CRO - Croatian sensations storm to title in Efes Pilsen World Cup
ANKARA (EuroBasket 2009) - The mood is extremely bright in Croatia's basketball team following their unbeaten run at the Efes Pilsen World Cup. Roko Ukic poured in 21 points in a 90-83 win over F.Y.R. of Macedonia, a team they will face in Group A at the EuroBasket. NBA guard Ukic, who was this summer dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks from the Toronto ...
ANKARA (EuroBasket 2009) - The mood is extremely bright in Croatia's basketball team following their unbeaten run at the Efes Pilsen World Cup.
Roko Ukic poured in 21 points in a 90-83 win over F.Y.R. of Macedonia, a team they will face in Group A at the EuroBasket.
NBA guard Ukic, who was this summer dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks from the Toronto Raptors, believes his team has a very good chance of qualifying for the 2010 FIBA World Championship.
The top six sides (seven if 2010 hosts Turkey are in the top six) will qualify for next year's big event.
"Certainly we are one of the best five or six teams (at the EuroBasket)," Ukic said after scooping the Efes Pilsen World Cup MVP award.
"We want to take another step this year, more than in the past two events.
"We want to go the Semi-Finals and try to take a medal.
"We'll do whatever we can to achieve this."
Croatia reached the Quarter-Finals of the EuroBasket two years ago in Spain and last year, after earning a place at the Beijing Games via the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Athens, Jasmin Repesa’s team also reached the last eight before falling to silver medalists Spain.
The EuroBasket tips off on September 7 and Croatia's first game will be against Israel.
FIBA