.jpg "Берое")
(1).jpg "Левски")
.jpg "Миньор 2015")
.jpg "Черно море Тича")
.jpg "Черноморец")
.jpg "Ямбол")
Poles, Portuguese look at path to Lithuania
08-02-2010 17:37
The men's national teams of Portugal and Poland have something in common and it's not that both countries begin with "Po".
Both sides, it seems, are more than happy to be in Group C with Georgia, Bulgaria and Belgium following the recent draw for EuroBasket 2011 qualifying.
"I think all of the groups are complicated although I think Group A is the most balanced one," Portugal coach Moncho Lopez said.
In Group A are Latvia, Israel, Finland, Italy and Montenegro.
"There are no weak rivals, but it seems that we were lucky," Polish Basketball Federation president Roman Ludwiczuk said.
Both Portugal and Poland played at EuroBasket 2007 but only the Poles were at last year's event with Portugal missing out after failing to qualify directly and then falling to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Belgium in the Additional Qualifying Round.
While Poland qualified for EuroBasket 2007, they were granted a place at last year's event as hosts.
"I hope that for the third time in a row we'll play in the EuroBasket finals," Ludwiczuk said.
Poland, with the twin towers of Maciej Lampe and Marcin Gortat, the all-round play of forward Szymon Szewczyk and the spirited leadership of floor general Lucasz Koszarek, will be tough customers for all teams in Group C.
They have yet to name a full-time replacement for Muli Katzurin, who parted with the national team after the EuroBasket.
Radosіaw Czerniak is the interim coach.
As for Portugal, they have an able coach in Lopez, the man who led Spain into the EuroBasket 2003 gold medal game.
He is extremely upbeat about Portugal's chances of making it to Lithuania next year for the Final Round.
"I know that it will be difficult, but I am certain we will qualify," Lopez said.
"We have renewed the team, with a few new faces that we have introduced to the group.
"The EuroBasket is something we aim for. It's important that the most veteran players that stood out at the last EuroBasket help out.
"Belgium, we know what to expect from them, but Georgia is an uncertainty as it will depend on the players that are available to give their contribution to their national team."
The Georgians and Montenegrins were the two sides to earn places to win promotion from Division B.
"With respect to Bulgaria," Lopez said of his team's two friendly defeats to the Bulgarians last year, "I don't think the point difference that was registered in our last games against them were a true reflection of the value of the team."
Bulgaria won the first meeting 103-74 and then beat Portugal again, 79-68.
Lopez accepts that Poland will be hard to play.
"Poland is very strong, the national team that hosted the last EuroBasket," he said. "It the best team we know. They have several NBA players with height and that creates added problems. In theory, Poland and Bulgaria are one step ahead of the rest."
Both sides, it seems, are more than happy to be in Group C with Georgia, Bulgaria and Belgium following the recent draw for EuroBasket 2011 qualifying.
"I think all of the groups are complicated although I think Group A is the most balanced one," Portugal coach Moncho Lopez said.
In Group A are Latvia, Israel, Finland, Italy and Montenegro.
"There are no weak rivals, but it seems that we were lucky," Polish Basketball Federation president Roman Ludwiczuk said.
Both Portugal and Poland played at EuroBasket 2007 but only the Poles were at last year's event with Portugal missing out after failing to qualify directly and then falling to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Belgium in the Additional Qualifying Round.
While Poland qualified for EuroBasket 2007, they were granted a place at last year's event as hosts.
"I hope that for the third time in a row we'll play in the EuroBasket finals," Ludwiczuk said.
Poland, with the twin towers of Maciej Lampe and Marcin Gortat, the all-round play of forward Szymon Szewczyk and the spirited leadership of floor general Lucasz Koszarek, will be tough customers for all teams in Group C.
They have yet to name a full-time replacement for Muli Katzurin, who parted with the national team after the EuroBasket.
Radosіaw Czerniak is the interim coach.
As for Portugal, they have an able coach in Lopez, the man who led Spain into the EuroBasket 2003 gold medal game.
He is extremely upbeat about Portugal's chances of making it to Lithuania next year for the Final Round.
"I know that it will be difficult, but I am certain we will qualify," Lopez said.
"We have renewed the team, with a few new faces that we have introduced to the group.
"The EuroBasket is something we aim for. It's important that the most veteran players that stood out at the last EuroBasket help out.
"Belgium, we know what to expect from them, but Georgia is an uncertainty as it will depend on the players that are available to give their contribution to their national team."
The Georgians and Montenegrins were the two sides to earn places to win promotion from Division B.
"With respect to Bulgaria," Lopez said of his team's two friendly defeats to the Bulgarians last year, "I don't think the point difference that was registered in our last games against them were a true reflection of the value of the team."
Bulgaria won the first meeting 103-74 and then beat Portugal again, 79-68.
Lopez accepts that Poland will be hard to play.
"Poland is very strong, the national team that hosted the last EuroBasket," he said. "It the best team we know. They have several NBA players with height and that creates added problems. In theory, Poland and Bulgaria are one step ahead of the rest."
Comments
Dee Bost: It was important for me to play for Bulgaria
21-09-2016BGbasket.com spoke with an american point guard Demarquis "Dee" Bost who played this summer for Bulgaria men′s national basketball team for qualifications for Eurobasket 2017
more...
