SER – New Partizan man Milosavljevic released from Serbia duty

BELGRADE (2010 FIBA World Championship) - Serbia’s Dragan Milosavljevic won’t play at the FIBA World Championship after being released from national team duty by coach Dusan Ivkovic.

The Partizan Belgrade guard impressed through the country’s preparations but has been let go.

"Dragan Milosavljevic was really active, a well-working guy,” Ivkovic said.

“He has shown tremendous progress since we've started with training and, as all other guys did, he gave his best during the preparations.

“From the first day, he was one of most serious candidates for the final squad and I'm going to count on him in the future, for sure - especially after he gains more experience with Partizan at international level.”

Milosavljevic, who played for Radnicki Kragujevac before moving to champions Partizan this summer, says the experience with the national team has been terrific.

"Sincerely, I wasn't expecting a call, at all,” he said.

“Now, I'm more than happy to be the 14th player of Serbia

“It was pure joy to work and live with those guys, and I'm thrilled with improvement I've made while being with them."

Ivkovic has decided to take 13 players to Turkey and will have to release one more player.

Serbia’s current squad includes Milenko Tepic, Nemanja Bjelica, Novica Velickovic, Kosta Perovic, Milos Teodosic, Ivan Paunic, Stefan Markovic, Dusko Savanovic, Miroslav Raduljica, Nenad Krstic, Marko Keselj, Milan Macvan and Aleksandar Rasic.

Keselj, Savanovic and Rasic were not members of last year’s team that won a silver medal at the EuroBasket in Poland.

Serbia will compete in Group A at the FIBA World Championship against Argentina, Australia, Angola, Germany and Jordan.

FIBA