In the "Drive in Arena" in Tel Aviv, Montenegrin basketball players will try to "drive" to the round of 39 in the first match of the 11.15th Eurobasket. The rival at an unusual time (XNUMX:XNUMX a.m. our time, an hour later local time) will be Greece, with whom the "reds" will meet for the third time in the continental championships.
Eight years ago, the "reds" almost missed out on a place in the quarterfinals, because at the end of the main stage they were defeated by the Greek women 76:63, but they passed because they had the second best goal difference in the round with them and the Belarusian women, and the team from the south of the Balkans the worst.
It would be good for this duel to be a repeat of the previous Eurobasket, when Montenegro defeated Greece 70:55 at the start of Group B and thus secured a place in the round of XNUMX. Now the job will be more difficult than in Valencia, because the team is Jelena Škerović quite rejuvenated. There is none Jelena Dubljević, who ended her career due to an injury before the European Championship, and neither Marquis Gatling, Snezana Aleksic...
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- My best experience from Eurobasket was the very first one from 2011. I was 19 years old then, we got the nickname Cinderella because we won several big matches. As a young player, it practically opened my eyes, that I can play at a high level abroad and make a career in Europe - she pointed out Milica Jovanovic, who will play 34 matches at the European Championships today, and against Greece two years ago, she was the most effective with 19 points.
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Dragana Zivkovic made her debut in major competitions at the last Eurobasket and averaged 3,3 points and 2,8 rebounds. Now it should have a more significant role.
- We are ready and we believe that the duel with Greece is our best chance to advance to the next stage. Of course, in every game, we go for the win, to give the maximum. We don't have too much experience, but we are young, we know each other and we are aware that we can win only with energy and a strong game - said the captain Buducnost Bemax.
The first star in the team Petros Prekas je Marijela Fasula. The daughter of the famous center of the famous generation of Greek basketball Panayotis Fasoulas, who wears the jersey of Spain's Perfumerias Avenida, played at Eurobasket 2017, when her team finished fourth. In qualifying for this championship, she was one of five players with a double-double performance on average (19 points and 10 rebounds).
- We prepared for this, we know what awaits us. We want to pass the group. The preparations were good, as they progressed we prepared more and more as a team. We know what awaits us against Greece, we learned what their strengths and weaknesses are and we want to use them - she said. Bojana Kovačević.
Just like two years ago, the "Reds" will play a key duel in the group right from the start. It was a "spring" for them then, and they believe it will be so now.
- I think it suits us, because we are still ready, fresh and have a great desire. That's why it's great that it's our first match. It means a lot to us that we beat Slovenia in the last preparatory match, it's an incentive, because we showed ourselves that we can do much more - said Kovačević.
Škerović will lead Montenegro from the bench for the third time at the continental championships, after being the captain in the first four participations.
- We have a lot of players without experience, half of the team has never been to Eurobasket and played against these rivals. We need to gain experience, help talents to develop and then in a few years to try to go even further - said the 42-year-old woman from Podgorica.
MONTENEGRO AT EUROBASKET
Today
11.15 a.m. Montenegro - Greece
Friday
19.45 pm Spain - Montenegro
Sunday
11.15 a.m. Montenegro - Latvia
Bonus video:
