MNE - Youngster Dubljevic, NT look like the real deal
TEL AVIV (EuroBasket/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - For a player who is still only 20 years of age, Bojan Dubljevic looks like the finished product. The Montenegrin power forward was a member of the All-Star Five at the U20 European Championship in Bilbao last year and now, after making the step up to the senior team, has been one of his country’s best ...
TEL AVIV (EuroBasket/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - For a player who is still only 20 years of age, Bojan Dubljevic looks like the finished product.
The Montenegrin power forward was a member of the All-Star Five at the U20 European Championship in Bilbao last year and now, after making the step up to the senior team, has been one of his country’s best players as it attempts to reach next year’s EuroBasket.
Dubljevic has averaged 12.5 points and seven rebounds per game in the Qualification Round, helping Montenegro win all six of their games.
In the “Group of Death” with Serbia, Israel, Estonia, Iceland and the Slovak Republic, Montenegro have taken on all challengers and won every single game, including on Thursday night when they travelled to Tel Aviv and beat Arik Shivek’s Israelis.
Israel had only 48 hours before won a hugely important game at home against Serbia, yet Dubljevic and Montenegro prevailed.
The fans saw a great Dubljevic. He had 18 points, 10 rebounds and two steals as Montenegro moved to within touching distance of a place at next year’s EuroBasket, the qualifying tournament for European teams for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Headed for Valencia Basket this season to play in the highly competitive Liga Endesa, Dubljevic and his teammates have thrived despite the absence of veteran point guard Omar Cook and NBA center Nikola Pekovic.
In Lithuania last year, Montenegro disappointed when falling short of the Quarter-Finals but there is no doubt about the quality in the side, and the potential.
Also this summer, they stunned Serbia in Belgrade with a last-second shot from beyond half-court.
Montenegro coach Luka Pavicevic couldn’t be happier after the performance of Dubljevic, and all of his players in Israel.
“Our win in Belgrade surprised everyone,” he said.
“Our win here was different.
“We led the group and Israel needed the win. We can’t say Israel didn’t play well, so for us to step up in Tel Aviv and to have such a great win is a huge thing.”
FIBA