SRB – Milicic: “It takes my summer away but I’m happy to do it”

SAITAMA (FIBA World Championship) – The FIBA World Championship ended on Saturday for Serbia & Montenegro in an 87-75 defeat to Spain but the feel-good factor is back according to 21-year-old center Darko Milicic.

Milicic had some good moments in Dragan Sakota’s squad, and he expects to many more at next year's EuroBasket.

The 2.12m center spoke to PA Sport’s Jeff Taylor on behalf of FIBA after the defeat to the Spaniards.

FIBA: Darko, you’re heading home on Sunday but is the positive feeling back in the national team after a difficult period?

Milicic: “Yes it is. We’re a young team. We all got experience in the World Championship and we tried to do the best we can. We lost our first game to Nigeria (82-75) but after that, we came back and played every game as hard as we can.”

FIBA: What has been the biggest lesson for you this summer?

Milicic: “To come and play harder. All of the players in my team, it’s our first time in the World Championship.”

FIBA: How tough was it to bounce back from early defeats to Nigeria and France?

Milicic: “I’m really happy because after that first loss against Nigeria, which we expected to win, we came back. Against France and Argentina, we gave our best but in the end, we couldn’t win. We couldn’t get lucky.”

FIBA: When can we expect to see Serbia & Montenegro back to its dominating best?

Milicic: “I hope next year because we are expecting (Nenad) Krstic, (Vladimir) Radmanovic, (Sasha) Pavlovic to come and play from the NBA. We hope that next year is going to be much better than this year, but you never know.”

FIBA: Do you sense that the overall level is getting better for all of these teams?

Milicic: “Yes, you can see the teams coming here, playing much better than last year. Everyone is trying to improve themselves, coming to tournaments like this.”

FIBA: You had a long season in the NBA, and then played here. Do you like giving up your summer to play for the national team?

Milicic: “I love Serbia, my country’s been through some tough, tough times. Yes, it takes my summer away but I’m happy to do it.”

FIBA: Are you going to go back to the NBA with the Orlando Magic a better player?

Milicic: “I think I will. I played against all those guys who are some off the best players in the NBA, and some at my position.”

By Jeff Taylor
FIBA