The Montenegrin women's basketball team is ready for its eighth appearance at the European Championships - they have traveled to Brno, where they will face the Czech Republic, one of the four hosts of the continental championship, on Thursday.
Jelena Škerović's team faces great challenges because the team is significantly rejuvenated, but it also seems very motivated to prove itself on the big stage.
- The moment we have all been eagerly waiting for has arrived. We have had an extremely tough qualifying cycle and now that we have made it to the top European teams, we really have to be happy - said Bojana Kovačević, Montenegro's power forward.
The duel with the Czech Republic is on Thursday at 17.30:XNUMX p.m.
- The Czech Republic, as one of the hosts of the championship, will certainly be quite motivated in front of their audience. We know it will be difficult, but we also know their strengths and weaknesses. We have prepared for it and I hope we will know how to exploit the weaknesses they have - added Bojana.
Our basketball team has been together for a month - they played nine games, five of which were at the Small Countries Games in Andorra, where they defended their title.
- We had hard preparations, but we know what our goal is. All the girls can't wait for the championship to start. We have a great atmosphere, so we all hope that we can start the championship with a win - says Kovačević, a member of the Israeli Hapoel.
FIBA has changed the competition system, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the quarterfinals.
- The fact is that the competition system is much more difficult now and it will be much more complicated to reach the second phase. We need two wins, and therefore this first match is the most important, because a triumph would allow us to breathe a little easier - Bojana Kovačević underlined before appearing in a group that also includes Belgium and Portugal.
And point guard Marija Leković is optimistic ahead of Eurobasket:
- The preparations have gone as well as possible. All the players are healthy, that's the most important thing, and through nine preparatory matches we were able to correct the shortcomings, but also see good things. The first match against the Czech Republic is the most important at the moment, it could be decisive, but we will look for a chance in every match. We are a young team, but I think that the combination of youth and experience can be a winning combination - concluded Leković.
Jelena Škerović has named a list of 12 players for the European Championship.
It includes: Milica Jovanović (captain), Marija Leković, Bojana Kovačević, Sofija Živaljević, Jovana Pašić, Jelena Vučetić, Zorana Radonjić, Maja Bigović, Marija Baošić, Nikolina Ilić, Andrea Glomazić and Jelena Bulajić. Atina Radević, Milena Bigović and Jovana Savković from Budućnost Bemax did not pass the final "filter".
Bonus video:
