Serbia’s National Olympic Committee president Vlade Divac took a break from his busy NBA schedule on Thursday to meet with his Philippine counterpart, Jose “Peping" Cojuangco, in order to strengthen their partnership in sports development.
NBA great Vlade Divac listens to a question during Tuesday's NBA-Asia Challenge press conference in Makati City. Divac, who is also the Serbia Olympic Committee president, met with his Philippine counterpart, Jose Cojuangco Jr. to strengthen their partnership in sports development. - Joe Galvez.
Divac, who was one of the first Europeans to join the NBA and once was matched up against Shaquille O’Neal, is in Manila along with several other NBA legends for the NBA Asia Challenge where they will be playing against the PBA All-Star team on Friday at the Araneta Coliseum. He said that he came here not just to play an exhibition match but to also share ideas with Cojuangco on how to run an Olympic committee. He discussed with the POC similar issues that both countries were experiencing and exchanged ideas on how to solve them. Divac said upon his arrival, he handed his calling card to the POC staff and told them to arrange a meeting with Cojuangco. He said the POC is welcome to contact the Serbia NOC anytime. Joining Cojuangco in the meeting with Divac were POC treasurer Julian Camacho, boxing’s Manny Lopez and pencak silat’s Sultan Jamalul Kiram. Divac also shared with the group how his country fared in the Beijing 2008 Olympics, where Serbia competed as an independent nation. Milorad Cavic gave Serbia a silver medal in swimming while world No. 4 tennis player Novak Djokovic and the water polo team added a bronze each. He said that as president of Serbia’s NOC, he is in a good position to lobby with their government a better sports program for the country. “The government didn’t support us too much, but now, I really want to change it."
We have a similar problem. We need to import (foreign) coaches to teach our own coaches about the fundamentals. The basketball federation should surely put someone we could learn from. 
– Vlade Divac, Serbia NOC president
Cojuangco said that Divac plans to have their laws change. “Sabi niya sa akin pinababago daw niya ang batas. Dahil malapit siya sa presidente nila, madali nang mabago mga problema nila sa sports (He told me he wants to change their laws. And since he is at favor with the president, they can easily solve their problems with their sports programs." Singling out his own sport, Divac also shared his desire to improve their local basketball grassroots program, which the Philippines also hopes to develop. “We have a similar problem. We need to import (foreign) coaches to teach our own coaches about the fundamentals. The basketball federation should surely put someone we could learn from." Divac said he plans to share Serbia’s programs in tennis, volleyball and archery with the POC and to help solve the problem areas of the Philippine team. Cojuangco said he was happy with Divac’s visit. “It’s already a start. We opened that door to have mutual cooperation with them so let’s see what we can learn from them."
– GMANews.TV 
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