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

FIBA: SCG - Pesic: FIBA made right decision on wild card

/noticias.info/ ROME (FIBA World Championship 2006) - Coach Svetislav Pesic led Serbia & Montenegro to world glory in 2002 and he believes FIBA is justified in offering a wild card to the country so it can defend its title.

Italy, Turkey and Puerto Rico were also extended wild cards, with FIBA's Central Board making their decision in Rome on Saturday morning.

Pesic, who now coaches at Lottomatica Roma in Italy's Lega A, told PA Sport: "For me, personally, this is a very good decision made by FIBA and a logical one.

"We are the official world champions from Indianapolis, basketball in Serbia & Montenegro is the most popular sport and I think this is very good decision for us and for the tournament, because without Serbia & Montenegro, the tournament would have a different quality.

"It is very important that FIBA have shown that they respect our basketball.

"It will be a new motivation for everyone for our basketball in our country."

Pesic admitted he has not ruled out a return to the national side, although he does feel the country would be best served by a coach who is in the country and not one who is working abroad.

Zeljko Obradovic coached the team at the Olympics last summer and this year in Serbia & Montenegro at the the EuroBasket, but he quit in the aftermath of this summer's failure.

Serbia & Montenegro were knocked out of the tournament in the elimination round by France.

When asked if he would return to coach national team, Pesic said: "It is very difficult to say at the moment. First I have a contract with Roma, and after Indianapolis (2002), I wanted to concentrate on coaching clubs.

"I was given a good opportunity to do something at Roma and I have just started.

"In my opinion, the coach should be a professional, who lives in Serbia & Montenegro and who watches Serbian basketball, a coach that would be responsible not only for the senior team but the other youth teams."

Pesic said he does not want to speculate on who could become the new coach.

What is certain is that FIBA's wild card has come as a huge relief for everyone in the country.

"Basketball in Serbia is very important for the people, it is more or less like football in Brazil," Pesic said.

"Everybody was very disappointed because our team didn't play how everyone expected them to at the European Championships.

"I think really people and our sponsors will support the national team in Japan.

"Of course it is always better if we win.

"Although from a sporting point of view the EuroBasket was a disappointment, we got one victory as the organisation of the tournament was great and this meant a lot for the country."

Just what is in the future for the national team remains to be seen, though.

The EuroBasket elimination has led to a shake-up at the federation.

Some players returned to their clubs frustrated with questions about their future involvement.

The federation is also still searching for a new president after the resignation of Miodrag Babic.

"I don't know if the concept of the team will change, if we will play with our best team or not," Pesic said.

"Considering that the World Championship is the top basketball tournament, I assume that the players will want to participate.

"We don't have a coach or a president. My philosophy is always to make one good decision without rushing. We have enough time to think about who is the best person to guide the national team and to preside over the federation.

"We cannot rush in because it is an important decision to make."

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