Bosnic on Qualifiers: ''It's good Sweden are coming home and playing in front of our people''
GENEVA (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Sweden's packed arenas for national team games and the increased visibility for basketball in the country are proof that the World Cup Qualifiers are boosting the sport, according to national team coach Vedran Bosnic.
Sweden, who faced Ukraine in front of a big home crowd in Norrkoping in November, had more than 8,000 screaming fans show up for their clash with Turkey in Stockholm on February 23.
The atmosphere was electric for Sweden's Qualifier against Turkey
"It was a fantastic experience," Bosnic said to FIBA.basketball. "We had a full gym in Norrkoping for our first game against Ukraine and then in Hovet, an Ice Hockey arena (in Stockholm), we had 8,100 people.
"They were good games. Many people came and talked about basketball. It's good we're coming home and playing in front of our people."
Sweden edged Turkey, 59-58, but then fell to Ukraine, in Kiev, 77-66, to drop to 1-3 in Group B. Bosnic says that the team wants desperately to reach the 32-team World Cup but even if they do not, the entire experience is making the national side better.
"IT WAS A FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE. WE HAD A FULL GYM IN NORRKOPING FOR OUR FIRST GAME AGAINST UKRAINE AND THEN IN HOVET, AN ICE HOCKEY ARENA (IN STOCKHOLM), WE HAD 8,100 PEOPLE.” Bosnic
Sweden are playing a lot more games, including last summer when they competed in the World Cup European Pre-Qualifiers. That, Bosnic says, helps with continuity.
"Of course it does," he said. "But our success, how players respond to me, to each other, is something that we have been building even longer and is not something that started last summer. This goes back to qualifying for the European Championship (EuroBasket 2017) when we were in the group with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Russia.
"This was all summers, young categories under-24, University Games, our U20 teams playing well. I think all of this together brings results. We should be proud at the level we are at now."
Bosnic also says the fans are developing a connection with any player that wears the Sweden jersey.
"We have a mentality that we fight," Bosnic said, "that we can compete with any team in Europe.
"Maybe we don't have the best roster in Group B but I think we play good basketball and fight for every possession.
"If you make a deep analysis with other European teams, this new generation of Sweden players has come to a good level and they need to continue. I think in two or three years, we'll have an even better team."
"I FELT THEY REALLY MISSED EACH OTHER. THEY'RE VERY GOOD FRIENDS. TO GET TOGETHER AGAIN IN THE QUALIFIERS FOR SURE IS A PLUS. FROM A BASKETBALL STANDPOINT, WE HAD THE FULL GYMS AND FANS CAN SEE THE NATIONAL TEAM THREE TIMES (EACH ROUND). IT'S GREAT." Bosnic
Something else the World Cup Qualifiers do is give Sweden players an opportunity to show they can compete at the highest level.
Center Nick Spires raised his profile considerably after playing for Sweden in the November window with Spanish Liga Endesa outfit Monbus Obradoiro signing him shortly after. Spires had been on the books of Barcelona as a youth player but things didn't go well as he'd hoped so he returned to Sweden to play for Sodertalje, a side coached by Bosnic.
Spires did well in November and really excelled in February. He had a game-high 16 points in the win over Turkey.
"I'm really happy for him because when he came back to Sweden from Spain, no one was talking about him," Bosnic said. "He will be even better. He had a great game against Turkey."
Another Swede that enhanced his reputation by playing for the national team was Viktor Gaddefors. The combative 25-year-old forward has averaged a team-best 6.8 rebounds in the Qualifiers and has the third best efficiency average of 10.5.
“HOW DO WE MAXIMIZE PLAYERS' CHANCES TO GO ABROAD? IT'S ALWAYS BEEN MY GOAL. SO THE WINDOWS, IT'S ALSO A CHANCE FOR THEM TO GET TO A BETTER LEAGUE." Bosnic
Gaddefors, who had 6 points and 3 assists to go with his 12 rebounds in the win over Turkey, joined French outfit Antibes on March 15 from Uppsala Basket and had 10 points and 4 rebounds in 29 minutes of his team's 85-76 defeat to leaders AS Monaco Basket on Friday.
"One thing about Sweden is that we have players in the Swedish league, but how do we help players go to clubs in Europe?" Bosnic said. "Players like Nick Spires, Tobias Borg (Iberostar Tenerife), Viktor Gaddefors? How do we maximize players' chances to go abroad? It's always been my goal. So the windows, it's also a chance for them to get to a better league."
Win or lose, it's always fun for the players to come back home and spend time with each other, and family and friends.
"I felt they really missed each other," Bosnic said. "They're very good friends. To get together again in the Qualifiers for sure is a plus. From a basketball standpoint, we had the full gyms and fans can see the national team three times (each round). It's great."
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