There was drama in Stockholm, but the real drama - in the fight for EuroBasket - was almost nonexistent.
Montenegrin basketball players will participate in the continental championship for the fifth time in history despite the defeat in Sweden (86:83 after overtime), because Germany did the job as expected and justified its role as the favorite in the duel with Bulgaria (94:85).
The Germans, the current world champions, finished the qualifying group in first place, Montenegro was second, and Sweden was third - those three teams qualified for the European Championship, Bulgaria was eliminated...
The "Reds" finished the qualifiers with three wins and three losses, so it is clear that the difference was made by the November triumph in Botevgrad, when they were better than the Bulgarians for the second time in the group.
"If we qualify for EuroBasket, that victory was crucial," said coach Boško Radović at the start of preparations for the February "window".
It turned out that it was so, nothing could stop Montenegro on its way to a fifth place at the European Championship - after 2011, 2013, 2017 and 2022.
There was a lot of excitement in Stockholm, and in the end everything had to be decided in an additional five minutes, which was decided by free throws from the home team, but also by a technical foul by Radović with 12 seconds left after a questionable foul was called on Đorđi Jovanović.
The Swedes then "escaped" to a plus four (84:80), Jovanović responded with a three-pointer, but there was no time for a turnaround. So the shot to set up another overtime period missed John Radebau.
The American played his best match for the Montenegrin national team, scoring 24 points with seven rebounds and two assists, and Nikola Ivanovic was also great - he had 26 before getting his fifth personal foul in the first minute of overtime.
Zoran Nikolić (13) also had a double-digit performance for our team...
SWEDEN - MONTENEGRO 86:83 (20:14, 12:19, 21:18, 19:21, 14:11)
Stokholm - "Hovet" Hall. Audience: 5.000. Judges: Conde (Spain), Yilmaz (Turkey), Zapolski (Poland).
Sweden: Anderson 14, Ramštet, Borg 7, Terins, Hakanson 9, Čerapovič, Spajrs, Gadefors 13, Pancar 18, Enđije 5, Birgander 19, Lundkvist 1.
Montenegro: Hadžibegović 2, Slavković, Radončić 3, Radović 7, Radebau 24, Jovanović 5, Živanović, Nikolić 13, Ivanović 26, Popović 3, Mirković.
Montenegro lost to Sweden after overtime 86:83, but had earlier secured a spot in the EuroBasket with Germany's victory over Bulgaria.
Jovanović's three-pointer with 4,9 seconds left in overtime. The Swedes have a timeout.
Jovanović was called for a questionable foul, and then Radović received a technical foul for protesting.
The Swedes took advantage of that, leading 84:80.
Jovanović missed a three-pointer, and Radebau, after an offensive rebound and a foul by his opponent, hit two free throws - 81:80.
Sweden leads 46,5:81 with 78 seconds left after a three-pointer by Pancar. Radović calls a timeout.
At the halfway point of overtime, Sweden has a one-point lead - 78:77.
Radebau took over the baton with Ivanovic's exit - 76:76.
Ivanovic received his fifth personal foul, the Swedes lead 75:74.
Overtime in Stockholm - our team defended itself in Sweden's last attack (72:72).
Montenegro is going to EuroBasket, no matter what happens in the extra five minutes, because Germany justified its role as the favorite against Bulgaria - 94:85.
Radebau scored for 72:72, the Swedes have the last attack - 12,8 seconds left. Timeout for the home team.
Montenegro has the last attack, 22 seconds left - Sweden leads 72:70.
The Germans finished with a plus eight - 93:85.
Germany leads 90:82 with two minutes left.
Excitement in Stockholm, our team tied again - 70:70.
Bulgaria is at minus five against Germany - 87:82.
Two bad defenses by Montenegro put Sweden ahead by four with four minutes left - 68:64. Radović called a timeout.
Germany leads 87:77 in Bamberg.
Bulgaria is down 12 points in Bamberg - 87:75.
Hakanson hit a three-pointer to tie the game again - 62:62.
Ivanovic dominates in Stockholm, Montenegro leads 58:55.
Montenegro is up one after Ivanovic's new series (56:55), while Germany is up 20 - 81:61.
Bonus video:
