By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Even though he made himself available for Serbia’s second game of November’s FIBA window against Turkey, Nemanja Nedovic won’t help the Svetislav Pesic team.
As the Serbian national team coach explained, the decision was made for Nedovic to skip the game against Turkey, so he can continue with his progress after coming back from injury, without taking another risk.
“We talked to Crvena Zvezda. As we were told, Nedovic is progressing, and we don’t want to force him, and potentially make him a problem. Nedovic is better, but at the moment he can’t bring what is expected of him. You should play for the national team with a special emotion that he also feels. Of course, as when playing for Crvena Zvezda, but the national team games are rare compared to clubs. It would be a risk if we would play him now,” coach Pesic said at the press conference before the game against Turkey.
Nedovic sustained a calf injury playing for Serbia at EuroBasket, and played his first game of the season in a win against Bayern in EuroLeague, on October 28.
Vasilije Micic also won’t be able to help the Serbian national team, as Anadolu Efes decided not to allow him to travel. The head coach of the Efes and Turkey explained national feelings weren’t considered when the decision was made.
Serbia will meet Turkey in Belgrade on Monday, in one of the most important matches of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers. With the win against Turkey at home, and with Greece beating Belgium, Serbia would make a big step toward qualifying for the World Cup 2023.