Poeltl and Austria on mission to show they can play at World Cup level during third window
TORONTO (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Austria may have lost their first four games in the European Qualifiers, but star center Jakob Poeltl insists the country is out to show they can play at a World Cup level.
The Austrians know it will be a tall order to reach the World Cup since results carry over from the First Round to the next, yet they would like nothing more than to at least advance to the next stage on the Road to China 2019 and compete against top sides. This type of experience would be a huge benefit to the program.
"We have two games to play; two games that we have to play like finals. We are going to play those two games with a warrior mentality. We have nothing to lose now, so we have to play without having bad pressure on our shoulders," said Poeltl, who is coming off his second season with the NBA's Toronto Raptors and watched from North America as Austria dropped their first four games in Group G in November and February.
"BEING WINLESS IN THE QUALIFIERS SO FAR DOESN'T CHANGE MY PLANS. IT DIDN'T EVEN CROSS MY MIND TO NOT PLAY WITH THE NATIONAL TEAM THIS SUMMER AND TO LEAVE THE GUYS BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T WON A GAME IN THE CAMPAIGN SO FAR. WE ARE UNITED, THROUGH GOOD AND BAD TIMES" Poeltl
"We know we can do better than having four losses so far; we know we can play better than that. Even if we don't qualify for the next round, we want to show the fans and the people that support us that we're capable of playing on that level. We have the mission to show to the basketball world that we definitely belong there, with the goal of being one of the competitive teams of the continent."
Heading into the June-July window, Austria (0-4) are battling Georgia (1-3) for third place in Group G and the right to join Germany and Serbia in the Second Round.
The Georgians beat Austria 78-64 during the second window, with the teams set to square off on July 2 in Georgia.
The clash will be a must-win situation for Austria if, on June 29, they lose to group leaders Germany while the Georgians fall to Serbia. In the event of this combination of results, the Austrians can advance to the Second Round with a 15-point victory in Georgia on the final day of First Round action.
Austria showed they are a team to be reckoned with when they nearly clipped Serbia in the second window, losing 82-81 in front of their home fans.
"There were a couple of games so far where we just didn't show our best level and the last one against Serbia where we couldn't close out the game," Poeltl said. "Obviously, that is a bit frustrating but we have to keep believing in ourselves.
"We have been improving and we have two more games to try to make it to the next round. It is going to be tough, but we got to play hard and believe in our potential. With the new format, everything is still possible."
"WE KNOW WE CAN DO BETTER THAN HAVING FOUR LOSSES SO FAR. EVEN IF WE DON'T QUALIFY FOR THE NEXT ROUND, WE WANT TO SHOW THE FANS AND PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT US THAT WE'RE CAPABLE OF PLAYING ON THAT LEVEL. WE HAVE THE MISSION TO SHOW THE BASKETBALL WORLD WE DEFINITELY BELONG THERE" Poeltl
The 22-year-old is very much looking forward to representing his homeland again - the last time having come in August of last year in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Pre-Qualifiers, in which he averaged 20 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists to help Austria get to this stage.
"I can't wait to wear the national team jersey this summer. I love it, it's so great and I learn a lot from playing FIBA basketball too," said the 7ft (2.13m) big man, who averaged 6.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 82 regular season games for the Raptors.
"The project of the senior national team is exciting because we want to build a very solid team and I want to be part of the whole project. I dream of being with the guys and qualifying Austria for an international competition. I am sure that it will happen sooner or later. We still have a lot of room for improvement but we have the potential to do great things in the future."
Poeltl's commitment to the national team is such that there is no doubt on his part about returning to Europe to play for his country this summer - even if it had already been mathematically eliminated from Road to China 2019.
"I am still planning on playing with the guys this summer, no doubt about it. Even if the team were eliminated after the first two windows I would have gone to play with them anyway," he said. "Being winless in the Qualifiers so far doesn't change my plans. It didn't even cross my mind to not play with the national team this summer and to leave the guys because they haven't won a game in the campaign so far. We are united, through good and bad times."
Last year's World Cup European Pre-Qualifiers marked Poeltl's senior national team debut, after having played at the FIBA U18 European Championship Division B in 2012 and 2013.
"I CAN'T WAIT TO WEAR THE NATIONAL TEAM JERSEY THIS SUMMER. I LOVE IT, IT'S SO GREAT AND I LEARN A LOT FROM PLAYING FIBA BASKETBALL TOO. IN MY SITUATION, I CAN ONLY PLAY WITH AUSTRIA DURING THE SUMMER TIME SO I WANT TO GO AND MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY TIME AND OPPORTUNITY I HAVE" Poeltl
"I am still young and still have a lot to learn with the senior national team, like building a great chemistry with my teammates. I miss them and wearing the national team jersey and I am part of the project of the growth of the national team. So I want to be there and help my teammates," he said.
In general, Poeltl is about playing for the red and white - whenever possible.
"In my situation, I can only play with Austria during the summer time so I want to go and make the most of every time and every opportunity that I have.
"The national team is very important to me. It's a lot of fun for me personally, I like to train and play with the guys I grew up with. I also see it as a challenge and another way to improve. The opponents are good, as well as my teammates. I take a different role here. I think the interaction is important, also with regard to the future and team chemistry. If I have the freedom and time, I want to be always with the national team. "
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