By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Croatian national team head coach Aco Petrovic wants to be prepared for every possibility that’s why he chose no less than 28 (+2) names to compile the list of players of the preliminary squad.
While all major stars, including NBA-ers, got the call it’s questionable who will actually be able to participate. Especially when it comes Mario Hezonja or Dragan Bender and Ivica Zubac. The latter two are obliged to play in the Summer League per their contracts.
“Their summer commitments are ending on Julay 22. Their desire to play for the national team is not in question, but we have to be careful to see what happens and what are the plans of their clubs. In any case, we sent everything that is needed for those six players we are interested in,” said Petrovic.
When it comes to Mario Hezonja, who has previously commented that he “doesn’t think” that he’ll play EuroBasket, Petrovic said, “I’d love to have him in the final list of 14 players. Especially considering that in last year’s Olympic Games, he played in the ‘2’ and ‘3’” positions and I was absolutely satisfied with him. We can’t ignore that the boy had a frustrating season in Orlando. And it’s normal to get frustrated when somebody puts the microphone in front of him on 20/4. I’ll call him in the hope that something will change. If it doesn’t we’ll go further.”
Here’s the list of 28 players with two extra names expected to be added after the “Borislav Stankotic Cup” tournament in China.
Roko Leni Ukic (AEK)
Marko Popovic (Fuenlabrada)
Toni Katic (Cedevita)
Dominik Mavra (Karpos Sokoli)
Luka Babic (Cedevita)
Krnoslav Simon (Olimpia Milano)
Mario Hezonja (Orlando Magic)
Bojan Bogdanovic (Washington Wizards)
Domagoj Bosnjak (Cibona)
Ivan Ramljak (Zadar)
Filip Kruslin (Cedevita)
Marko Tomas (Cedevita)
Mario Bozic (Cibona)
Nik Slavica
Dario Saric (Philadelphia 76ers)
Dragan Bender (Phoenix Suns)
Tomislav Zubcic (Nizhny Novgorod)
Hrovje Peric (Reyer Venezia)
Damjan Rudez (Orlando Magic)
Miro Bilan (Cedevita)
Darko Planinic (Gran Canaria)
Ante Zizic (Darussafaka Dogus)
Ivica Zubac (LA Lakers)
Luka Zoric (Cibona)
Ivan Buva (Bilbao)
Josip Sobin (Anvil)
