By Milan Lazarevic
For the first time in history one team made sensational success and defended a European U20 crown! Serbian fascinating generation won title again in amazing style. This team lost only one match on whole competition, in first round against Slovenia, but that was also their only loss in any official game till they started to play together 4 years ago.
In this moment it must be said that this team made this huge success without 2 players who stayed with Montenegrian U 20 National team (Dasic, Mijatovic) and who were important part of this team in history, practically part of starting 5. This medal on some symbolic way belongs also to them.
Serbian team was full of players who spent last atoms of strength on this competition after exhausting seasons. Like no one else, this team had players who were standard in their clubs and practically played regular season games just a week before Championship.
Scenes after the final game when they didn't celebrate a lot are just a proof that they expected this medal. Some of them (Milenko Tepic, Nikola Dragovic) already have 4 Gold medals from youth European Championships (2003 U16, 2005 U18, 2006 U20) and it seems that this kind of quality and experience other teams didn't have.
In tough moments, in deciding moments, not just in final match, Milos Teodosic and co. always knew very well what to do. They were not losing head and totally deserved title.
Spain opened match very good and it seemed that they found formula for Serbian wall in defense. But Serbian team needed just 1 minute of good role to turn everything upside-down and take first lead. In second half everything was just a matter of routine and they ended match without single mistake.
Problems from free throws line, problems with shoot in first half will stay just a history.
Many of these kids (Teodosic, Tepic, Labovic...) will be probably members of Senior Serbian team this year on European Championship in Spain.
Milos Teodosic, who played magnificently whole tournament, was elected for MVP of whole competition, while ideal team includes next 5 names:
Milos Teodosic (Serbia)
Alexey Shved (Russia)
Luigi Da Tome (Italy)
Dragan Labovic (Serbia)
Xavier Rey (Spain)
15.7.2007
|
|
.jpg&title=Serbia+new-old+U20+European+Champion!',800,600); "Serbia new-old U20 European Champion!")
.jpg "Milton Palacio - Partizan (photo: adriatic league)")