The Montenegrin national basketball team has participated in EuroBasket four times and has consistently ranked among the top teams in Europe. There’s a significant opportunity for them to reach the finals for the fifth time, and for the third consecutive tournament.

The journey to EuroBasket this year goes through the reigning world champions, Germany, and Sweden, whom Boško Radović’s team triumphed over last year in Podgorica (95:70).

The opening match is tonight at 19:00 (free admission) at the “M:tel Morača Hall” against Germany, who will bring their strongest lineup, aside from their NBA players. The subsequent game against Sweden is set for Sunday at 17:30 in Stockholm.

However, Coach Radović will need to navigate without captains Bojan Dubljevic and Charlie Moore for this cycle, and the status of Igor Drobnjak, who sustained an injury during the Montenegrin Cup tournament, remains uncertain. This match against Germany will also mark Kendrick Perry’s farewell from the Montenegrin national team.

As the February matches approach, Montenegro is well-positioned. They sit at the top of the group with a record of 3-1 and a point difference of +28. This puts them in a solid chance of qualifying for EuroBasket, which they can only miss if they lose both matches and all teams in the group end up tied at 3-3, with Montenegro having the weakest point difference.

It’s evident that the victory in Bulgaria last November, where Perry scored 31 points in a memorable farewell, was pivotal.

Anyone who tuned in to the match in Botevgrad would remember how Zoran Nikolić’s entry invigorated the team and fueled their comeback to secure an important win.

– We performed excellently in November, but the job isn’t done yet. Now, we face two challenging matches, starting with Germany at home, followed by an away challenge against Sweden. Our immediate focus is on the match against Germany, who are fielding their strongest squad. While we may not have our best lineup, we shouldn’t be counted out, – said national team center Zoran Nikolić.

Montenegro could secure their place in EuroBasket tonight, contingent on a victory, but they could also qualify with a loss if Sweden defeats Bulgaria in Botevgrad.

– We prefer not to dwell on other teams’ outcomes. Our goal is to perform well in front of our fans and eliminate all uncertainties – added Nikolić.

When it comes to fan support, Nikolić anticipates a larger turnout compared to November’s match against Bulgaria, which didn’t fill the “Bemax Arena” to capacity.

– Honestly, we hope to see significant support. We’re aiming for a packed ‘Morača’ because we know how much that boosts us; our fans have always been our driving force and helped us achieve remarkable victories. Even though the ‘Bemax Arena’ wasn’t full last match, a good crowd came to rally behind us. I truly expect a fantastic atmosphere, as a full ‘Morača’ gives us a much better chance to pull off a surprise – concluded Nikolić.

Marko Simonović is also hopeful for fan support.

– It won’t be easy; we have two tough matches ahead. But it’s clear that, as always, we will strive for victories and aim to finish the qualifications positively to secure our Eurobasket passage. Germany is the world champion, and while we’re not at full strength, we can achieve surprises when playing at home. I urge everyone to come out and support us – emphasized Montenegrin national team player Simonović.

Kolasinac joined his teammates on Tuesday after fulfilling his commitments at Istanbul Bahçeşehir.

– We have significant motivation, and it’s advantageous that our fate lies in our own hands. While we may not have our optimal squad, we have quality. We haven’t played such a crucial match in ‘Morača’ for a long time, where tremendous teams were defeated, so I’m hopeful that, with strong support, we can achieve something special – Simonović expressed.

Though the job isn’t finished yet, Simonović remains cautious.

– Thanks to our victories in November against Bulgaria, we should be in a good position for Eurobasket qualification. Nonetheless, the theoretical work is not completed, and securing just one victory would provide us a new ticket to Eurobasket. However, the last cycle presents tough challenges against Germany and Sweden – he concluded. The European Championship is scheduled to run from August 27 to September 14 across Latvia, Poland, Finland, and Cyprus.

Petar Popović’s Return: It’s Great to Be Back on the National Team

Petar Popović sat out the November “window” and the matches against Bulgaria as he only secured a club before the season’s start and agreed with the coach to skip that gathering.

However, for the upcoming matches against Germany and Sweden, the 28-year-old from Cetinje will be part of the lineup and is prepared for the duties ahead.

“I agreed with the coach and the previous coach at FMP to miss the last ‘window’. Returning now is wonderful, especially when separated from home; it’s nice to reconnect with family, friends, and a bit of Cetinje and Podgorica. I feel fantastic,” Popović shared.

It’s now evident that the triumph over Bulgaria in Botevgrad was crucial.

“The November ‘window’ was significant; we achieved two wins and nearly completed our job on paperwork, though not mathematically. We have a balanced team, affected by injuries and absences, but we’re determined to finish the task,” Popović stated.

The defender urges fans to come to the venue and support the team.

“The world champions are coming, and on paper, they are incredibly tough with star players. I hope the crowd recognizes this and comes in large numbers to support us in an effort to surprise the favored Germany, finishing the qualifications with a substantial win on home ground and ensuring a place in the European Championship,” Popović concluded.

News