Pannonia Cup showcases new coaches and players

The Pannonia Cup in Eisenstadt is giving Burgenland’s four first and second division basketball teams a chance to test their form, ORF reported. Oberwart, Mattersburg, Güssing and Eisenstadt are also presenting new players and coaching staff.

Second-division teams Blackbirds Güssing and Mattersburg Rocks are entering preparations with new coaches. Mike Coffin has taken over at the Rocks, returning to the club after 11 years. He said the decision was made for family reasons but that he was happy to be back.

Mattersburg has set its sights on competing near the top of the second division this season.

Güssing appoints 29-year-old coach

Blackbirds Güssing have appointed Greek coach Pavlos Gkotsis. The 29-year-old is expected to bring fresh momentum to the team.

“I am very happy. So far, everything is working out. The club and I want to win as much as possible,” Gkotsis said.

Müllner joins Oberwart coaching staff

Superliga runners-up Oberwart are competing at the Pannonia Cup with new players and a new assistant coach, although they have not yet introduced new jerseys. Head coach Horst Leitner has brought in former Güssing coach Daniel Müllner as his assistant.

Leitner said Müllner was the only person with as much, or perhaps even more, experience in top-level basketball as he had himself. The two also get along well on a personal level.

The coaching duo’s main task is currently to build team chemistry between the new foreign players and Oberwart’s young Gunners.

Awosika returns to Eisenstadt

Eisenstadt’s Dragonz presented the returning Austen Awosika at the Pannonia Cup. The American was an important part of the team that finished as runners-up in the season before last.

With three experienced players and many younger ones, the Dragonz have one clear goal in the Superliga: reaching the playoffs.