By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Czech Republic turned heads in the European qualifiers by making it to the FIBA World Cup and the leader of the team, Chicago Bulls Tomas Satoransky, is up for the challenge.
The Czechs will have to fight against Japan, Turkey and Team USA is the first round and Satoransky is eager for the matchup against the Americans. “They are the favorites, and they are the reference for the world of basketball, and their competitiveness is inspiring to everyone,” he said to FIBA. “They are going to try to keep their crown, and everyone is looking forward to playing against them.”
The Czechs will open their Group E campaign at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center against the United States. And Satoransky admitted the opener will be of higher significance for himself.
“I can say that it is special, since I have been living in America for some years now and I am going to face some players that I compete against during the season,” said Satoransky, who had been playing for the Washington Wizards for the last three seasons before moving this off-season to the Chicago Bulls.
“They have such an incredible team and I think that it is a great thing that we are going to play our first game of the tournament against them. Facing the best team in the world is a great opportunity to evaluate your progression, and to get to know our level of competitiveness too”.