Serbia's Maljkovic and Dabovic both ready for the challenge

VOJVODINA (FIBA World Championship for Women) - Serbia head coach Marina Maljkovic and team captain Milica Dabovic are both looking forward to penning an exciting new chapter in their country's rejuvenated women's basketball history when the curtain is raised on the FIBA World Championship for Women in less than six weeks.

Having concluded the first phase of their preparations at their traditional training camp base of Zlatibor, the duo have outlined their thoughts ahead of Serbia competing at the event for the first time as an independent nation.

"The break was unusually long and now I'm craving basketball and happy to be back with my national team colleagues," stated veteran guard Dabovic.

"I am looking forward to this preparation for the FIBA World Championship where we will get to play at the highest possible level and against the best teams.

"We are in a very tough group, which many say is the 'group of death', but we have a right to dream and have faith that miracles do sometimes happen.

"As always, we will do everything in our power to provide the maximum in every game and make sure we do not disappoint.
 
She added: "However, this championship should also primarily be a springboard for EuroBasket Women next year, which is also the qualification route for the Olympic Games in Rio - something which is the ultimate goal of this generation."

Meanwhile, Maljkovic has had a 20-strong pool of players at her disposal, with star forward Jelena Milovanovic recovering from injury and joining the team after the completion of her obligations in the WNBA with the Washington Mystics.

"In Zlatibor it was very important not to lose a single day as we started preparations later in relation to the other teams," said Maljkovic.

"Most of the girls ended the season a few months ago and so we had to be very careful to introduce them into the training process, because it is essential for their health - we have to guard them.

"Our preparations have begun with great optimism and we are happy that we will represent our country in such a big competition."

The play-caller is also looking forward to taking her team to an important preparation event in Karlovy Vary next week - the city which staged the last FIBA World Championship for Women Final.

"After the success at EuroBasket Women 2013 and winning fourth place, the attitudes have changed towards us," said Maljkovic.

"We have received invitations to participate in strong tournaments.

"First we will go to the Czech Republic and will also have the honour to participate in tournaments in both Spain and France - playing against countries that are the very best in Europe.

"We will play a total of 10 games and only after that will we be able to get a much more realistic picture of our capabilities."

The team are currently at their second training camp in the province of Vojvodinaand. This will conclude after the weekend when they will then head to the Czech Republic for their first warm-up tournament involving the hosts, Korea and Canada.

At the FIBA World Championship for Women, Serbia will play in Istanbul against Group D rivals Angola, China and the USA.

FIBA