do whatever she sets her mind to. Masha is an incredible player and an even more amazing person. I’m sure she can do anything! We call her “The Girl-Jokic” for what she’s able to do at her height and size (referring to the Serbian and Denver center, known for exceptional skills at 211 cm — Izvestia). The resemblance is clear!

— Have you started speaking any Russian yet?

— Not yet. I’d say I understand about sixty-five percent of what people say. I’ll keep learning. 

Source: Izvestia