Petrovic looks to secure long term future of Serbia
PRAGUE (FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017) – Serbian ace Sonja Petrovic has revealed her nation will need to look to the future if they want to extend their historic winning run and continue climbing the podium.
PRAGUE (FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017) – Serbian ace Sonja Petrovic has revealed that her nation will need to look to the future if they want to extend their historic winning run and continue climbing the podium at major tournaments.
Serbia will head to Czech Republic next summer as the reigning FIBA EuroBasket Women champions, after they landed their first ever title on a famous night in Budapest.
It was a triumph they followed up 12 months later with a spectacular medal placing at their maiden Olympic games as they took bronze in Rio.
Petrovic herself has been at the heart of this glorious chapter, with her return to national team colours [after a lengthy hiatus] early in 2015, giving her country the extra spark and touch of class needed to record these accomplishments.
But now the formula is going to have to be revised, with the likes of Milica Dabovic having retired and question marks over the naturalised Danielle Page, who has not been playing this season.
"Our main issue is making sure we still have the hunger and the players to make the top four again," stated Petrovic.
"We don't always have the biggest rotation and I think this will be the biggest challenge for Marina [Maljkovic].
"We are not sure what will happen to our post rotation, but within the team I think we will be bringing in some young blood.
"It’s also time that players like Aleksandra Crvendakic become the main players for the future and I think she can be a real positive for us in these next years [after playing in Rio with us].
— AleksandraCrvendakic (@crvendakic11) August 21, 2016
"For sure, it is going to be hard to match the success of these last two years and we head to the Final Round after a difficult qualification, when we lost two games.
"We also know that with just 16 teams, the games will be intense and I guess we don't need motivation as other people put targets on our backs now. As Serbians, it's natural that we always have pride and the need to prove something.
"I think that if we have enough players in the team with this quality and mentality, then we can have a good tournament."
Since her lengthy sabbatical from the national team ended, Petrovic has been playing almost non-stop and it's been grueling on the body and mind.
She has struggled to take a step back and consider what she has put herself through.
But between taking her country to new heights at EuroBasket Women and the Olympics, winning a EuroLeague Women title just over 18 months ago and competing in the WNBA, success has kept her from thinking too much about the rigors of maintaining her status as one of the world's very best players.
"It's a little overwhelming for me sometimes to think about what has happened since I decided to play basketball for almost for 365 days of the year – despite my history of injures," mused Petrovic.
"It's been tough and I tend to try and not think about it. But, it's easier to do that when you have had so much excitement and so many good days."
Petrovic is still with EuroLeague Women side ZVVZ USK Prague and it means that she has an extra reason to look forward to the Final Round next year.
She said, "I love playing in Prague and it is important to me that during my career, or at least wherever it is possible, I am with a club where I feel devoted and connected.
Petrovic continues to shine in EuroLeague Women with Prague - having won the title with the Czech giants in 2015.
"I love Prague as a city, the club’s management, my coach, team-mates and the fans.
"We have a great set-up and the team can be successful for many years because of those things I have listed, which means that players always want to come back here.
"It will also be special being able to play for Serbia in Prague and like Budapest, when so many fans came to watch us, maybe it can be the same again here in the Czech Republic at FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017."
Serbia have been drawn in Group C with France, Greece and Slovenia.
FIBA