Make it back-to-back: Montenegro lock in another trip to the World Cup

MUNICH (Germany) - Four years ago, Montenegro became the smallest nation to ever reach the FIBA Basketball World Cup. Now they can also be considered the smallest nation to book consecutive appearances.

Montenegro entered the final day of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European Qualifiers knowing a win would take them through. Hungary and Bosnia and Herzegovina hoped for Montenegro's defeat to have a chance of advancing.

Czech Republic were already eliminated before arriving in Podgorica, but their relaxed approach was evident around the rims from the tip-off. Montenegro finished the game with seven blocks, four of them by Aleksa Ilic.

The offense belonged to the usual one-two punch in the backcourt. Nikola Ivanovic had 17 points off the bench, Kendrick Perry scored 14 with 7 assists as a starter, powering Bosko Radovic's team to an 88-70 win.

Montenegro finished the Qualifiers with a 7-5 record, more than enough to advance to their second straight World Cup. With a population of just over 600,000, they were the smallest nation to reach the Final Round back in 2019, but Cape Verde snatched that record from them in 2023.

However, Montenegro made it back-to-back, impressive for a nation a size of one quarter of Paris or one fifth of Madrid.

"For our small country, this is huge. We're all proud of each other," player Nemanja Radovic said.

"2019 was a miracle. Today was also a miracle, little Montenegro is in the World Cup for the second time. We are the only team from the Pre-Qualifiers that made it to the FIBA Basketball World Cup," coach Bosko Radovic added.

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Hungary finish first below the line

With Montenegro winning their game easily, it was clear that Hungary and Bosnia and Herzegovina were playing for pride in Szombathely. The hosts emerged victorious, winning the game 87-77.

Szilard Benke had a team-high 19 points, Janos Eilingsfeld scored 18, while Adam Somogyi knocked down four triples to finish with 17 points and 11 assists. Benedek Varadi had 13 and 8 in the same categories.

John Roberson counted to 22 for BIH, but they failed to reach the World Cup. In fact, Bosnia and Herzegovina finished fifth in the group at 6-6, falling behind Hungary just below the qualification line.

FIBA