Perfect Montenegro Join EuroBasket Party

Sead Sehovic came up with his best performance in the Qualification Round to lead Montenegro to victory and to EuroBasket 2013

The capital city of Podgorica is bouncing with joy after a famous 72-62 victory over Serbia on Sunday ensured Montenegro advance to EuroBasket 2013. 

It was a staggering seventh successive win and the second over their neighbours in the Qualification Round for Montenegro, who had made history by stepping out at their first ever EuroBasket Final Round in Lithuania last year.

Following on from the now legendary half-court buzzer-beater by Nikola Ivanovic which helped Montenegro beat Serbia 73-71 in Belgrade last month, this was an altogether less dramatic but just as absorbing success.

Sead Sehovic was the game hero this time with 20 points, although after a quite dreadful start, the entire Montenegro team deserves plaudits for once again showing terrific amounts of resilience.

They fell 16-3 behind when Nemanja Bjelica dropped a three-ball but by half-time they found themselves sitting in the locker room with a slender 32-29 lead.

It set up a gripping second half which Montenegro continued to edge, especially at 59-50, only for Serbia to make it a one-shot game at 59-56 with five minutes remaining.

However, the home team weren't going to be denied and kept their composure in crunch time to see the game out.

Vladimir Dasic was once again a real all-action performer for Montenego, finishing with 13 points, six rebounds and three steals.

There were few displays of any note for the losing team with Bjelica claiming 11 points and nine rebounds. 

Quotes Montenegro vs. Serbia

Serbia head coach Dusan Ivkovic
"Fully deserved win for Montenegro, which was the most surprising team in whole qualification. I take this opportunity to once again congratulate the players and the coaching staff of Montenegro on a very good game. We need to draw many lessons from this defeat and the eventual final three games of which two we are playing at home."

Montenegro head coach Luka Pavicevic
"I congratulate my players and this victory crowned everything we have been doing this summer. This was another tough match, similar to that in the first round. The support we've had in 'Moraca' largely helped us to overcome a bad start and without fans, in a game against a team like Serbia, it is unlikely to be able to make a quality return. We found a solution on offenseand we had certain individuals, as in every match, they felt that they could take the initiative and team spirit that we were adorned in whole qualifications deserved we came to victory in important match."

Serbia player Ivan Paunic
"I'd congratulate the team of Montenegro on the deserved victory. We knew that we are in a very tough match in Podgorica. Montenegro is unbeaten in the current qualifications, played on the home court, and in the end it may be a decisive rebound."

Montenegro player Sead Sehovic
"Great win for us after the victory over Serbia in Belgrade, we came in the final seconds. Again, we have shown that we can deal with one of the best teams in Europe. With a fantastic atmosphere, we have shown a great game except at the start of the match, when we had less than 13 points. We are back on the right way, we have come to an important victory that will help us to compete in the EuroBasket. In this game, the better team won."