Svetislav Pesic and Ergin Ataman shared their thoughts on Vasilije Micic missing Monday’s game between Serbia and Turkey for the Basketball World Cup Qualifiers.
Anadolu Efes didn’t give permission to the Serbian star guard to travel to Belgrade for the contest and coach Ataman said the team made this decision because of Thursday’s EuroLeague clash with Barcelona.
“As a club, we were against Micic’s playing in the national team from the beginning. But later, after the pressure of the Serbian National Team, when Micic wanted to play, we did not allow it as a club. Before the very important game we will play with Barcelona on Thursday, we wanted to work with the full squad, especially in Larkin’s absence.
Just like Barcelona did not send another Serbian player, Kalinic. Here, there is no decision taken with national feelings. There is a decision we have taken as Anadolu Efes. The news that “Ergin Ataman did not give permission” is a provocation from the Serbian press,” Ergin Ataman told NTV Spor, via Eurohoops.net.
On the other hand, coach Pesic was disappointed following Efes’ decision, but he focused his attention on Monday’s clash with the Turks.
“We have no reaction. We don’t want to focus on that. We want to focus on the things we can control. Vasa was already on his way, he had booked a ticket. We are a bit sad about that decision. Not only because of Micic but also because of the decision that was made.
We don’t have all the exact details about it, that it was done because of the preparation for Efes‘ game against Barcelona. That’s the reasoning. I would not like to comment on that,” Serbia’s head coach noted.
Both teams are coming off victories over the Great Britain and Belgium, respectively. Whoever wins Monday’s game will take the upper hand in the battle of qualification with just two games remaining in the Qualifiers.
