KARLOVY VARY (FIBA World Championship for Women) - There was home joy for Czech Republic as they went undefeated to be crowned winners of the Karlovy Vary tournament in another important preparation step ahead of the pending FIBA World Championship for Women in Turkey.

Held in the city where the last FIBA World Championship for Women title was decided between eventual winners USA and the Czech team themselves who took the silver medal - the home favourites overcame Korea, Serbia and Canada in three very competitive games to finish top of the pile at the exhibition series.

Although completing a hard fought trio of victories proved tough for Lubor Blazek and his players after having to overturn an 18-point deficit against Canada to eventually claim a narrow 55-52 triumph.

"We had problems putting up points," reflected Czech Republic assistant coach, Ivan Benes.

"Conversely, we could not resist their key players in their 1-on-1 game.

"In the second half we put everything into it and the reward was that we turned the match.

"Everybody enjoyed the victory and there are also two plus points.

"The first is that this team did not fold when it was 18 points behind. We did not lose and we pulled out the result, but it was difficult.

"We reeled them back and the girls did not give up.

"Another positive is that we have beaten Canada and there is a great chance that we could get them to cross with us (as an opponent in Turkey)."

One of the other major positives for the delighted hosts was that experienced forward Jana Vesela looked somewhere near back to her best after rediscovering full fitness having spent a year out of action with her ACL injury.

Vesela claimed eight points and six rebounds against the Canadians, having previously amassed an eye-catching and team-high 15 points in the 77-68 win against Serbia.

Meanwhile, losing narrowly was tough to take for Canada, who had also succumbed during the last minute against Korea during the previous game.

However, it was not against the Korea squad heading to Istanbul, but rather the experienced and well-known team who will soon be heading to the Asian Games and will be favourites to take gold in Incheon.

Serbia finished the tournament on a high and beat Korea 82-78, with Ana Dabovic leading the way by corralling 17 points.

FIBA