Fuelled by poor U17 World Cup showing, Pazin looking for Serbian U18 three-peat

BELGRADE (Serbia) - Djorde Pazin's last appearance in a Serbia jersey left a sour taste in his mouth. The small forward now wants to use a poor showing at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018 as motivation to help Serbia accomplish a historic three-peat at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2019.

Pazin came up with an All-Star Five showing of 17.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 2.1 steals in guiding Serbia to a third-placed finish at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2017 and he went to Argentina teamed with a number of other Serbian top talents looking for big things at the U17 World Cup. But a loss to Turkey in the Round of 16 left Pazin and his teammates staring at ninth place as the best possible finish and a final defeat against Dominican Republic saw the Serbs wrap up in 10th place.

"It will help us a lot," Pazin said of last summer's result, where he averaged 15.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists. "We were very upset last year at the U17 World Cup. It can only give us a boost to work harder and be better."

Fast forward one summer and Pazin and the 2001 generation head to Volos looking to make some history for the homeland. Serbia enter the tournament as the two-time reigning champions and the last country to win three straight U18 titles was the Soviet Union when it completed a run of four crowns in a row from 1978 to 1984 - when the event was played biannually.

"That motivates us more to look forward to that three-peat," the Cuprija native said.

Two countries since then have missed the chance to pick up a third straight trophy: Yugoslavia finishing fifth in 1990 after winning in 1986 and 1988; and Turkey losing to Greece in the Final in 2015 after taking the crowns in 2013 and 2014.

When asked what it would be like to make history this summer with a three-peat, Pazin answered: "Just amazing."

Pazin, who played this past season with Partizan Belgrade, said he and his teammates will try to learn from the 2017 and 2018 teams. "I think that they were good examples for what a winning team should look like," Pazin said.

The 6ft 6in (1.97m) forward said reaching the podium is definitely the goal for the team.

"In every situation we are looking to win, so we want a medal," said Pazin, who will have a tough Group A to face with Great Britain, Germany and Turkey. "This team can be a championship contender and I expect to be a leader out there."

Pazin said the team understands how it must play to achieve its goals: "We must stay together and fight until the end."

Then he and the team will see if Serbia can finally become the first team to three-peat at the FIBA U18 European Championship in 35 years.

FIBA