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Quote:How far has Serbian basketball fallen since Yugoslavia's famous gold medal triumph at the 2002 FIBA World Championship in Indianapolis?



For starters, according to national team coach Dusan Ivkovic, basketball players are no longer the country's most popular sportsmen.



In an interview with Blic, Ivkovic spoke some hard truths about basketball in his homeland.



"I want the players to have a desire to wear the national team shirt once again," Ivkovic said.



"Our tennis players and the swimmer (Milorad) Cavic are the pride of Serbia at the moment. We were the country's pride before and we want to become that once again."



Tennis star Novak Djokovic, the world number three, won the Australian Open this year while Cavic became a national hero at the European Swimming Championships in March after he won the gold medal in the 50m butterfly.



Cavic, on the podium in Holland and draped with a Serbian flag, lifted it to reveal a red shirt which read "Kosovo is Serbia", a political statement that got him suspended for the remainder of the event but won him admiration back in his homeland.



"There were times when foreign clubs picked our players before all others, but those times are now over and we don't have that kind of player at the moment," Ivkovic said.



"We must 'make' them in the next four years. We already have a program to accomplish that."



The best part of Ivkovic's interview, and this should serve as a warning to all of the teams that Serbia will face this year in their EuroBasket 2009 qualifying games, is the optimism he has for the weeks and months ahead.



"To tell the truth, the idea wasn't mine, but I took the responsibility and took over," he said. "I am going to fight as a lion, really - as much as possible ...



"I will focus on my job, because I want to sacrifice for my country and for our basketball."



It will be an enormous challenge, though, something he knows very well.



"We have lost the spirit of the national team in recent years," he said.



"I have won three European championships, now I am in the qualification. That means that I am starting from scratch again.



"(But) We have the players, the talent, the people, the team spirit and that gives me the energy to work and to succeed."



Serbia will be in EuroBasket Division A Group A with Italy, Bulgaria, Hungary and Finland.

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Quote:Serbia coach Dusan Ivkovic has rewarded Red Star's high-scoring Tadija Dragicevic for his outstanding campaign by naming him in his preliminary squad for this summer's EuroBasket 2009 qualifying games.



The 2.05m power forward led the Adriatic League in scoring at almost 22 points per game this season.



Partizan Belgrade's Novica Velickovic has retained his place in the side.



Velickovic, 21, played for Serbia last year in Spain but was not a prominent player, averaging just over eight minutes per contest in Spain as the Serbians lost all three of their group games.



The 2.05m forward exploded onto the Euroleague scene this year, averaging 10.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game to help them reach the quarter-finals.



"My primary task was to form a squad with a mentality of winners, consisting of players who'll create the cult of the Serbian national team," Ivkovic said.



"It is said often that 'we need to bring back our national team spirit', or 'cult' as we used to describe it.



"But, this is a new national team and we have to create our own trademarks. My job will be to create a team which will play for their country with pleasure, and which will play for their people."




Ivkovic decided against including Igor Rakocevic, who just helped Tau Ceramica win the ACB crown.



Peja Stojakovic of the New Orleans Hornets, Vladimir Radmanovic of the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland's Sasha Pavlovic and Minnesota's Marko Jaric were not included.




Ivkovic did not just point to youth, however.



"On the other hand," he said, "I can't say this is 'new, young team' as players like (30-year-old Partizan forward Dusan) Kecman or (27-year-old FMP's forward Bojan) Krstovic aren't youngsters anymore.



"They've deserved this call thanks to their performances in this season."




Milos Vujanic of Dynamo Moscow, who has battled knee injuries in his career, has also been recalled.



"I think this squad will be successful, despite the fact that I'm sure there will be some who doubt it, I'm sure.



"But, I'm also sure that this will be very good team."



The decision not to include Rakocevic raises eyebrows, perhaps, more than the other exclusions.



The high-scoring guard had only just made it very clear that he would play if called upon.



"I wouldn't like to pull out Rakocevic from that group of un-called players, which includes Stojakovic and Jaric also," Ivkovic said.



"All of them, in general, said that they were ready to play in qualifying for the EuroBasket.



"But, my opinion is that, for example, despite his wish - Stojakovic can't give 100% of himself for the national team action(s) which will last for 80 days."



"At this moment, we want to move forward from others. We want to have, once again, a national team that will create basketball stars."



Serbia will take on Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria and Finland in EuroBasket 2009 qualifying games.



"We have several goals in this moment," Ivkovic said.



"First, the short-term goal is to qualify for the European championship in Poland. Then, through these qualifications, we have to create a selection of players who'll guarantee achievement our next, big goal - to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.



"I took the whole responsibility for achieving this one, because I want to create a team that will have significant role at the London Olympics."



Ivkovic, who is also president of the World Association of Basketball Coaches, will gather with the Blues in Belgrade on July 6, and after a training camp in Italy, they will participate in two tournaments.



The first will be in Moscow from July 25 - 27, together with Russia, Latvia and Ukraine, and the second will the Diamond Ball Tournament in China where they will face defending Olympic champions Argentina and FIBA Asia champions Iran in the preliminary round.



Serbia preliminary squad: Milos Vujanic (Dynamo Moscow), Bojan Popovic (Unicaja Malaga), Stefan Markovic (Hemofarm), Milenko Tepic (Partizan Belgrade), Uros Tripkovic (Partizan Belgrade), Dusan Kecman (Partizan Belgrade), Bojan Krstovic (FMP), Branko Cvetkovic (Akasvayu Girona), Milos Teodosic (Olympiacos), Vuk Radivojevic (Fuenlabrada), Novica Velickovic (Partizan Belgrade), Zoran Erceg (FMP), Tadija Dragicevic (Red Star), Ivan Radenovic (Akasvayu Girona), Nenad Krstic (New Jersey Nets), Darko Milicic (Memphis Grizzlies), Kosta Perovic (Golden State Warriors), Boban Marjanovic (Hemofarm), Luka Bogdanovic (Le Mans).

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Quote:Serbia takes priority for Krstic



Serbia's Nenad Krstic has joined the national team as they begin their preparations for this summer's EuroBasket 2009 qualifying games despite being advised by the New Jersey Nets to delay his arrival.



"People from New Jersey said to me not to come to Serbia as I have contract negotiations to solve," the 25-year-old Krstic said.



"But those things are not the most important thing for me.




"I'm fully focused on the Blues. We're building a great atmosphere in this team and I believe that good results will follow that."



Krstic, who has averaged 11.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in his four NBA seasons with the Nets, added: "I'm glad to be back in the national team for the first time since 2005."



Serbia are in Group A of EuroBasket Division A and will take on Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria and Finland.



Krstic's former team-mate from Partizan Belgrade, versatile forward Dusan Kecman, was able to put pen to paper on a new deal with Greek giants Panathinaikos and has joined the Serbian team as well.



"It is important for us that we work well from the beginning," he said.



"Our team is awesome, but we'll only qualify for the EuroBasket if every single member gives his best during training camps and games.



"For us, it is crucial to be ready for first game in qualifying, a derby with the Italians."



That clash will be on August 20 in Cagliari.



Before that showdown, Dusan Ivkovic's team will go to Italy for their first training session on July 10, and then take part in tournaments in Russia and China before their final training sessions ahead of EuroBasket qualifying.

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Quote:Serbia Positive But Keep Feet On Ground





No country has been more mystifying on the international hoops landscape the past five years than Serbia.



Educated and fanatical hoops fans in this basketball kingdom have watched as Serbia have floundered since their gold-medal win at the 2002 FIBA World Championship in Indianapolis.




Since that overtime victory over Argentina, when the country was known as Yugoslavia, nothing has been added to the trophy cabinet, at least at senior level.



Signs of recovery appeared this summer when legendary coach Dusan Ivkovic returned to the helm of the national team and steered the Blues to victories in seven of their eight games in a successful EuroBasket 2009 qualifying campaign.



Reaching the Final Round in Poland is one thing, but winning a medal is something else all together.



"There won't be any participant in Poland that could be described as weak," Ivkovic said after the recent draw for the EuroBasket.



"It's a continental championship, and only good teams have qualified."




Serbia fell into a group that could end up being the toughest of all.



They will go up against 2006 FIBA World Championship winners Spain, neighbors Slovenia and the talented new kids on the block, Great Britain, a team that like Serbia won a qualifying group but unlike the Blues has no tradition of winning in the sport.



"Our group is the most equal among all four groups," Ivkovic said. "The Spaniards can be called favorites, but there will also be a very quality team of Slovenia, while also a very ambitious Britain, with lots of naturalized Americans and NBA players that will be tough rivals, too.



"One thing is for sure: there won't be easy games."




If Serbia have managed to do anything during their five years without a medal it is this. They have lowered expectations among their fans.



The country bottomed out one year ago in Spain, losing all three games at the EuroBasket. That not only ruined their chances of reaching the Olympics, but also forced them to go through qualifying again for next year's EuroBasket in Poland.



The importance of bringing back Ivkovic, who once led the country when it was Yugoslavia, was monumental.



He ushered in a new generation of players and immediately won the backing of fans who turned out in droves to watch them play qualifying games in Belgrade.



Ivkovic never gets too high after wins, nor does he get too low after defeats.



He is methodical, organized.



Ivkovic always has a plan with clear objectives.



"Our primary goal until the EuroBasket is to be focused on the form of our players, to be in constant contact with them so we can be well prepared for championship," he said.



"We want to be among three teams that will continue to play after first phase. If we qualify for second stage, I think we'll have a bit easier schedule since our rivals will be teams from Group D (hosts Poland, Turkey, Lithuania and Bulgaria)."




Then, while delivering the remarks, Ivkovic stopped himself.



"But, it's too early to speak about the second phase," he said. "We have to prepare first for the start of competition."



It's almost impossible for a country like Serbia not to be confident, or to believe they are most certainly among the favorites.



Clearly, however, there is a common aim to be humble and that was the approach the president of the Serbian Basketball Association (KSS), Dragan Kapicic, adopted when offering his thoughts on the draw.



"I think that the group we've got is very tough, as we'll face two very good teams such as Spain and Slovenia, while our third rival is Britain, called 'impressive surprise of qualifications" for a reason," he said.



"Still, Eurobasket 2009 is a chance for us to show the quality of Serbian basketball, and therefore we'll do our best to be ready for the forthcoming challenges in Poland."

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Quote:Bogdanovic On Song With Serbia, DKV





Serbia will be in a confident mood when they travel to Poland to play at EuroBasket 2009 to face world champions Spain, Slovenia and Great Britain.



Dusan Ivkovic took the reins in early 2008 and the legendary coach, retooling the squad with many of the country's promising youngsters, led the Blues to seven victories in eight EuroBasket Division A games.




One of the players who got the senior national team call for the first time was Luka Bogdanovic, a 2.02m forward who is currently on the books of Spanish juggernauts DKV Joventut Badalona.



Anyone who follows the youth competitions run each summer by FIBA Europe should know Bogdanovic because in Serbia and Montenegro's bronze-medal winning side at the 2005 U20 European Championship in Russia, he averaged 15.3 points and 5.5 rebounds. Bogdanovic drilled 48.3% (14 of 29) of his shots from three-point range in that tournament.



Now 23, he averaged more than 11 minutes per contest in his five appearances for Serbia as they finished top of a EuroBasket 2009 qualifying group that also included Bulgaria, Italy, Finland and Hungary.



Bogdanovic is playing more than 19 minutes per game for a DKV Joventut side that is 10-4 and in fourth place in the ACB.



He spoke to Basketball World News on behalf of fibaeurope.com.



FIBA Europe: Luka, you've been all over the place this year. We even watched you play for Serbia in Nanjing, China, at the FIBA Diamond Ball Tournament before you represented the Blues in EuroBasket qualifying. Has it sunk in that you now play for one of the world's most famous national teams?



Luka Bogdanovic: (Smiling) That was the first time I was able to play for the (senior) national team so I was very excited. Serbia have had some tough times in recent years. This year, we played in the qualifications and made it to the EuroBasket.



FIBA Europe: You won Group A in qualifying over Bulgaria, Italy, Finland and Hungary. How good is this Serbia team?



Luka Bogdanovic: We're doing well. We have a good coach, Dusan Ivkovic. We have a lot of players. We're on a good way to bringing Serbia back to where they were before.



FIBA Europe: When Ivkovic named his squad, most of Serbia's best-known players weren't included. Ivkovic talked about wanting to make new stars.



Luka Bogdanovic: Yes, but I think the most important thing for all of us is just to work hard and be a part of the system. That is the best way to help a club, and to help a national team.



FIBA Europe: Switching gears, give us your thoughts on playing for DKV Joventut.



Luka Bogdanovic: It's an amazing club that spends a lot of time working with young players. It's not the kind of club that brings in a lot of famous players. They make young players famous and make young players much better. That is part of the philosophy of the club. Everyone is working hard to make themselves and the team better. With that kind of attitude, we can play and win games.



FIBA Europe: When you go to a place like Badalona, you see incredible support from the fans.



Luka Bogdanovic: It's not just been like that for the past few years. In the last 10 to 15 years, this has been one of the top clubs in the Spanish league and also Europe. It's not a club with a lot of money, with a huge budget. But they pick specific players. But it's a good atmosphere here in Badalona. They know basketball. It's nice having this support behind us. It's nice for the young players.



FIBA Europe: Ricky Rubio has recently returned from wrist surgery. How important is he to this team?



Luka Bogdanovic: It's very important. He's a guy who's been at the club for several years. He knows the system, he's very talented. It's important for us to have a player like him at the point guard position because he makes others better. He brings a lot of intensity to the team. We're all happy to have him back.

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Quote:Nilsen: Tripkovic Home Grown





When Serbia coach Dusan Ivkovic spoke of the need to put some hunger back into the National Team ahead of EuroBasket 2009 qualification by focusing more of his attention on Serbian based players, it is a fair bet that Uros Tripkovic was near the top of that list.



For having quite literally grown up within the Partizan Belgrade basketball family, players don't really come any more home grown than this.



Still only 22-years-old, the guard not only played right through the Junior ranks but is now astonishingly in his seventh professional season having made his debut when he was just 16-years-old.



More impressively having picked up a stack of winners medals in the Serbian Superleague and Adriatic League, he is also playing in his seventh Euroleague campaign and only last week underlined his experience and value with a joint top score of 12 points in a thrilling 60-59 win for Partizan over group rivals Unicaja Malaga.



Even on the International stage Tripkovic has a raft of experience having played at the FIBA World Championships in Japan during 2006 although did endure the agony of missing out on EuroBasket 2007 in Spain due to an injury.



With underrated defensive skills and a huge perimeter threat, he played a pivotal role during qualification for Poland averaging 8.5 points per game in 17 minutes and shooting over 48 percent from outside.



That is why Tripkovic remains one of a number of key players whom Ivkovic will put his faith in when what could continue to be a youthful looking Serbian National Team head for Warsaw hoping to replicate that impressive form during qualification.



I caught up with the sharp shooter last week to talk about how things are going during another typically manic season and with the small matter of EuroBasket 2009 rapidly approaching on the horizon.



FIBA Europe - Hi Uros, Coach Ivkovic stated before qualifying last year that he wanted to put pride back into the Serbia National Team and get the country back to the very top. We guess a strong EuroBasket qualification campaign was a good start on this journey for a young team?



Uros Tripkovic - Coach Ivkovic is a good trainer and a coach with great experience. He has brought together a young National Team and we had some good results last year during those qualification games. We played well and we all got to know each other. I think that we have a good chance to make sure we do get a good result at EuroBasket 2009 in Poland.



FIBA Europe - What were your feelings on the EuroBasket Finals draw that was made? What are your feelings on Spain, Slovenia and Great Britain and do you think it is the toughest group in the tournament?



Uros Tripkovic - I think that we are definitely in one of the toughest groups of the tournament. Spain is obviously a great team while Great Britain and Slovenia both have NBA players so it will be very hard in our group. However I believe that with some good play and also a little luck, we can achieve a good result and get past the group stages.



FIBA Europe - We guess that EuroBasket 2009 in Poland will mean a lot more to you than others because of the disappointment of missing the last tournament with an injury?



Uros Tripkovic - Every tournament means a lot to every single player, so I think about that along those kind of lines. Every one of us from the team will have to really work hard to make sure that we get the results that we need for the team in Poland.



FIBA Europe - Does it help when you are a young player in a young team all learning together or would you prefer some more experienced players to help you? For example the likes of Vule Avdalovic back playing in good form with Pamesa Valencia after his long term injury.



Uros Tripkovic - I like it more that we are a young team because we have all known each other for many years and we have shared some great experiences together. I have played with Vule Avdalovic for many years and I am sure that he will come back in good form.



FIBA Europe - Is it possible that Eurobasket 2009 in Poland maybe come a little too early for this Serbia team? Are prospects of success perhaps better in future FIBA tournaments such as the London Olympics 2012 when the team could peak? If so, do you think the fans of Serbia can show the patience you might need?



Uros Tripkovic - The more time we spend together, the more chance we have to make sure that we get ourselves some good results. We probably will have even better chances in the future when we could peak in both form and maturity but I think that we can still achieve some good results even during this EuroBasket tournament in Poland. I am sure that our fans will have a good comprehension of where we are as a team and they will definitely give us the support that we need.



FIBA Europe - Do you feel under more pressure playing for a famous club like Partizan with a tradition of winning trophies or do you feel more pressure playing for the National team because of the pride and great history of basketball in Serbia and the desire of everyone to succeed and be strong again?



Uros Tripkovic - There is always pressure on both sides for the club and for the National Team but it is normal for any professional basketball player and I'm always trying to just make sure that I do not to fall down under that pressure.



FIBA Europe - There was and still is a lot of expectation on your shoulders as a young player in the backcourt. Do you watch the likes of Ricky Rubio of DKV Joventut and Spain and feel some sense of understanding what this is like on a similar career path, making debut as a youngster in Euroleague and for the National Team?



Uros Tripkovic - Every time you play for the National Team, everybody always expects a lot from you and it is that kind of pressure that we were talking about. Ricky Rubio is a player who I am sure that is going to find the way to handle that pressure too.



FIBA Europe - Finally Uros, tell us about your current form and what you are hoping can happen between now and EuroBasket 2009 with Partizan, now of course into the last 16 of Euroleague?



Uros Tripkovic - I think that I am in okay form at the moment and I expect that with Partizan we are going to successfully defend our title in the Serbian National League and that we will be an equal rival to any other team in the last 16 of Euroleague.

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Quote:SER – Ivkovic: "Primary aim is to qualify for 2010 FIBA World Championship"





BELGRADE (Eurobasket 2009) – Serbia coach Dusan Ivkovic knows there will be a very thin line between success and failure later this year when the Blues travel to Poland and attempt to qualify for the 2010 FIBA World Championship.



The Serbians, who finished ahead of Bulgaria, Italy, Finland and Hungary in their EuroBasket 2009 qualifying group, will take on world champions Spain, Slovenia and Great Britain in group play in Warsaw when the Final Round is staged in September.



Ivkovic, who was on hand to watch many of his national team players compete in the Radivoj Korac Cup final over the weekend in Nis, a game won by Partizan 80-65, said: "I have to repeat the words of our great basketball player, now the presidential candidate for the Serbian Olympic Committee, Vlade Divac, that our main goal was and still is to qualify for the World Championship in Turkey.



“That's quite of a task, since our team has to be fully prepared for the very first game in Poland.”




Serbia will take on Spain in their Group C opener in Warsaw.



“We have to play wise, and to achieve good results at the same time,” Ivkovic said.



“That won't be easy at all as we have a tough schedule: Spain, Slovenia and Great Britain.”



Once the club season finishes and the players have had a small break, Ivkovic will gather the squad to begin the build-up to Poland.



“Our best chance is to be prepared as much it is possible,” Ivkovic said.



“We've already planned every single detail up to our trip to Warsaw on September 5.



“The only unknown is whether or not we'll participate at Borislav Stankovic Cup in China, which will be held during the first weekend of August.



“The final decision on that issue will be made after we create our preliminary list of candidates for the national team of Serbia.”

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Quote:Ivkovic Looks Ahead To Busy Blues Summer



Serbia coach Dusan Ivkovic was on hand to watch Partizan Belgrade clinch their 10th Cup title in club history in Nis at the weekend with an 80-65 win over Red Star.



Ivkovic watched many of his national team players that helped the country qualify for this year's EuroBasket in Poland, men that he will be counting on to excel when Serbia take on Spain, Slovenia and Great Britain in group play in Warsaw.



The veteran coach has a busy summer coming up and will be focusing on three national squads.



"Together with the FIBA European Championship (EuroBasket) in Poland, we'll have the Universiade 2009 in our capital, but we've also decided to send one national team to the Mediterranean Games," he said.



"It was a bit of a problem for us, since competitions in Belgrade and Pescara (Italy) will be held at the same time, but we'll have our teams at both places.



"It is important for us to see every single player with true potential, so at the Mediterranean Games we'll be able to see many under-20 players and several born in 1990, while at the Universiade we will be evaluating performances and talent of players born from 1985 to 1991.



"Those players who'll have quite a serious preparation period will be joined by several seniors who are already candidates for our national team and EuroBasket."



Serbia finished top of their EuroBasket qualifying group ahead of Bulgaria, Italy, Finland and Hungary to fuel hopes of a resurgence with the national team.



The Blues haven't reached the podium since 2002, when they won the FIBA World Championship in Indianapolis.



"Up to this moment, we've done big things regarding planning and forming our own concept of work, not just for our senior team, but as well for other men's selections of Serbia," he said.



"At the start of May, we'll have a final list of chosen players, but not sooner as we are not interested just in results.



"We are focusing on creating and developing great basketball players.



"Therefore, we have to monitor all available players, whether they are playing in Serbia, in other European countries or they are studying in USA."



Yugoslavia once produced the best players in Europe, many of who played for the biggest clubs on the continent or travelled to North America to play in the NBA.



"At the moment, we do not have a real 'series' of players that are among the highest class, like we used to have," Ivkovic said.



"In fact, at foreign clubs, our only player with a key role is Igor Rakocevic (Tau Ceramica, Spain)."



Still, Ivkovic is aware that the primary job for both himself and the country's basketball bosses is to qualify for the 2010 FIBA World Championship with good performances and results in Poland this year.



"I have to repeat the words of our great basketball player, now the presidential candidate for the Serbian Olympic Committee Vlade Divac, that our main goal was and still is to qualify for the World Championship in Turkey," Ivkovic said.



"That's quite of a task since our team has to be fully prepared for the very first game in Poland.



"We have to play smart, and to achieve good results at the same time.



"That won't be easy at all, as we have a tough schedule: Spain, Slovenia and Great Britain.



"Our chance is to be as well prepared as possible. That said we've already planned every single detail until our trip to Warsaw on September 5.



"The only unknown is whether or not we'll participate in the Borislav Stankovic Cup in China, which will be held during first the first weekend of August.



"The final decision on that issue will be made after we create our preliminary list of candidates for the national team of Serbia."
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Quote:MNE/SER - Rakocevic turns down Montenegro national team invitation





VITORIA ( EuroBasket Division B ) "Montenegro have failed in their bid to add Tau Ceramica shooting guard Igor Rakocevic to their national team ahead of this year's pivotal EuroBasket Division B campaign.



Rakocevic last played in a major international tournament at the 2006 FIBA World Championship with Serbia & Montenegro.



Montenegro, who top Group B at 4-0 after last year's wins over the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark and Iceland, approached the 30-year-old about playing for them this summer when they attempt to win promotion to EuroBasket Division A.



The veteran turned them down.



"It is true that I've been contacted by people from the Basketball Association of Montenegro," Rakocevic said.



"I've thanked them and said that if I ever play for a national team again, it will be just for Serbia.



"I was born in Belgrade, the Serbian capital, as well as my parents.



"Serbia is my homeland."



Rakocevic does have ties to Montenegro.



"I must say that I have very big respect for people in the Basketball Association of Montenegro," he said.



"I spent two memorable years at Buducnost Podgorica and have many friends there.



"I can only say the best things about Montenegro and the way I was welcomed there.



"I admit every single player is flattered when he receives an offer from a club, and imagine how it is when you got call from a country?



"Still, there was no doubt this time."




Rakocevic wasn’t in Serbia’s squad last summer but he could return and play for coach Dusan Ivkovic at EuroBasket 2009 in Poland where the Blues will take on world champions Spain, Slovenia and Great Britain in group play.



His form with Tau Ceramica has been terrific, with the shooting guard helping the Basque club win the 2007-08 ACB title and last weekend the Copa del Rey.

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Quote:Ivkovic Checks Out Serbia Trio In Greece



Many national team coaches in Europe also lead club sides.



One that does not, however, is Serbia's Dusan Ivkovic and that means he has more freedom to travel and keep tabs on his players that are based in various countries.



Ivkovic has just visited Greece, where he once worked as a club coach, to check out three members of the squad that helped the team qualify for this year's EuroBasket.



The veteran boss went to Olympiacos and met with Milos Teodosic and Zoran Erceg, and then checked on Dusan Kecman at Panathinaikos.



Guard Teodosic, who turns 22 on March 19, and 24-year-old power forward/center Erceg are promising players but at a big club like Olympiacos, promise doesn't always translate into minutes on the court.



"It was clear that some of our key players from the national team haven't played a lot for Olympiacos recently," Ivkovic said.



"Since I worked at that club for long time and I still have good relations with their management, I felt like I should visit them and speak with them.



"My meetings with (Olympiacos coach Panagiotis) Yannakis, and both Teodosic and Erceg were quite good.



"I made it clear to them that I'm ready to help if it is needed, mostly with advice."



Ivkovic says playing time is crucial for young players, as well as having good habits in training.



"Our two players and I agreed that it is necessary for them to raise their level of work, and also to wait for their chance," he said.



"On the other hand, Yannakis convinced me that both of them, Teodosic and Erceg, are considered key players for the future of Olympiacos.



"It is clear that they should get more minutes on the court in order to develop more, but as I've said, they'll get their chance."



Panathinaikos, meanwhile, is a team that is coached by another Serbian great, Zeljko Obradovic, so Kecman is in good hands.



"Kecman is very pleased," Ivkovic said.



"While speaking with him, I was made sure that he is satisfied both with work ethic and his status at Panathinaikos. Since his role in the team is very clear, there's no doubt he's more than happy there, which is also good for our national team."



In the Euroleague, Kecman comes off the bench and averages just under 10 minutes per game.



Serbia will take on Spain, Slovenia and Great Britain in Group C of the EuroBasket.



Those games will be played in Warsaw on September 7, 8 and 9.

[url="http://www.fibaeurope.com/coid_UEClm3U2JlMAqIaWNOGwW0.container_frontpage.articleMode_on.html"]http://www.fibaeurope.com/coid_UEClm3U2JlM...cleMode_on.html[/url]
MiloÅ¡ Teodosić, Stefan Marković, Vule Avdalović, Milenko Tepić, Igor Rakočević, UroÅ¡ Tripković, DuÅ¡an Kecman, Novica Veličković, Zoran Erceg, Ivan Radenović, Luka Bogdanović, Nenad Krstić, Kosta Perović and Boban Marjanović.



This is the coach Ivković's list and his assistants are Aco Petrović and Aleksandar Kesar
Today was published by Duda Ivkovic list of players for Eurobasket in Poland.

List of players MiloÅ¡ Teodosić, Stefan Marković, Vule Avdalović, Milenko Tepić, Igor Rakočević, UroÅ¡ Tripković, DuÅ¡an Kecman, Novica Veličković, Zoran Erceg, Ivan Radenović, Luka Bogdanović, Nenad Krstić, Kosta Perović and Boban Marjanović.With this 14 players also will be included four players from University team.Assistants are Aco Petrović and Aleksandar Kesar.

Preparation for Eurobasket begin July 13 six day later the team goes to Italy where will be to August 2.

Second preparation will be from 4 August to 13 August will be held near Belgrade.

14 August they will go to Germany where be played two friendly games.

From 19-21 August tournament in Greece where participants will be Poland,Latvia,Greece and Serbia.

Last games before Eurobasket will be Acropolis Cup where will be Serbia,Russia and Latvia.



<img src='http://www.talkbasket.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thup.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':thup:' />
[quote name='SinisaGrobar' post='15804' date='May 15 2009, 01:09 PM']MiloÅ¡ Teodosić, Stefan Marković, Vule Avdalović, Milenko Tepić, Igor Rakočević, UroÅ¡ Tripković, DuÅ¡an Kecman, Novica Veličković, Zoran Erceg, Ivan Radenović, Luka Bogdanović, Nenad Krstić, Kosta Perović and Boban Marjanović.



This is the coach Ivković's list and his assistants are Aco Petrović and Aleksandar Kesar[/quote]

What about Peja? I heard he was keen on playing this year.
Thanks to everyone for contributing all this info about the Serbia NT. Because we had 3 topics on the Serb NT I merged them all into one. Keep up the good work.
[quote name='stefans' post='15805' date='May 15 2009, 05:08 PM']Last games before Eurobasket will be Acropolis Cup where will be Serbia,Russia and Latvia.[/quote]

You mean Lithuania, right? <img src='http://www.talkbasket.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Tongue' />
[quote name='Vilius' post='15811' date='May 15 2009, 09:05 PM']You mean Lithuania, right? <img src='http://www.talkbasket.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Tongue' />[/quote]

Ah... Latvia... Lithuania... same thing... you know the country where people are Russian and Polish <img src='http://www.talkbasket.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/crazy.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Crazy' />
Ivkovic confirms Milicic's european plans



Head coach of Serbia National Team, Dusan Ivkovic spoke to the official FIBA website and explained why Darko Milicic(2.13-C) is not in the selection of the national team of Serbia and he confirms Milicic's plans to play in Europe. Below is an extract from his interview:



Milicic won't be in Poland, either.

"Darko is at an important point of his life," Ivkovic said.

"His main attributes are grit and victorious spirit, and he explained to me that he has lost that since he played in team which is not among the best in NBA.

"Milicic wants to re-gain that spirit by playing in Europe. He's still in doubt whether or not to return. Also, he's got a wedding coming up, on May 23, and after that he'll become a father.



"He wouldn't be fully concentrated on the national team, and that was the reason he was left.

"But, of course, I really hope we'll have a good time at his wedding party in Novi Sad."
via http://www.talkbasket.net



Quote:Dusan Ivkovic announced his final squad selections with two surprise cuttings, Dusan Kecman and Zoran Erceg.



The 12-men final squad for Serbia NT is:



Stefan Markovic

Milos Teodosic

Milenko Tepic

Nemanja Bjelica

Ivan Paunic

Bojan Popovic

Uros Tripkovic

Milan Macvan

Novica Velickovic

Kosta Perovic

Nenad Krstic

Miroslav Raduljica
Early selection for Ivan Paunic. Didn't expect him to make the national team so quickly. Will be a though year for Ivan. He hasn't taken an vacation from basketball this summer.