SRB - Stars hail Serbian achievements

NOVI SAD (FIBA U19 World Championship) - A new wave of Serbian basketball is on the rise following the triumph in the FIBA U19 World Championship final in Novi Sad.

Nineteen years ago the "golden generation" of Yugoslavian basketball started their long-lasting domination with the U19 world title in Bormio by defeating the USA 86-76 in the final.

After the disintegration of their country, and after those youngsters - including Serbians Vlade Divac and Aleksandar Djordjevic and Croatians Dino Radja and Toni Kukoc - enjoyed fine careers, it is now the turn of a new generation.

Divac was more then happy to present the trophy to the captain Stefan Markovic after Serbia's 74-69 victory over the USA in Novi Sad at the weekend.

"This is phenomenal achievement for all those young guys," said Divac, who scored eight points in Bormio against a USA team which consisted of future NBA stars like Gary Payton, Larry Johnson and Stacey Augmon.

"Sincerely, I didn't expect such success. This was the World Championship, not some ordinary tournament. But our youngsters played bravely and with assurance, especially in this last game against a really good USA team.

"After all we've seen in Novi Sad, I think Serbia shouldn't worry over its basketball future."

Dragan Kapicic, the new Serbia basketball supremo, was thrilled at the achievement of coach Miroslav Nikolic's squad.

It came just days after Serbia captured a second consecutive European gold at the men's U20 championship and gold at the women's U18 European Championship.

The women's U20 team were also in the medals, winning silver at the women's U20 EuroBasket competition.

"I can't describe my pleasure after all these successes," said Kapicic. "Especially after this one, in Novi Sad.

"I think that we Serbs live in some kind of real 'basketball land'. I can't explain that, but I can say that there are not many countries like us, with such huge success in this sport."

Serbian achievement was in doubt when one of team's stars, Girona's guard Marko Keselj, arrived at the tournament carrying an injury. Keselj then also damaged his hand, requiring seven stitches and limiting his impact at the World Championship.

He missed four of nine Serbia games, including both matches with the USA, and he averaged 4.4 points while playing 15 minutes per game.

"I almost had a heart attack while watching my team-mates during the final," Keselj said.

"But now, when it's all over, with gold medals around our necks, I must say it was a privilege to be part of this team.

"We came to Novi Sad as hosts of the tournament and there were many who said: 'This is the team to emulate 'generation 1988'? They've never won anything'.

"They asked themselves, not ourselves, what we are capable of.

"We are world champions now - that's our answer."

Darko Nikolic
FIBA