The Montenegrin national basketball team is wrapping up its preparations for the first match in the final round of the EuroBasket qualifiers. They will host the reigning world champions, Germany, at the “M:tel Morača Hall” tomorrow (19, free entry).

Germany, who finished fourth in the Olympic Games, is coming to Podgorica, and Boško Radović’s team has a chance to clinch their spot in the EuroBasket.

“We did great work in November, but there’s still work to be done. In this final stretch, we face two extremely tough matches—first against Germany at home, then an away game against Sweden. Our immediate focus is on the duel with Germany, who comes with their strongest lineup. While we’re not at full strength, we should never be counted out,” stated Zoran Nikolić, center for SC Derbija.

Montenegro stands at 3-1 ahead of the match and is in a solid position to qualify for EuroBasket. Following this game, the “reds” have a chance to potentially secure their qualification.

If Sweden manages to defeat Bulgaria in Botevgrad on Thursday, Montenegro will qualify for the European Championship, regardless of the outcome against Germany. Even if a “triangle” scenario unfolds, it would take a miracle for our team not to finish among the top three. However, the Montenegrin national team prefers not to concern itself with calculations.

“We prefer not to dwell on Sweden’s performance or make too many calculations. Our focus is on achieving victory in front of our fans to eliminate any uncertainties,” added Nikolić.

Germany arrives with a remarkably strong squad, missing only their NBA stars, and many consider them a medal contender at EuroBasket. Therefore, crowd support will be crucial, and our team is well aware of this.

“Honestly, we hope for tremendous support. We’re expecting a packed ‘Morača’ because we know how much it means to us. The fans have always been our driving force, and backed by such support, we’ve achieved incredible victories. Although the last match against Bulgaria didn’t see a full ‘Bemax Arena’, many fans turned up to support us. I truly anticipate an exciting atmosphere; a full ‘Morača’ significantly boosts our chances for an upset,” concluded Nikolić.

The “M:tel Morača Hall” will open its doors at 5 PM, and once the venue reaches capacity, entrances will close for security reasons.

“We encourage fans to arrive early and take their seats,” the Federation stated.

News