Two weeks ago, the Montenegrin national basketball team commenced training for the upcoming European Championship, scheduled from August 27 to September 14 in Latvia, Finland, Poland, and Cyprus. Currently, the team is practicing in Bar, having faced a close defeat against France (81:75) in their first test match.

Coach Boško Radović shared his thoughts, stating he is not unhappy with the team’s performance against such a strong contender for the championship.

“This was a tough challenge against one of the favorites for a high placement. We are satisfied with our performance. We managed to hold our own, especially in the first half, despite playing almost the entire game with just one point guard. Igor Drobnjak logged more than 30 minutes, which made it challenging. Once Kyle Olman joins us, we’ll have more depth at that position,” Radović noted to “Vijesti”.

Radović acknowledged the team’s fluctuations during the game, a common occurrence at this stage of training.

“We entered the match after 10 days of preparing physically and training our basketball skills. While we had some ups and downs, it’s important to note the positive segments and solid defense. Our offense needs to improve its precision. We have several weeks of training and friendly matches ahead. After our game against Greece (August 14), we will evaluate our progress and identify areas for improvement. Overall, it was a strong test, which foreshadows the challenges to come. The team is in good shape, with only minor injuries. We’re healthy and focused on correcting mistakes as we progress,” Radović emphasized.

Kyle Olman, who has replaced Kendrick Perry on the national team, is set to join training today. He is expected to play his first minutes in the upcoming friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina on August 10 in Sarajevo.

“Olman will come in, train a few times, and then travel with us to Sarajevo for the match against BiH. We’ll gauge his readiness to jump right in. By the time we face Greece, he will definitely have a defined role on the squad,” Radović explained.

Given Montenegro’s current limitations, Radović is committed to integrating players who have had minimal involvement in the past into key roles for the EuroBasket.

“These players either previously had little or no involvement. They will need an adjustment period to step up to the higher level of competition they must face. Against France, we effectively had seven or eight players contributing, which is only feasible for a single game. When the tournament starts, we’ll need at least a dozen players prepared for rotation, ensuring that we can sustain our performance throughout,” he stated.

The camaraderie and atmosphere within the team remain strong.

“The players exhibit excellent dedication both on and off the court. As always, relationships are solid, which fosters a positive training environment. I hope this continues through the European Championship,” concluded Boško Radović.

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