SRB - Remembering the positives
ISTANBUL (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - There wasn't much shine left on Serbia's national team by the end of EuroBasket 2013, after the team lost three of its last five games and narrowly qualified for the FIBA Basketball World Cup. Respected play-caller Dusan Ivkovic had already decided he would step down as coach and the players looked worn out after ...
ISTANBUL (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - There wasn't much shine left on Serbia's national team by the end of EuroBasket 2013, after the team lost three of its last five games and narrowly qualified for the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Respected play-caller Dusan Ivkovic had already decided he would step down as coach and the players looked worn out after drawing on all of their reserves to beat Italy in a do-or-die game for Spain 2014.
Several months on, though, and the whole body of work from last year's qualifying event is easy to appreciate.
All that anyone should remember is that a largely inexperienced squad travelled to Slovenia and finished first in Group B, the so-called 'group of death', and then punched its ticket to the World Cup.
"We accomplished our main goal, which was (to qualify for) the World Cup in Spain," Nemanja Bjelica said to FIBA.com.
"It was very difficult for us, especially for a young team, but we showed how badly we wanted it."
Yes, Serbia had fallen short of their first podium finish since EuroBasket 2009 in Poland, yet their seventh-place finish has allowed them to eat at the top table of international basketball in Spain this year.
Serbia, who recently appointed Aleksander Djordjevic as coach, will discover who their opponents at the World Cup will be on 3 February, when the draw for the event is held in Barcelona.
Had Bjelica not been one of the three veterans to make the trip to the EuroBasket (Stefan Markovic and Nenad Krstic were the others), Serbia would be staring at the prospect of a EuroBasket 2015 qualifying campaign instead of planning to take part in the World Cup.
His presence was vital.
In his finest tournament with the national team, Bjelica averaged 10 points and seven rebounds.
He had 12 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in the all-important clash with the Italians.
A 2.09m forward, Bjelica has followed up the tournament with a strong showing at Fenerbahce Ulker.
In the Turkish Airlines Euroleague, he's been a big reason why the club has made it to the Top 16.
"We showed we deserved to go on to the next step, to the World Cup," Bjelica said.
"I hope that everyone will be healthy.
"For sure, we'll be one year older and better."
FIBA