The start was a nightmare, the Montenegrin national basketball team was defeated by Portugal (83:62) at the start of the World Cup qualifiers in Podgorica, and tomorrow (18) they will play a second round match against Romania in Pitesti.
It was known that this cycle would be the most difficult for our selection - experienced players, who had been with the team for years, have finished their national team careers, and talented basketball players David Mirković, Luka Bogavac, Andrija Grbović and Fedor Žugić are in the NCAA. Montenegro also got a new coach - Andrej Žakelj will lead the "reds" until the summer, and then Zvezdan Mitrović will return. On top of all this, Žakelj had problems before the start of the November "window", because Igor Drobnjak and Petar Popović did not play against Portugal due to injuries. Spartak and Igokea basketball players will not play against Romania either.
"Against Portugal we were not at the energy level we wanted to be at. I am sure that against Romania it will be different from the first to the last minute. We are a young team, energy and desire should be at a higher level than was the case against Portugal. There has also been a generational change, some experienced players are no longer there. There are a lot of young people, it will certainly take time for this group to adapt. There is quality, it just takes time. I am sure that the energy will be at a much higher level against Romania," said Andrija Slavković ahead of the match against Romania.
Romania played in the pre-qualifications for the World Cup, and at the start of the qualification they were convincingly defeated away from home by Greece (91:64). It is clear how much a triumph in Pitesti would mean.
"Romania also lost convincingly at the start of the qualifiers, I believe that they, like us, will want to show a reaction. We are the favorites, there is more pressure and expectations on us. We will try to show a reaction after the last game, to be much better, tougher and more aggressive than against Portugal. It is up to us to honor that role of the favorites," believes center Zoran Nikolić.
Montenegro played well in the first quarter against Portugal, having a seven-point lead after 10 minutes (21:14), but that was all. Our team was scoreless for about six minutes in the second quarter, Portugal turned things around by halftime, and then went on to win convincingly.
"We need to be tougher, to improve our aggressiveness both in defense and attack. Portugal came out strong from the start, they didn't give up on their game. We backed off, allowed them to turn the game around and take a big lead, which they managed to maintain. The approach has to be stronger and more aggressive. We have to be better," said Nikolić.
Romania, like Portugal, has been together for a long time. And then there's Deron Fats Russell, a former Mariners basketball player, who had seven points against Greece.
"Romania has been together for a long time, they have a good team. No one should be underestimated, we have to respect them. They have a good coach, they have Russell, a naturalized player, who is of quality. We know him because he played for Mornar. They are playing in front of the home crowd, I believe there will be a lot of fans. We have to be prepared for a good atmosphere, which will be on their side. Romania can have the advantage that the players have been together for a long time. We have a generational change, we have to adapt," concluded Nikolić.
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