Young women's basketball team (U20) begins preparations for the European Championship B Division

The young women's basketball team, players under 20, gathered in Podgorica and began preparations for the European Championship B Division, which will be held in Samokov, Bulgaria, from July 4 to 12. Montenegro was drawn in Group D, with Portugal and Switzerland.

The team was completed on Sunday, had an evening training session at the "Bemax Arena", and will travel to Belgrade on Monday, where they will play two friendly matches with the Serbian national team. In total, our girls will play eight friendly matches during their preparations, and will set off for Bulgaria on July 2nd.

Coach Petar Stojanović has gathered players he already knows very well, as he has also led them in younger age categories, and with this generation he has secured a place in the A division in the junior competition (U18). He will try something similar at the upcoming championship, with a selection in which five players have reached the senior national team - Sanja Akšam, Janja Dragišić, Marija Đuranović, Atina Radević and Milena Vujović, and the handicap will be the absence of Jelena Bulajić, who was unable to attend due to college commitments.

"This is a team that has been together for five years and we definitely know each other well and we have already established a work system, which will make some things easier for us. This is a really talented group of girls, and I expect that, like every time, they will be dedicated, hardworking and diligent. We have 8 preparatory matches ahead of us in the next month, which will be enough to see where we are and to prepare for the European Championship. There, we can expect quality matches and a strong group," said coach Stojanović at the first training session.

14 national teams, divided into four groups, will compete for a place in the A division, and there is a long way to go until the finals, which can be influenced by many factors.

"Two years ago we won the A division with this generation, this time we will try the same, because it is sporting to hope and that is our primary goal, but it is not easy. A lot will also depend on the preparations, that we are all healthy, because we are already missing Jelena Bulajić, who is a very important part of this team. We are in a group with Portugal, and this is a fantastic team that two years ago was fifth in the A division in the junior competition with only one defeat. A very aggressive and quality team, and the first match in the championship is with them, so we will have to prepare well and respond to them physically, but also for Switzerland and I hope that we will first do as well as possible in the group stage", concluded Stojanović.

After the matches with Serbia in Belgrade, Montenegro will continue preparations in Podgorica, during which they will play test matches with Bulgaria, then participate in a tournament with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ireland, and at the end of the preparations, play two more matches with Bosnia and Herzegovina at home.

NATIONAL TEAM LIST

Atina Radević (2006, Budućnost Bemax)

Mila Mijušković (2006, Trebjesa)

Janja Dragišić (2007, Budućnost Bemax)

Anđela Rakočević (2007, Podgorica)

Katarina Radulović (2007, Podgorica)

Anastasija Kasalica (2007, Trebjesa)

Anđela Rondović (2007, Trebjesa)

Valentina Vrcan (2007, USA)

Marija Đuranović (2007, Ragusa)

Sanja Aksham (2007, Red Star)

Ljube Andrić (2007, without club)

Milena Vujović (2008, Budućnost Bemax)

Marija Sekulović (2008, Buducnost Bemax)

Maša Praščević (2008, USA)

Lucija Baković (2009, Budućnost Bemax)

Blanka Jovović (2009, Podgorica)