''We still have two more games to make it to the Second Round,'' says Croatia superstar Saric
PHILADELPHIA (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Croatia may be bottom of Group D in the European Qualifiers, but Dario Saric believes the third window will bring a change of fortune.
Ivica Skelin's charges have dropped two of their three home games - against Italy in November and versus Romania last month - and find themselves at 1-3 after the first two window, with a pair of games left to play in the First Round.
"We expected a bit more, maybe one win more than this. But sometimes it's like that in sports. We've still got two more games to make it to the Second Round," Saric said, sounding and feeling still optimistic.
"THE NATIONAL TEAM IS IMPORTANT TO ME. I'VE BEEN A PART OF IT FOR 11 YEARS NOW - IMAGINE THAT!" Saric
"If we get our NBA players on board, I believe we can beat Italy in Italy, and Romania in Romania again, and get those extra four points," said the 6ft 10in (2.09m) forward.
With Saric and Bojan Bogdanovic in leading roles, Croatia surpassed the challenge of Romania in Cluj-Napoca during FIBA EuroBasket 2017, so they will know what to expect when they head on east in June-July.
And the good old rivalry with Italy will reach yet another chapter, with Croatia ready to repeat the summer of 2016.
When asked what so far ranks as his best memory of representing his country, Saric doesn't need to think about it too long.
"When we beat Italy in Turin to qualify for the Rio Olympics! We beat Italy with their strongest lineup, with their NBA guys. For me, that was my biggest moment in the senior national team," he said.
Saric is still just 23, but has been around for a long time in the red-and-white. He recalls that his first summer with the national team was back when he was just a 12-year-old kid.
"The national team is important to me. I've been a part of it for 11 years now - imagine that! I'm 23 and I didn't miss a single summer with the team, from friendly youth tournaments to World Cup and Olympic Games," he pointed out.
"If I'm feeling well, if I'm healthy - why not play for the national team? That's what makes me proud, I get to represent my family, my hometown, of course it means a lot to me."
That hometown is well-known in the world of basketball. The beautiful coastal gem of Sibenik has just over 30,000 residents, but has given the world two of the finest pearls of the European game, with Dario Saric being born 30 years after the late, great Drazen Petrovic.
That's why the "get to represent my hometown" quote gets some added weight.
That love goes both ways. People from Sibenik will not hesitate to travel halfway around the world to see their favorite son, whether in a "Hrvatska" shirt, or in the Sixers one.
"People from Balkans are like that, passionate about sports," Saric explained. "Croatia's got pretty good fans, not just for basketball, but also for soccer, tennis, handball, water polo, for all of those, too... And when you've got somebody like that behind you, of course it's easier to play."
"WE EXPECTED A BIT MORE, MAYBE ONE WIN MORE THAN THIS. BUT SOMETIMES IT'S LIKE THAT IN SPORTS. WE'VE STILL GOT TWO MORE GAMES TO MAKE IT TO THE SECOND ROUND" Saric
Saric said he's fully committed to his NBA season with the Philadelphia 76ers right now, but if he stays healthy, Croatia can expect him to lead the national team once more.
Summer number 12 in a red-and-white jersey. Pretty impressive for a soon-to-be 24-year-old.
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