Ajdukovic, Markovic and Mandic, the three new faces for Serbia

BELGRADE (FIBA World Championship for Women) - Serbia head coach Marina Maljkovic has opted to bring three new faces onto her roster for the FIBA World Championship for Women.

The play-caller has chosen to retain nine of the team which achieved a historic top four finish at EuroBasket Women 2013 to subsequently punch a ticket for a first outing at the global level.

That means there will be places for a new trio of Tijana Ajdukovic, Marina Markovic and Sanja Mandic, who effectively replace Bojana Vulic, Ivanka Matic and Ines Ajanovic, with all three preparing to make their respective senior tournament debuts in Istanbul.

The selection of Mandic brings down the average age of the Serbia team, with the teenager having played at the FIBA U19 World Championship for Women last year.

Meanwhile, Ajdukovic gained EuroLeague Women experience last year with Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje.

Of the nine players who are returning, the main rotation utlised by Maljkovic in France are all back on board. The list includes playmaker Tamara Radocaj, guard and sister duo Milica Dabovic and Ana Dabovic, star forward Jelena Milovanovic and sharp-shooter Nevena Jovanovic.

Serbia will go up against Angola, China and the USA in Group D, having signed off their preparation programme with convincing wins over fellow FIBA for World Championship for Women competitors, Mozambique.

Serbia squad for FIBA World Championship for Women: Tamara Radocaj, Sanja Mandic, Milica Dabovic, Ana Dabovic, Dajana Butulija, Sasa Cadjo, Nevena Jovanovic, Marina Markovic, Jovana Rad, Jelena Milovanovic, Sara Krnjic, Tijana Ajdukovic.

FIBA