BUL - Bulgaria on the right path

SOFIA (EuroBasket Women 2011) - Bulgaria haven't played at a EuroBasket Women since 1991 but national team coach Jose Maria Buceta is hoping the players can stop the rot - maybe as early as next month.

In June, they will play in Group A of the Additional Qualifying Tournament in Sopron, Hungary, against Ukraine, the Hungarians, Finland and the Netherlands.

The Bulgarians finished their Division A campaign in 2010 with three successive victories to finish 5-3 in Group C and in third place.

"In 2010, we joined a group of very motivated and committed players to represent Bulgaria, and we worked hard to build a competitive team," said Buceta, a Spaniard who once led that country's national team.

He also famously worked as a sports psychologist to Real Madrid football players.

"This year, we have to move one more step forward," Buceta said.

Should Bulgaria finish top of Group A, a game against the Group B winners would determine the final team at the EuroBasket Women.

Italy, Germany, Romania, Serbia and Belgium are in Group B.

"We will play against teams formed by very experienced players in EuroLeague Women and previous EuroBaskets whereas this season, we only had one player in the EuroLeague and one in the EuroCup Women," Buceta said.

"However, we have to believe in ourselves as we did last summer.

"We will do our best to qualify for the EuroBasket.

"This will be difficult, since only one team qualifies and 10 teams participate, plus the fact that we have to play away (in Hungary) the first part."

It's most important to play well and gain experience.

"Our players have the talent to build a good team, and they have my full confidence," Buceta said.

"They are young and have a very promising future to be very good players. We trust and support them."

Bulgaria preliminary squad: Ekaterina Dimitrova, Donneka Hodges, Daniela Peteva, Zoia Stanoeva, Elena Yankova, Roksana Yordanova, Daniela Georgieva, Hristina Ivanova, María Jelyazkova, Jaklin Zlatanova, Dimana Georgieva, Stefka Miteva, Vesselka Todorova, Alexandra Delcheva and Liliana Ilieva.

FIBA