Djordjevic, Serbia to count on 14 players against Georgia, Germany
NOVI SAD (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) – Serbia have trimmed their roster to 14 players for the European Qualifiers clashes against Georgia and Germany.
NOVI SAD (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) – Serbia have cut their squad down to 14 players for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers clashes against Georgia and Germany, head coach Aleksandar Djordjevic announced on Wednesday.
Boban Marjanovic, Nemanja Nedovic, Nikola Milutinov and Vasilije Micic headline the talented lineup, which will be on a mission to finish the First Round on a high note after already clinching qualification to the next phase of the competition earlier.
| Serbia's squad for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers | |||
| Aleksa Avramovic | Ilija Djokovic | Ognjen Dobric | Djordje Gagic |
| Stevan Jelovac | Nikola Jovanovic | Boban Marjanovic | Vasilije Micic |
| Dragan Milosavljevic | Nikola Milutinov | Nemanja Nedovic | Stefan Peno |
| Marko Simonovic | Dejan Todorovic | ||
"Everyone who follows us, knows that our motto is that every next game is the most important one. So the two in front of us and especially the one in Georgia is on our mind. They will both be difficult," coach Djordjevic spoke at the press conference.
"The good thing about the Qualifiers is that you can check out as many players in the games and during training, get them familiar with the system and the principles of the national team."
The 14-man team also features a number of Qualifiers standouts, with the likes of Djordje Gagic, Stevan Jelovac, Stefan Peno, Aleksa Avramovic, Ilija Djokovic and Dejan Todorovic earning their spots with stellar play in the November and February windows.
After facing Georgia in Tbilisi on Friday, Serbia will return home to take on Group G leaders Germany on Monday in a potentially decisive bout for the top spot in the group standings.
— Košarkaški savez SRB (@KSSrbije) June 15, 2018
This will be the last game of the First Round for Serbia. After playing the first two home fixtures at the Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in the capital Belgrade, they will host their last game in Novi Sad.
"Every day, we have the feeling that we are welcome here. The fact that already 80 percent of the tickets are sold makes me pleased. We will try to reward them with a good game and a win," Djordjevic vowed.
"Every time possible, I want to go outside of Belgrade as well. We already have been in Nis, Kraljevo with the national team, for example. In some ways, our duty is to give back to our supporters, who feel the pain of defeats and celebrate our wins with us."
FIBA