By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Montenegro faced a tough challenge, but made it to the 2019 FIBA World Cup through the European qualifiers. Interviewed by FIBA, Bojan Dubljevic also discussed his National Team’s opportunities at China this summer and the rest of Group F sides highlighting Greece’s strength behind Giannis Antetokounmpo.
On Montenegro’s qualifying path to the World Cup, he admitted: “This campaign was tough, very tough, but our mental strength and our resilience helped us a lot,” and added: “We gave everything for a spot for China 2019 and we felt so relieved and happy when we finally got it. Oh man, this was long and hard, but it was so worth it.”
“We are a small country and we all know that it means a lot for all of us and for our countrymen to be in a competition like the FIBA Basketball World Cup” he explained and went on: “Our confidence got higher after qualifying, but we know also that we have to keep working hard and keep improving to have great performances in China. The qualifiers are now behind us, now we have to focus on the main tournament.”
Asked about Greece, Brazil and New Zealand, Group F foes, he replied: “This group is very competitive. I think that it’s one of the most competitive groups of the whole first round” and added: “We have only teams, outside of ours, that have a lot of experience at the international level and it’s very important to have when you play in a tournament like the FIBA World Cup.”
“Brazil is a very solid team and I play against some of the guys that are going to be part of the team during the season in the Spanish League. They have many veterans that are going to be very impactful for them” he further took out and also mentioned: “Greece is one of the best teams in Europe, and with all the talent they have, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, they can go far in the tournament. New Zealand is a team that plays with a lot of intensity and we will have to defend very well to play at the same level of physicality as them.”
The 27-year-old big continued: “It’s an amazing opportunity for us, for the country, for the entire people of Montenegro”. “We’re a small country but we’re proud and we want to represent our nation the best way, to show that Montenegro has talent and wants to show it at the highest level” he added.
“We know that we aren’t among the favorites, but we’re going to compete and fight in every game to make our people proud” he admitted and afterwards noted: “It’s such a huge opportunity to speak about our country on the world stage, to show our flag, to make people learn about our country and our basketball.”
“That is a huge window of visibility for Montenegro, a big window open for the world to see. We’re going to work hard in training camp to be in the best shape for the start of the competition. We’re going to want to make our fellow compatriots proud by wearing the red jersey on our shoulders” Dubljevic mentioned as well.
On a personal note: “It’s something very important for me, and I’m really excited to do so as we will be able to compete against the best teams and players in the world, which is going to help our basketball grow and make us gain more experience for the future.”
When asked about what he’s looking forward to, he answered: “So many things, like the crowds, the atmosphere is going to be so great, the fans, the whole competitiveness of the tournament and much more”.
In conclusion, he said: “Playing at a FIBA World Cup is probably one of the highest things to do when you play basketball and I’m really looking forward to a lot of things this summer. My teammates, the staff, all of us together, we want to do something great in China.”
Photo Credit: FIBA