Catalin Tanase is a member of the FIBA Europe Coaching Certificate Program and the head coach of EuroCup Women side Municpal Targoviste. He will visit with FIBAEurope.com regularly for the remainder of the season.

Tina Thompson, Shay Doron, Linda Frohlich and Natallia Marchanka are names that most fans of women's basketball are used to seeing in EuroLeague Women, but head coach Catalin Tanase is lucky enough to have them with him in Targoviste where they are making waves in Europe.

Tanase is a member of the second ever class of the FIBA Europe Coaching Certificate, which got under way in Kaunas last summer at the U16 European Championship Men.

While putting his knowledge to work for the Romanian side he has agreed to share his experiences with FIBA Europe on a regular basis.

Catalin, tell us how you came to be coaching in Targoviste?

I was born in Targoviste and started my basketball career here as a junior. I played for the Romanian Under-16, Under-18 and Under-20 national teams as well. In 1994 I was playing for a team in Bucharest for six years and at the same time I finished my studies at the sports academy, specializing in basketball. In 2000 I came back to Targoviste and played for the team here, and at the same time I started my coaching career at the junior level.

How did you get involved with coaching women's basketball instead of the men?

I worked with the men's team here as well, but in this moment I work with the women because this is where we have a chance to really succeed and make a good result. With the men's team we cannot expect to be playing in Europe or winning the cup but with the women we can do it.

Is it different coaching women as opposed to men?

Totally different. Women are usually more sensible and do a better job of listening to what you want them to do and then doing it.

Is there a good fan base in Targoviste for women's basketball?

Yes, very good. We have 2,000 people coming to our EuroCup games. They are like a sixth player.

You're roster is full of players with really big names like Tina Thompson, and Linda Frohlich. We aren't used to seeing names like that in EuroCup Women.

It is more expensive for us to have players like that but our administration helps us a lot and they understand that we can compete in Europe and make a good name for our city with players like this. Tina Thompson and Linda Frohlich both came to us over the winter break and their experience at a high level is really paying off and making us a better.

Are you happy with your team's performance now that Linda and Tina have joined?

Yes, in this moment in my opinion we are playing more like a team and Tina and Linda are helping a lot.

Next week you begin the Eighth-Finals against Gran Canaria, what are your thoughts on that match-up?

Gran Canaria is a very good team, they had good results in their group and I think at this moment there is no favorite. It is very important that we play well and play hard for 40 minutes. We have had moments where we lose our focus and we can't afford to do that against this team. In the last round they lost their first game against Sibenik by 22, but then at home they won by 26 to advance. We must keep our focus in both games.

Last and most important you are a member of the second class of the FIBA Europe Coaching Certificate for which you traveled to Lithuania last summer and the U16 European Championship Men. What have you learned in the FECC that has helped you to become a better coach?

It is a good opportunity for me to be in the FECC, and it is a very good program for young coaches like me, I am only 34! The best part is to be able to work with and be around great coaches like (FECC mentor) Svetislav Pesic. It also good to attend these tournaments and see the players, but for me the chance to meet with other coaches and share ideas is the best part.

I know that the program doesn't end when you leave the tournament, and that you have some homework to do. Have you finished yours?

Yea, I just finished my homework. It is important to get that done on time.