×
30 August, 2014
14 September
Aleksandar Djordejvic (SRB)
29/07/2014
News
to read

SRB - Djordjevic expects improvement

BELGRADE (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Serbia's national team is at the beginning of a journey that coach Aleksandar Djordjevic and all of his players hope will finish on the podium at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

Training camp is underway and there are plenty of wrinkles to iron out in the warm-up period for the 24-team event.

That was evident during the side's friendly against a Serbia "B" side at the weekend.

Serbia's first-choice team, the squad preparing for Spain, recorded an 83-57 triumph but Djordjevic said afterwards that the squad needs to have a lot of improvement.

"First I want to point out, to see the work of the "B" selection, it is a well-coordinated team that has the will and desire, and that these are things that we are striving for," he said.

"We still don't have them, however, it's our aim (to get them)."

The coach added that he did not emphasize tactics in the game, but rather wanted a good workout for his players.

Milos Teodosic, the point guard who is vital to Serbia's chances of success at the World Cup, had a team-high 11 points.

The 27-year-old is playing with the national side this summer after having to miss out on last year's EuroBasket in Slovenia through injury.

"We want to be much better," Djordjevic said. "That will be the goal…

"When captain Nenad Krstic joins us, we shift into a higher gear and have a jump in quality. I am an optimist."

Golden State Warriors center Ognjen Kuzmic and promising shooting guard/small forward Nemanja Dangubic are hurt and did not feature against the "B" squad.

Both appear to be doubtful for the World Cup.

Serbia will play in Group A in Granada. Their opponents will be tournament hosts Spain, France, Brazil, Iran and Egypt.

FIBA