Stojanović: This is the crowning glory of five years of work

The generation of Montenegrin basketball players born in 2006 and younger rounded off their series of successes over the past years this summer by winning bronze at the European B Championship in Samokov, Bulgaria.

In this way, a group of very talented players under the leadership of coach Petar Stojanović, after winning a place in the A division in the under-16 and under-18 competition, has now achieved the same success in the under-20 competition.

Although their talent is unquestionable, and their quality is confirmed by the fact that several of them have already reached the wider senior national team roster, the result in Samokov confirmed that this generation can absolutely be counted on in the years to come.

"I think we have achieved phenomenal success and that it is a confirmation of the work we have done over the past 5 years together, when it comes to this generation. We managed to enter the A division in the under-16 age group, then in the under-18 age group and now in the under-20 age group. I think that best shows how valuable this generation is," said coach Petar Stojanović.

The coach emphasizes that the team knows each other very well as one of the key details of success.

"I think the key is that we have been together for so long and know each other very well. We were a team from the very start, we knew what our goal was, which we set for ourselves at the beginning of the preparations, and I think we really succeeded as a team, that we fought as a team throughout the championship and in the end deservedly entered the A division," added Stojanović.

It is particularly significant that Montenegro is constantly gaining new players through the younger categories, several of whom have already reached the senior national team, and the young team also included basketball players who will now be available to the junior selection for the under-18 championship.

"I think it's rare for someone with such a small player base to have such a continuity of good results, which is again an indicator that these girls are giving their best, that they are trying and giving their maximum every year. That's why I'm very happy when it manages to come back to them in such a nice way. It's also good that the Basketball Federation really recognized that this generation is valuable and that it has great potential and talent, and that we have been able to work continuously for 5 years, that this team is kept together and that it has a European competition every year. That's one of the important factors because of which we can expect some of these players to be part of the senior selection in the future," says Stojanović.

Montenegro will now have two teams in the A division, in addition to the junior team and the youth team.

"It is very important that we have the opportunity to compete with the best teams in Europe, because it is a huge experience that will help them progress further in their careers. The opportunity to compete with the best teams on the continent at the end of the season is a very important factor," added Stojanović.

The coach also points out that the entire system is responsible for the team's success.

"I want to thank everyone, the Federation for the opportunity, the continuity in work and the conditions that enabled us to make everything work as it should and to be in the position we are in today. I would also like to express my special gratitude to my coaching staff, who helped me a lot and did a great job, making it easier for me and the girls to be as good as possible. I am really proud of them and the entire team, the players who, from the first day of preparations, as well as in all previous years, showed a great dose of professionalism, dedication, and emotion, which ultimately resulted in us once again entering the A division," concluded Stojanović.

The national team is returning from Samokov tonight, and is scheduled to land at Podgorica Airport at 9:30 PM.