Fuente: © FIBA (Federación Internacional de Basket)
http://www.fiba.org/

FIBA: SCG - Rakocevic expects Serbo-Montenegrins to impress

/noticias.info/ MADRID (FIBA World Championship 2006) - Igor Rakocevic has warned all pretenders to his team's throne the good times are about to return for Serbia & Montenegro after hearing it had been granted a wild card for the FIBA World Championship in Japan.

The national side has won the last two world titles but it finished 11th at the Olympics last year and as the host of EuroBasket 2005, it lost out in the elimination round against France.

Failure to finish in the top six in Belgrade left Rakocevic & Co needing a wild card and FIBA duly delivered one on Saturday.

Italy, Turkey and Puerto Rico also received invitations to the 24-team tournament in Japan.

Rakocevic, a guard at Real Madrid who has been one of his country's leading scorers in recent tournaments, told PA Sport in a telephone interview: "I think that with respect to the EuroBasket, there is going to be a big improvement.

"The players, the federation and the executives now know the problems we had before and I think things will no doubt be better in the future.

"We will be a more united team and the atmosphere will be a much better one."

No one has ever doubted the quality in the Serbo-Montenegrin side.

Even without Sacramento Kings superstar Peja Stojakovic the past two summers, the team is loaded with experienced players at every position.

Nenad Krstic of the New Jersey Nets, Seattle sharpshooter Vladimir Radmanovic and Minnesota point guard Marko Jaric were just three of the players from the NBA in this year's team.

A knee injury prevented Barcelona's Milos Vujanic from playing in Belgrade, but he is returning to fitness and there are many other players waiting in the wings.

What has been missing is a sense of togetherness.

Coach Zeljko Obradovic fumed after their elimination from the EuroBasket that some of the players had been selfish on the court.

Obradovic was so soured by the experience that he quit and said he would never take the national team reins again.

Rakocevic says picking the right replacement is crucial.

"We have very good coaches in our nation that have a lot of experience but the key will be to have a coach that is good, but also a better psychologist.

"Serbia has good quality players but in order to win titles, we need to have a team spirit.

"Not only good players will do as we saw at the EuroBasket.

"I think if we can blend both things together, we can certainly go very far in Japan.

"I am delighted that FIBA have given us a wild card. We have made a name for ourselves in basketball and it is important for our people but also for us, the players, to be able to play in such a great tournament.

"I played in Indianapolis (2002) where we were crowned world champions and it's a great feeling, a fantastic experience."

While there are doubts if some players will make themselves available after this summer, Rakocevic said: "I am prepared to play in Japan.

"Whenever the national team calls me, I play because for me to represent my nation is everything."

From Cindy Garcia-Bennett, PA Sport Rome, Exclusively for FIBA
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