The Montenegrin national basketball team was led by Nemanja Radović with the captain's armband in the February "window" of EuroBasket qualifications.
Behind Radović and our team is another successful cycle, which was rounded off by a place in the European Championship. This will be the fifth EuroBasket in the history of Montenegro, the third in a row that the "reds" will play, and the second for the Murcia basketball player.
Montenegro ended the qualifying cycle for the continental tournament last night with an overtime defeat to Sweden in Stockholm (86:83). Even before that match, it was clear that our team was close to qualifying, and that the most significant step had been taken with the victory over Bulgaria in Botevgrad in November last year. And last night, what was expected was only made official - the end of August and the beginning of September will be reserved for matches for our national team.
"We waited until the last moment to see what would happen. We are happy, we did a great thing for our nation. We are proud that we managed to do a good job. From the first 'window' it was complicated, the group was strong, the composition was constantly changing. But whoever was there, they gave their all. We had unity. It was very nice, it was an honor for me to participate in this cycle," said Nemanja Radović after qualifying for the European Championship.
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The previous EuroBasket was the first major competition in Radović's career in the Montenegrin jersey. Then the winger was at the WorldBasketball Championship in the Philippines, when a historic result was achieved, and then he missed the qualification cycle for the Olympic Games. Now he is waiting for a new continental competition.
"I think sometimes we are not aware of what we are doing. A country with about half a million inhabitants has played in the World Cup twice, now it has qualified for another European Championship - this is a huge thing. Many countries and good teams were left out of the championship. A huge thing for our basketball - we should be happy and proud," Radović is honest.
The competition in the "windows" is specific, the teams are not complete, and this was the case with Montenegro. Nikola Vučević, like all basketball players from the NBA league, was absent, and in this "window" there were no Bojan Dubljević, Charlie Moore, Igor Drobnjak and Marko Todorović. Nikola Ivanović missed the match with the Germans, and then against the Swedes he was the most efficient with 26 points. And the duel in Stockholm had to be missed by Vladimir Mihailović, Luka Bogavac and Marko Simonović.
And when we go back to the beginning of the qualifiers and February 2024, it should be said that Dubljević and Ivanović were not there then, while Petar Popović missed the November matches with Bulgaria. And the matches with Bulgaria were the last for Kendrick Perry in the jersey of our national team, so John Radebau played in this "window". But, all the guys gave their maximum at every moment, during their performances in the jersey of the national team, which is confirmed by Radović.
"All the guys who are here, who have played throughout the entire cycle, love playing for Montenegro, being here. The energy and atmosphere in the team is very good. Now some new, young guys have come, they have joined in great and the atmosphere is really good. Let's ignore the fatigue when we are in the national team, we have a lot of fun and enjoy ourselves," said Radović.
Montenegro awaits March 27th and the draw for EuroBasket, which will be held from August 27th to September 14th in Poland, Finland, Latvia and Cyprus.
"We are waiting for the draw to see what group we will get. But, whatever composition we are in - we will fight until the end and give our best," concluded Radović.
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