FIBA Basketball
SCG - Sakota confirms Stojakovic absence
BELGRADE (FIBA World Championship) - Serbia & Montenegro will defend their FIBA World Championship crown in Japan this year without superstar Peja Stojakovic, one of their heroes from Indianapolis 2002.Stojakovic, who plays for the Indiana Pacers in the NBA, accumulated 169 points at an average of 18.8 as the then Yugoslavia side romped to success four years ago in America
BELGRADE (FIBA World Championship) - Serbia & Montenegro will defend their FIBA World Championship crown in Japan this year without superstar Peja Stojakovic, one of their heroes from Indianapolis 2002.
Stojakovic, who plays for the Indiana Pacers in the NBA, accumulated 169 points at an average of 18.8 as the then Yugoslavia side romped to success four years ago in America.
The 28-year-old has not played for the national team the last three summers, however, missing two Eurobaskets and the 2004 Olympics, and new Serbia & Montenegro coach Dragan Sakota confirmed in an interview with Belgrade newspaper Novosti, Stojakovic will again be absent in the Far East.
"He couldn't refuse my call as I didn't call him at all," said Sakota, who is also in charge of Red Star Belgrade.
"The story about his presence in Japan started two months ago when we spoke on the subject.
"But, as I have said, the results are not the priority at this World Championship; working on a new, youthful team is.
"It will be different for the European Championship in 2007 when we will add some of our big names. That is what I have told Stojakovic.
"I am really confused why he is always the subject of talks here as (Zeljko) Rebraca and (Dejan) Bodiroga won't play in Japan either."
Stojakovic, Rebraca and Bodiroga may be absent but Sakota was tight-lipped on whether the country's other NBA stars, namely Marko Jaric, Vladimir Radmanovic and Nenad Krstic, would take part.
He added: "I didn't say a word on them, right?
"That's because we'll have to wait a bit and see if they play in Japan.
"A full list of the names of the players I want to be in our squad this summer will be sent to the federation shortly and soon after we will announce it officially."
Serbia & Montenegro failed to qualify automatically for the FIBA World Championship but received a wild card for the event, which tips off in August.
They have been drawn in Group A with Olympic champions Argentina, France, Nigeria, Venezuela and Lebanon.
By Darko Nikolic, PA Sport, Belgrade
Stojakovic, who plays for the Indiana Pacers in the NBA, accumulated 169 points at an average of 18.8 as the then Yugoslavia side romped to success four years ago in America.
The 28-year-old has not played for the national team the last three summers, however, missing two Eurobaskets and the 2004 Olympics, and new Serbia & Montenegro coach Dragan Sakota confirmed in an interview with Belgrade newspaper Novosti, Stojakovic will again be absent in the Far East.
"He couldn't refuse my call as I didn't call him at all," said Sakota, who is also in charge of Red Star Belgrade.
"The story about his presence in Japan started two months ago when we spoke on the subject.
"But, as I have said, the results are not the priority at this World Championship; working on a new, youthful team is.
"It will be different for the European Championship in 2007 when we will add some of our big names. That is what I have told Stojakovic.
"I am really confused why he is always the subject of talks here as (Zeljko) Rebraca and (Dejan) Bodiroga won't play in Japan either."
Stojakovic, Rebraca and Bodiroga may be absent but Sakota was tight-lipped on whether the country's other NBA stars, namely Marko Jaric, Vladimir Radmanovic and Nenad Krstic, would take part.
He added: "I didn't say a word on them, right?
"That's because we'll have to wait a bit and see if they play in Japan.
"A full list of the names of the players I want to be in our squad this summer will be sent to the federation shortly and soon after we will announce it officially."
Serbia & Montenegro failed to qualify automatically for the FIBA World Championship but received a wild card for the event, which tips off in August.
They have been drawn in Group A with Olympic champions Argentina, France, Nigeria, Venezuela and Lebanon.
By Darko Nikolic, PA Sport, Belgrade