FIBA Basketball
SRB - Sakota feeling good after friendly win
BELGRADE (FIBA World Championship) - Serbia & Montenegro coach Dragan Sakota praised his young team's resilience after their 86-83 win over Turkey. Sakota's side demolished Italy 86-58 in their previous game but were given a sterner test by the Turks
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BELGRADE (FIBA World Championship) - Serbia & Montenegro coach Dragan Sakota praised his young team's resilience after their 86-83 win over Turkey.
Sakota's side demolished Italy 86-58 in their previous game but were given a sterner test by the Turks as they prepare to defend their title at the FIBA World Championship in Japan next month.
Serbia & Montenegro raced to an early 33-19 lead but Turkey, who were led by the impressive Ibrahim Kutlay, went on a 14-0 run to level things up.
Kutlay's 22 points made for a thrilling finish, but 'the blues' prevailed, thanks largely to Bojan Popovic and Ognjen Askrabic, who scored 12 points apiece.
Goran Nikolic and Branko Jorovic each scored 11 points, and it was the team's determination to overcome the Turkey fightback that most pleased Sakota.
"It is good to see this young team fighting for their jersey as if we are already at one of the major tournaments," he said.
"I was happy to see the concentration in our team was almost perfect, especially when we were taking our free-throws towards the end of the match. Turkey scored all six of theirs, but we didn't miss a single one out of our 10 shots in the final minutes."
Sakota, though, realises there is still room for improvement before the tournament begins on August 19.
"Of course, we have a lot to do in coming weeks as there were some mistakes we will need to eradicate before the real thing starts in Japan," he added.
"We are not as good as the previous generation in terms of individual quality or performances, but these guys are fighting and dying on the court for their country, and that is our main weapon.
"We are showing that we are capable of playing well. I have a really good feeling about this team."
PA Sport
Exclusively for FIBA.com
BELGRADE (FIBA World Championship) - Serbia & Montenegro coach Dragan Sakota praised his young team's resilience after their 86-83 win over Turkey.
Sakota's side demolished Italy 86-58 in their previous game but were given a sterner test by the Turks as they prepare to defend their title at the FIBA World Championship in Japan next month.
Serbia & Montenegro raced to an early 33-19 lead but Turkey, who were led by the impressive Ibrahim Kutlay, went on a 14-0 run to level things up.
Kutlay's 22 points made for a thrilling finish, but 'the blues' prevailed, thanks largely to Bojan Popovic and Ognjen Askrabic, who scored 12 points apiece.
Goran Nikolic and Branko Jorovic each scored 11 points, and it was the team's determination to overcome the Turkey fightback that most pleased Sakota.
"It is good to see this young team fighting for their jersey as if we are already at one of the major tournaments," he said.
"I was happy to see the concentration in our team was almost perfect, especially when we were taking our free-throws towards the end of the match. Turkey scored all six of theirs, but we didn't miss a single one out of our 10 shots in the final minutes."
Sakota, though, realises there is still room for improvement before the tournament begins on August 19.
"Of course, we have a lot to do in coming weeks as there were some mistakes we will need to eradicate before the real thing starts in Japan," he added.
"We are not as good as the previous generation in terms of individual quality or performances, but these guys are fighting and dying on the court for their country, and that is our main weapon.
"We are showing that we are capable of playing well. I have a really good feeling about this team."
PA Sport
Exclusively for FIBA.com