Montenegro forced to turn more pages
PODGORICA (Montenegro) – Having recently installed Jelena Skerovic as head coach, Montenegro could be about to turn the page again after naming a wide 21-player squad for FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2019.
PODGORICA (Montenegro) – Having recently installed the legendary playmaker Jelena Skerovic as head coach, Montenegro could be about to turn the page again after naming a wide 21-player squad for FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2019.
Pitched into a tough group with Czech Republic, France and Sweden, the minnows will need to continue punching above their weight as they prepare to appear at their fifth successive Final Round.
| Montenegro 21-player squad for FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2019 | |||
| Snezana Aleksic | Andela Bigovic | Jelena Dubljevic | Milena Jaksic |
| Glory Johnson | Milica Jovanovic | Bojana Kovacevic | Violeta Lazarevic |
| Marija Lekovic | Amina Markovic | Irena Matovic | Bozica Mujovic |
| Jovana Pasic | Natasa Popovic | Nikolina Popovic | Kristina Rakovic |
| Sladana Rakovic | Teodora Saric | Jelena Vucetic | Sofija Zivaljevic |
| Dragana Zivkovic | |||
With fears over a limited rotation, compounded by their usual star veteran in Skerovic now being on the sidelines with the coaching board, it looks like it could be time to usher in a new generation of players.
Although while giving such a wide range of contenders a shot during the forthcoming camp, it is likely that Montenegro will rely heavily on the likes of the long-serving Jelena Dubljevic, Milica Jovanovic and Snezana Aleksic - as well as the naturalized Glory Johnson who brings WNBA experience.
Much is going to hinge on the supporting cast, including the much improved Bozica Mujovic (pictured) who has shown her skills at Wisla CANPACK, as well as the likes of Irena Matovic, Jovana Pasic and Jelena Vucetic.
In terms of the younger players and less experienced figures, there is a buzz around the potential of Dragana Zivkovic and having finished her NCAA commitments, there are some new options with players such as Sladana Rakovic.
Perhaps the biggest blow to Coach Skerovic will be the additional losses of Iva Perovanovic who has retired, while Ana Pocek who was MVP of the WABA League this season, won't be returning to national team duties as anticipated.
FIBA