EUROBASKET QUALIFIERS

Vladimir Dasic was red-hot for Montenegro, finishing with 20 points in Israel

Unbeaten Montenegro moved to within touching distance of a place at EuroBasket 2013 after inspirational performances by Bojan Dubljevic and Vladamir Dasic lifted them to a super 81-76 road win in Israel, their sixth straight success of the campaign.

The runaway leaders of Group A had looked destined to stomach their first taste of defeat both early in the final quarter when they fell 67-60 behind, and, when Omri Casspi sunk a triple with less than two minutes remaining of an absorbing encounter to put Israel 75-72 ahead.

But, as they have done all summer, Montenegro again found a way to win, this time by scoring nine of the last ten points to leave a crestfallen Israeli team wondering what might have been.

The visitors certainly showed remarkable belief and resilience throughout the game, as they also fell 37-29 behind just before half-time when Guy Pnini made a score from behind the arc.

Dasic showed his quality with 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists for Montenegro whilst Dubljevic continued to enhance his burgeoning reputation with 18 points and ten rebounds.

Having been on something of a roll after three consecutive wins, it was a third defeat for Israel despite the best efforts of Casspi who had 20 points and also Alexander Tyus who gained his 16 point haul from seven of eight floor shooting.