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Nikola Vucevic, Montenegro Qualify for EuroBasket 2017

Josh Cohen
Digital News Manager

By Josh Cohen
Sept. 17, 2016

It wasn’t an ideal way to finish qualifiers but the goal was accomplished.

Montenegro lost in the finale to Georgia on Saturday. However, it had already clinched a spot in EuroBasket 2017 prior to tipoff.

For the second time during this competition, Montenegro and Georgia played in a thriller. The first time around in Tbilisi, a game-winning shot in the final seconds propelled Montenegro. Ten days later it was a 3-point barrage from Michael Dixon (seven threes) that launched Georgia to victory in Bar.

Dixon finished with a game-high 31 points and he hit the first of two crucial treys for Georgia with just under two minutes left. Viktor Sanikidze drilled the other triple with 1:21 remaining to give Georgia the lead. Montenegro did not score in the final two minutes.

Both Montenegro and Georgia went 5-1 and advanced to next year’s European event. The draw to determine where they and the other 22 countries will play (four host nations) will take place on Nov. 22 in Turkey.

Nikola Vucevic had a terrific qualifying tournament. He posted 17 points and eight rebounds before fouling out in the final minute of Saturday’s loss and finished qualifiers with averages of 15.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists.

Montenegro will compete in EuroBasket for the third time. In 2011 in Lithuania, Vucevic, who just a couple months earlier was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers, averaged five points and 3.2 rebounds in limited action. Two years later in Slovenia, Vucevic’s numbers bumped up slightly to seven points and four rebounds per game. Montenegro went 3-7 combined in those two years.

Now, with so much more professional experience, leadership and skills, Vucevic hopes to guide his country to a strong performance next summer. He has become a more confident playmaker out of the post and he’s extended his shooting range (made 6-of-13 from 3-point range in EuroBasket qualifiers).

Vucevic will now have a little over a week to rest up before joining his Magic teammates for training camp (starts Tuesday, Sept. 27). With Vucevic, Serge Ibaka and Bismack Biyombo, Orlando expects to have a formidable frontline in 2016-17.