Kovačević: I'm proud of the girls; Živković: This is a great generation

Montenegrin women's basketball team has a lot to regret after the first "window" of the European Championship qualifiers, especially after last night's loss to Bulgaria in the third match, 66:62 in Botevgrad. Jelena Škerović's team is left with one win and two losses after the first three rounds, but they believe they can do much more in the March window.

"Of course this defeat hurts, because we were very close, but in the end I want to say that I am proud of all the girls, from the first to the last. I think we showed that this team has quality and potential, because even though we were the underdogs in this match, we showed that we can fight with all teams. Of course there is regret, but this is also a wind at our back to continue fighting and working on ourselves, both in clubs and in the national team, to come to the continuation of the qualifications even more prepared and to win the games that we missed this time," said captain Bojana Kovačević after the match with Bulgaria.

Montenegro has shown in the first three matches that it has the quality to do more than just its current performance.

"We dropped the first game, where we should have beaten Ukraine at home, but I think this team has quality and still has a chance. I believe we will show that in March and advance to the second round of the qualifiers," concluded Kovačević.

Along with the captain, one of the more experienced national team players is Dragana Živković, who also believes that Montenegro can do much more in the March matches.

"It remains a pity that we did not win this game, because we played very well and controlled the result, but luck was a little on their side. We can still improve a lot, this is not our maximum. I can say that I am proud of this young team. It is good that in March we will have replays of these games, which we lost with only six and four points to Ukraine and Bulgaria, so all we have to do is prepare as best as possible. I believe we can, this is a great generation, from the players to the coaching staff," said Živković.

Montenegro will visit Ukraine in March next year and welcome Azerbaijan and Bulgaria.