2019 WC Qualifiers: Montenegro crew are just step away from fulfilling their dream

Wednesday, 20. February 2019 at 05:46

They are so close of booking a ticket for the 2019 FIBA World Cup. 

Marko Todorovic (Photo: FIBA)

Big win for Montenegro in the 2019 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers! The boys coached by Zvezdan Mitrović defeated Ukraine on the road this Friday evening and they await the last round of the Qualifiers all alone at the 3rd place in Group I... The place that leads to the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China!

In order to remain at that spot and grab a World Cup ticket, Montenegro need one more thing to do. In the final round of the Qualifiers they will host Latvia in Podgorica and in that match Montenegro can even lose up to 8 points and still advance to the World Cup!

So, everything will be decided on Monday evening. A win against Latvia or a defeat up to 8 points will bring the precious World Cup ticket to the Montenegrin squad.

Unfortunately, Croatian team have lost all chances of qualifying to the 2019 FIBA World Cup as they were defeated by Poland at home court. Despite making a flying start and taking the 14:0 lead in the 1st quarter, Croatia lost all the remaining 3 quarters and eventually lost the match.

Slovenia also suffered defeat this evening as they were beaten by Turkey on the road. Still the defeat was not that painful, as Slovenia had already lost all chances of reaching the 2019 FIBA World Cup long before this match.  

2019 World Cup Qualifiers Second Round, Group I, Gameday 5, Friday, 22.2.2019:

Ukraine - MONTENEGRO 74:76 (34:17, 6:9, 16:25, 18:25)
Bobrov 19, Mishula 16 | Needham 26, Dubljević 11.

TURKEY - Slovenia 77:58 (11:17, 23:9, 24:16, 19:16)
Tuncer 22, Guler 12 | Hrovat 12. Kosi & Dragić 10.

Group J, Gameday 5, Friday, 22.2.2019:

Croatia - POLAND 69:77 (16:8, 20:24, 23:29, 10:16)
Krušlin 21, Bilan & Perić 10 | Ponitka 20, Slaughter 15.

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