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still crazy good ratioSure, rub it in...
It's 2 mil, not 1 btw.
Sure, rub it in...
It's 2 mil, not 1 btw.
still crazy good ratioSure, rub it in...
It's 2 mil, not 1 btw.
Serbia will be back full force very soon. Last year they won U-20, U-18 and U-16 european championships as well as U-19 world championship ahead of USA.
Croatia is on a bit of a down curve, but will be playing for Olympics in this tournament just like Slovenia.
Slovenia has a good generation of players right now, the future however... well there are some good players, but not that many and not that great. When was the last time we had a quality player in NBA draft? Dragic maybe this year, maybe...
Boki will be missed because we lack SF's, but we will just have to do without him. Maybe Preldzic will be this year's Dragic and have a breakout tournament.
Perfect! I will have my new computer set up and ready to go.
Thanks for explanation.
I am not very smart, but I am at least ugly
Thanks for explanation.
I am not very smart, but I am at least ugly
Can´t wait...
Official page for the tournament:
http://www.athens2008.fiba.com/
The schedule:
1. Composition of groups:
Group A: Brazil, Greece and Lebanon
Group B: Cape Verde, Germany and New Zealand
Group C: Canada, Korea and Slovenia
Group D: Cameroon, Croatia and Puerto Rico
2. Preliminary Round:
14th July 2008:
Game A1: Greece vs. Lebanon
Game B1: New Zealand vs. Cape Verde
Game C1: Korea vs. Slovenia
Game D1: Croatia vs. Cameroon
15th July 2008:
Game A2: Lebanon vs. Brazil
Game B2: Cape Verde vs. Germany
Game C2: Slovenia vs. Canada
Game D2: Cameroon vs. Puerto Rico
16th July 2008:
Game A3: Brazil vs. Greece
Game B3: Germany vs. New Zealand
Game C3: Canada vs. Korea
Game D3: Puerto Rico vs. Croatia
The teams placed 1st and 2nd in each group will advance to the Quarter-Finals; the teams placed 3rd in each group will be eliminated and may return home. The games of the Preliminary Round and the Quarter-Finals will be played at 13:00 hours, 15:30 hours, 19:30 hours and 22:00 hours. The exact order of games will be fixed in March.
17th July 2008: Rest Day
3. Quarter-Finals:
18th July 2008:
Game 13: A1 vs. B2
Game 14: B1 vs. A2
Game 15: C1 vs. D2
Game 16: D1 vs. C2
The games of the Quarter-Finals will be played at 13:00 hours, 15:30 hours, 19:30 hours and 22:00 hours.
4. Semi-Finals:
19th July 2008:
Game 17: Winner 13 vs. Winner 15
Game 18: Winner 14 vs. Winner 16
The two winners of the Semi-Finals will qualify for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. The two losers will play in the Finals the game for the 3rd place (Game 19 below) for one remaining Olympic spot. The Semi-Final games will be played at 19:00 hours and 21:30 hours.
5. Finals:
20th July 2008:
Game 19 (20:00 hours): Loser 17 vs. Loser 18
The winner will qualify for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
28/05/2008
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SLO – Nesterovic considers Slovenia squad selection
LJUBLJANA (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men) - Slovenia captain Rasho Nesterovic knows there is a delicate balance to maintain in the make-up of the national squad if his country is to build on last summer and qualify for the Beijing Games.
The Slovenians were without several big-name players at EuroBasket 2007 yet at times still looked like one of the best teams in Europe in grabbing a spot at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Some of the players absent last year have expressed the desire to come back into the team.
“The players that played at the EuroBasket in Spain did a very good thing and I think they should get the chance to finish their job,” said Nesterovic, who is coming off a strong season with the Toronto Raptors.
“The core of the national team must stay the same, if you ask me. Maybe we need two, maybe three reinforcements, but not more.”
National team coach Ales Pipan will give an indication as to which players will travel to Athens when he names his squad on Thursday.
Beno Udrih, Bostjan Nachbar, Marko Milic, Primoz Brezec and Sani Becirovic did not take part last summer.
Milic was injured while Brezec and Becirovic were in dire need of a rest.
That opened the door for youngsters like Domen Lorbek and Goran Dragic to not only break into the team but have a major impact.
Brezec has said he does not want to play this year, either, while Milic has retired from the national team.
Slovenia are in Group C with Canada and Korea. If they finish in the top two, Pipan’s men will advance to a quarter-final against Croatia, Puerto Rico or Cameroon.
“I think that the chances of all the teams participating in the Olympic Games’ extra-qualifiers are similar,” Nesterovic said.
“We – Slovenia – must stay firmly on the ground but at the same time, we must be very optimistic.
“We must go step by step, game by game.
“We must not get euphoric if we win a game but we shouldn't be too disappointed if we don't succeed.”
Slovenia are not the biggest country in Europe, but they are certainly becoming one of the best in basketball.
In 2006, they played at the FIBA World Championship in Japan and advanced to the last 16.
“After all we are still only a country with two million inhabitants,” Nesterovic said.
“Too bad that in basketball and sport as a whole, bigger and richer countries are worth more. I hope reasons that have no connections with the basketball court will not be decisive in Athens.”
FIBA
http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/new...5192/arti.html
29/05/2008
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SLO – Erazem Lorbek out for Slovenia but Pipan optimistic
LJUBLJANA (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men) - Slovenia will be without their Lottomatica Roma center Erazem Lorbek for this summer at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Greece.
Lorbek, one of the keys to their great run to the quarter-finals at last year’s EuroBasket where they eventually finished seventh to stay alive in the hunt for a place at the Beijing Games, was left off the 14-man preliminary squad announced by national team coach Ales Pipan on Thursday.
“Erazem is tired,” Pipan said. “His season still hasn't finished and he has some back problems.
“Erazem will be without a contract at Roma and he may even leave the club.
“He said he will maybe go to the USA during the summer and play for Indiana in the NBA summer league and perhaps get a contract there.”
Pipan will also be without NBA players Primoz Brezec, Beno Udrih and Bostjan Nachbar again, while Sani Becirovic is back in the fold after taking last summer off to rest his knee.
Lorbek’s absence places more importance on Uros Slokar, who showed signs of being a major contributor last year with his fighting qualities underneath and the basket and his ability to step outside and shoot jump shots.
Pipan, despite the loss of Lorbek, is optimistic.
“The criteria for participating was simple: the players who showed the best displays in the last season and are ready to give everything for Slovenia at this moment are here with us,” he said.
“The spine of the team is the same as in Spain. We will give it our best and hopefully that will be enough.
“The goal is to get among the three best teams and qualify for the Bejing Olympic Games.”
Slovenia are in Group C with Canada and Korea, and should they finish in the top two, Pipan’s team will take on Croatia, Puerto Rico or Cameroon in the quarter-finals.
The sides that reach the final, and the winner of the third-place game, advance to China.
Goran Dragic, the point guard who shone for Slovenia on numerous occasions in Spain, said: “We will do everything to reach the Olympic Games.
“If we play like we did in some games in Spain, we will go to Beijing. Our mission is now to train as hard as possible to be as well prepared as possible.”
Forward Goran Jagodnik, who was in last year’s team and had a prominent role, is in the 14-man group but he is still not fully recovered from a knee injury that he suffered this season while playing for Hemofarm.
“I am on the list, but I am aware that I will not be fully ready when the team preparation starts, but I will try to do my best,” he said.
“Our goal is clear – to reach the Olympic Games. If we have a bit more luck than we had in Spain, it is very possible for us to go there.”
Power forward Matjaz Smodis, center Rasho Nesterovic and guard Jaka Lakovic will be the leaders of the team after their performances last year.
Smodis has just won a Euroleague and Russia Superleague double with CSKA Moscow while Nesterovic, the Slovenia captain, had a strong season with Toronto. Lakovic has been excellent with Barcelona, helping them reach the finals of the ACB play-offs.
Because they are NBA players, some might have thought the team would have been strengthened with Nachbar and Udrih.
“Brezec said he wouldn't play even before I had to decide, while Beno Udrih and Nachbar would like to play, but looking at the cir stances, it was not really possible,” Pipan said.
“They are both free agents and because they can only sign contracts after July 1, they are worried about suffering an injury before then, as that would mean big problems for them.
“Because they are out of contract, we also can't insure them…”
Lorbek’s younger brother, Domen, who played last summer, is also included.
Because Slovenia can only take one naturalized player, either Aleksandar Capin or Emir Preldzic will be cut.
Capin originally hails from Serbia, Preldzic from Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Slovenia preliminary squad: Sani Becirovic, Aleksandar Capin, Goran Dragic, Nebojsa Joksimovic, Jaka Klobucar, Jaka Lakovic; Domen Lorbek, Goran Jagodnik, Emir Preldzic; Radoslav Nesterovic, Uros Slokar, Matjaz Smodis, Gasper Vidmar, Miha Zupan.
On stand-by: Sandi Cebular, Samo Udrih, Zeljko Zagorac.
FIBA
http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/new...5240/arti.html
Croatia preliminary squad:
Dalibor Bagaric, Marko Banic, Stanko Barac, Davor Kus, Kresimir Loncar, Branimir Longin, Damir Markota, Sandro Nicevic, Zoran Planinic, Marko Popovic , Nikola Prkacin, Marin Rozic, Damian Rudež, Krunoslav Simon, Marko Tomas, Ante Tomic, Roko-Leni Ukic, Jacob Vladovic.
Not to impressive on paper, but games are not played on paper.
Germany's 19-man preliminary roster is:
Dominik Bahiense de Mello (Deutsche Bank Skyliners), Mithat Demirel (Brose Baskets Bamberg), Patrick Femerling (ALBA Berlin), Robert Garrett (Brose Baskets Bamberg), Gordon Geib (Bayer Giants Leverkusen), Demond Greene (Brose Baskets Bamberg), Guido Grünheid (Hanzevast Capital Groningen), Steffen Hamann (Brose Baskets Bamberg), Johannes Herber (ALBA Berlin), Yassin Idbihi (Köln 99ers), Jan-Hendrik Jagla (DKV Joventut Badalona), Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks), Tim Ohlbrecht (Brose Baskets Bamberg), Ademola Okulaja (Brose Baskets Bamberg), Pascal Roller (Deutsche Bank Skyliners), Sven Schultze (Snaidero Udine), Julian Sensley (most recently with Colorado 14ers), Konrad Wysocki (ratiopharm Ulm) and Philip Zwiener (ALBA Berlin).
I agree, one hundred percent.
I am so excited to see all this team is going to accomplish.
hvala for the articles, Velik!
Wow- where did that comment come from?
Canada Training Camp Roster
--Code:Name Position School/Pro Club Height Jermaine Anderson Guard Tuebingen (Germany) 6’2" Joel Anthony Centre Miami Heat 6’9" Ryan Bell Guard Carleton University 6’5" Rowan Barrett Guard Chalon-Sur-Saone (France) 6’5" Damian Buckley Guard Concordia University 6’1" Rans Brempong F/Centre Leverkusen (Germany) 6’8" Denham Brown Guard Tisettanta Cantu (Italy) 6'5" Jermaine Bucknor Guard Le Portal (France) 6'7" Sam Dalembert Centre Philadelphia 76ers 6'11" Aaron Doornekamp Forward Carleton University 6'6" Nate Doornekamp Centre Bremerhaven (Germany) 7'0" Carl English Guard Gran Canaria (Spain) 6'5" Olu Famutimi Forward Khimik (Ukraine) 6'6" Devoe Joseph Guard Pickering High School 6'3" Levon Kendall Forward Panionios (Greece) 6'10" Tyler Kepkay Guard University of Utah 6'0" Vlad Kuljanin Centre UNC-Willmington 6'10" Phil Martin Centre Ignis Draghi Novara (Italy) 6'10" Juan Mendez Forward Rishon, LZ (Israel) 6'7" Andy Rautins Guard Syracuse University 6'5" David Thomas Forward Melbourne (Australia) 6'8" Jesse Young Forward Estudiant (Spain) 6'10"
No Steve Nash
13/06/2008
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BRA – Monsalve starts to feel the pressure of withdrawals
RIO DE JANEIRO (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men) - There will be no Nene, no Anderson Varejao, no Guilherme Giovannoni and possibly no Leandro Barbosa.
The loss of players of that caliber would be enough to make any national team coach think about quitting.
The news that Valtinho, a point guard on last year’s team at the FIBA Americas Championship, was also withdrawing to have ankle surgery almost pushed Brazil coach Moncho Monsalve over the edge.
On Thursday, after the team’s training session at Maracanazinho, Monsalve revealed: “Last night was the first night I managed to sleep six or seven hours.
“I really thought about resigning, but I changed my mind because it would have meant a lack of respect to Brazil, the confederation president (Gerasime Nicolas Bozikis) and the players who are competing in the tournament.”
Indeed, this is the time that Brazil need Monsalve to remain optimistic and to fight.
This Brazil team still has quality at every position, even if Barbosa can’t make it.
Tiago Splitter is one of the toughest centers in Europe with ACB champions Tau Ceramica, Bilbao’s Marcelo Huertas a leading guard in Spain.
There are also scoring machine Marcelino Machado and Alex.
Ricardo Probst, Jonathan Tavernari and Eduardo Machado – Marcelinho’s brother - have left the Brazil team that is preparing for the South American Championship and instead joined Monsalve’s group.
“I will wait for Leandrinho until Monday,” Monsalve said.
“If he doesn’t come either, I will name another player from the South American Championship squad.”
Brazil will attempt to claim one of three places for the Beijing Games at July’s FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Athens.
They are in Group A with Greece and Lebanon.
FIBA
---------
It seems Slovenia is not the only team having problems with withdrawals.
Greece preliminary squad:
Vassilis Spanoulis, Nikos Zisis, Dimitris Diamantidis, Kostas Tsartsaris, Dimos Dikoudis, Stratos Perperoglou, Antonis Fotsis, Theo Papaloukas, Panagiotis Vassilopoulos, Yannis Bourousis, Sofoklis Schortsianitis, Yorgos Printezis, Ian Vouyoukas, Mihalis Pelekanos, Kostas Koufos, Dimitris Tsaldaris, Andreas Glyniadakis, Yannis Kalampokis, Vassilis Xanthopoulos.
Slovenian basketball assotiation (KZS) will have to pay 12.525 USD as insurance for Rasho Nesterovic to NBA.
FIBA Europe covers insurance for non-NBA players.
Players attending the Tall Blacks trials are …
Tom Abercrombie (NZ Breakers), BJ Anthony (Harbour Heat), Hayden Allen (Harbour Heat), Callum Baynes (Bay Hawks), Craig Bradshaw (Efes Pilsen, Turkey), Chris Daniel (Nelson Giants), Casey Frank (Auckland Stars), Mike Fitchett (Nelson Giants), Jeremy Kench (Canterbury Rams), Jarrod Kenny (Harbour Heat), Rob Loe (Harbour), Calum Macleod (Bay Hawks), Alex Pledger, Mika Vukona (Harbour Heat), Corey Webster (NZ Breakers), Paora Winitana (Bay Hawks)
I have limited computer access until I get mine fixed, but was thinking about the NT today and was wondering how things are progressing for the guys with training etc.
I can't wait for the winning to begin.
Training camp started today (Wednesday)I have limited computer access until I get mine fixed, but was thinking about the NT today and was wondering how things are progressing for the guys with training etc.
I can't wait for the winning to begin.
Yet!Canada Training Camp Roster
No Steve Nash
I've read todaym that Candian coach still didn't give up and is trying to get Nash.
Cool!
I thought of Sho last night because I was shopping at Ross and saw some Raptors logo flip flops.
I would have bought them but they were Sho's size not mine.
Ironically, right beside that pair was a set with the Kings logo. But I doubt they were Beno's size.
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