Sasa Vuksanovic doesn’t know any Portuguese, but he’s sure to hear “bom trabalho” when he scores for the S.C. Lusitania Expert professional basketball team in Angra, Portugal.
The former UH-Hilo center, who’s from Serbia, signed a one-year contract with the team, which finished sixth in the Portugal-LPB, which runs October through June. The 6-foot-10 Vuksanovic, who averaged 15.8 points and 9.6 rebounds per game for the Vulcans last season, reports Sept. 1.
If he does what he did for the Vulcans, scoring with both hands, rebounding, and making everyone feel like his best friend, no doubt Vuksanovic will hear “bom trabalho,” which translates to good job.
“I feel amazing right now because I can finally focus just on basketball and do what I love the most,” he said. “I’ve never been there but it was always my wish. I heard a lot of good things about Portugal, and it seems like a beautiful country.
“I did a little research, not too much. I like to do it in person more than do research online.”
So here’s a bit of free research for you Sasa: It’s about 1,500 miles from Serbia to Portugal, about the same distance from San Diego to Seattle, if you throw in a few hundred miles. Salt cod and grilled sardines are national dishes. The Portugal Algarve’s beaches would rival any of Hawaii’s best. The architecture dates to 1500 to 1800s, when Portugal had a powerful maritime empire.
When he’s soaking up the sun on the majestic Algarve beaches, Vuksanovic will think back to what he misses most about Hilo, where he spent two years.
“I’ll miss the aloha spirit, beautiful ocean, nature, and the most beautiful Hawaii energy and weather,” he said.
Vuksanovic should fit right in with a team that went 18-9 and has been to the league semifinals in 2007, ’12, and ’14.
His parents are no doubt proud.
“They are so happy for me because they know how much work I put to get myself in this situation,” he said. “They are just very happy and proud.”
For future Vulcans or BIIF players who dream of playing pro ball, Vuksanovic left one last left-handed jump shot. He hooked up with S.C. Lusitania through his agent from Luxembourg.
“Don’t be scared of any situation on or off the court and always believe in yourself,” he said. “Hard work will always pay off.”
Meanwhile, Former Vulcan standout Kupaa Harrison finished his first pro season for the title-winning CB Tormes team in Spain, which plays in the fourth tier and advanced to the playoffs.
