This evening highlighted just how much Nikola Ivanovic was missed in the game against Germany at “Morača”.

The seasoned point guard emerged as the standout player for Montenegro in Sweden, racking up 26 points during his 33 minutes and 20 seconds on the court.

Although he couldn’t avert the loss (86:83 after overtime), the crucial aim of qualifying for EuroBasket was successfully met.

“Kudos to the Swedes; it was an arduous and incredibly physically challenging game from both sides. We take pride in our performance — we played with honesty and demonstrated quality at times. There were minor details that possibly influenced the result, but our fighting spirit was undeniable,” remarked the Brescia basketball player.

The defeat did little to dampen their spirits.

“We are pleased and content. A victory would have been even sweeter, but we still have plenty of reasons to celebrate,” Ivanovic stated.

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