CRO - A welcome headache for Bralic and Croatia

SPLIT (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women) – Croatia could be firing on all cylinders when the aeroplane wheels touch down on Turkish soil next month after naming a 17-strong preliminary roster who will fight it out to make the final cut for Ankara.
 
Last year at EuroBasket Women in Poland, Croatia were ravaged by injuries and without the services of arguably three of their best six or seven players. But, in a fairytale run, they showed real heart and application to shrug off their woes and claim a superb fifth place finish.
 
With the big hitting trio of Andja Jelavic, Ana Lelas and Marija Vrsaljko all fully fit again and back in contention, it provides a welcome headache for Stipe Bralic with the play-caller being able to choose from a really impressive talent pool.
 
Jelavic and Vrsaljko both missed the EuroBasket Women campaign with serious injuries but made successful returns at club level during the season. Veteran point guard Jelavic reached the EuroCup Women Final with Kayseri Kaskispor and Vrsaljko competed successfully in EuroLeague Women with Gospic CO, a team also coached by Bralic.
 
Indeed it’s a busy time for Vrsaljko who is very much a rising star of European basketball. Her reputation could be boosted not only by some impressive displays during the summer but her profile will also be raised in the near future since she has just penned a deal to play in Spain next year with Liga Femenina club Perfumerias Avenida.
 
Lelas meanwhile did step out in Poland but was injured during the early stages of the tournament and had to be content with a cheering role from the end of the bench. Being able to call upon her all-round skills, hard-nosed approach and vital experience is most definitely a significant tonic for Croatia.
 
Also likely to feature in the Turkish capital and lead the fight for a place in London will be Jelena Ivezic whose 21 points, eight rebounds and three steals in the crucial final game against Montenegro last year handed Croatia their opportunity to realise an Olympic dream.
 
Still headlining however is Sandra Mandir, the evergreen guard who was named in the All Tournament Team last summer after some truly stellar performances. The experienced guard is likely to once again provide the firepower which could help spring another surprise and continue what are proving to be heady times for women's basektball in Croatia.
 
The players will gather for a training camp in Vodice near Sibenik where preparations will begin in earnest. 
 
Croatia preliminary squad for FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women: Andja Jelavic, Iva Ciglar, Antonija Misura, Sandra Mandir, Jelena Ivezic, Marta Cakic, Emanuela Salopek, Ana Lelas, Kristina Benic, Lisa Karcic, Mirna Mazic, Ana Semren, Ivana Tikvic, Luca Ivankovic, Sena Pavetic, Iva Sliskovic, Marija Vrsaljko.

FIBA