CRO - ‘A new beginning’

ZAGREB (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women) - Croatia didn't capture a medal at last year's EuroBasket Women, but you wouldn't have known it by the way the players celebrated after their 73-59 victory over Montenegro on July 2.

It was a battle for fifth place.

Yet that triumph could not have been any sweeter for a team that began the competition with an 86-40 mauling at the hands of France because what the 14-point win over the Montenegrins ensured for the Croatians was a place in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) for Women.

In Ankara on June 25, 12 teams will go into battle for five berths for the London Games and yes, Croatia will be one of them.

"It´s an amazing feeling," Croatia forward Ana Lelas said to FIBA.com.

"It felt as though we have won the gold medal.

"We didn't start the tournament very well and at the end, we showed everyone that we have quality.

"We have a young team with a few experienced players, and I think in a few years we are going to get better."

Lelas, who competes in France played in the EuroLeague Women this season with Lattes Montpellier, is one of Croatia's best known players but she was limited to just three appearances in Poland.

In the Group D clash with Latvia, the 1.82m forward was going after a loose ball and tore a couple of ligaments in her chest.

Her arm was a sling for the rest of the tournament.

During the fifth-place game against Montenegro, a team that had thumped Croatia earlier in the EuroBasket, Lelas sat on the bench and made more noise than anyone.

"I thought I was going to get a technical foul because I was jumping from my chair," she said.

"You're nervous because you can't help your team."

In the end, though, seeing the emotional Lelas on the bench did her teammates.

"I really believe in these girls," Lelas said.

"They showed me that even when it is hard for us and we were missing several key players, they showed they can beat anyone.

"I was proud of them. Maybe it had to happen like this, that I got injured, that we lost against Montenegro by 21 points early in the tournament for this to happen so we could beat them for fifth place."

What next for Croatia?

At the OQT in Ankara, Croatia appear to have a good chance of reaching the London Games and that is significant because the women’s team has never made it to an Olympics.

They will compete in Group C against Korea and Mozambique.

"I´m really excited about the Pre-Olympic Games," Lelas said.

"I know that is a dream of every player or every athlete to go to the Olympics and we are going to give our best."

If there was doom and gloom after the EuroBasket-opening loss to France, and the injury to Lelas, there was only bright sunshine the day Croatia booked a place in the OQT.

The men's team clinched one of three spots for the Beijing Games at the 2008 OQT, and now the women have a chance to be Olympians.

"It´s a new beginning for Croatia," Lelas said.

"It´s a new, young team that has been playing the past few years together.

"I think we are getting better and better."

FIBA