VRSAC (FIBA World Championship for Women) - Outside of her homeland, few would recognise that Tamara Radocaj is one of the most successful women's basketball players that Serbia could field when they take to the court for the first time at the FIBA World Championship for Women.

When Serbia punched their precious ticket for a historic first global event after finishing a fabulous fourth at EuroBasket Women 2013, Radocaj topped the assists chart for her team and only Jelena Milovanovic played more minutes.

Yet, during that memorable run, it was Milovanovic and backcourt sister act, Ana and Milica Dabovic who were continually stopped in the media zone by the assembled journalists. Although not that an unfair share of the attention is ever likely to upset Radocaj.

"I actually prefer that and especially when it comes to cameras and interviews," laughed the playmaker.

Despite still only being 26 years old, Radocaj has more than a decade of representing her nation to call upon. And, from the early roots of her productive youth years, she's now pumped about taking her game to the top of the women's basketball tree.

"I can actually recall very well the U16 European Championship in Turkey in 2003, when I was playing under the flag of Serbia and Montenegro and we won the gold medal," she said.

"Now after 11 years, I will be going to the FIBA World Championship in Turkey with the senior national team and this really does means such a lot to me.

"For the last 12 years or so, we have always missed a chance to participate in big global tournament like this.

"I'm sure that it will be a great pleasure for both my team-mates and me that we will get to now play against the best teams and players in the world."

Radocaj's relationship with coach Marina Maljkovic has proven hugely beneficial - something built through their extensive work together at club level.

"I had a chance to work with coach Maljkovic for two years at ZKK Hemofarm Vrsac where we won four trophies, at ZKK Partizan Belgrade for two more years, where we won five trophies and of course for the last three years with the national team," she explained.

"Her words at the beginning of EuroBasket Women 2013 were simply 'blood, sweat and tears', which I think explains everything you need to know about her.

"We didn't start well in France, but we still managed to get through to the second round because we knew that we had nothing to lose.

"We were determined to go from game to game, giving our maximum and playing the very best we could.

"We beat Belarus and Czech Republic - teams that have been at the top for years - and when we saw that we could do it, we gained much more confidence.

"Then came that Quarter-Final against Italy and that decided everything - it is something that I will remember forever.

"In the last two minutes of the game, we are down by six and had a timeout. The words of coach Maljkovic were that we had to 'believe right until the end' and we did this - not only to win and make the Semi-Finals, but to also qualify for Turkey."

At club level, Radocaj made something of a radical change: she shifted out of her comfort zone by switching to Italian side Cagliari CUS.

"I had played in Serbia for 10 years with the best teams in the country and had great conditions, winning seven titles and seven cups," she recalled.

"But I made a significant chance when I decided to continue my career abroad and I think that this past season in Italy was a great experience for me.

"It meant a lot in terms of me maturing as a player."

Yet for all her domestic success and the thrill of EuroBasket Women 2013, the biggest and most exciting chapter is about to unfold.

"I have won a lot of trophies playing for club teams in Serbia and also with the national youth teams, including that gold I mentioned earlier and also a silver at the 2005 FIBA U19 World Championship - but surely nothing can be compared with what is about to happen," she declared.

"This is definitely the most important one yet and there is a huge desire to win another medal with the senior national team."

There is also an added motivation this year for Radocaj and Co to be proud flag-bearers for their nation after the devastating floods which have ravaged the country.

"I believe that our athletes have always been the ones who, with their wins, medals and trophies at the big competitions, have managed to bring back hope and a smile on the faces of our people," she claimed.

"We'll give our best again and be proud as always to play for Serbia!"

At Turkey 2014, Radocaj and her team-mates will compete in Group D against Angola, China and the USA in Istanbul.

FIBA