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G Jelena Ivezic, Croatia (photo by FIBA Europe)

Before 2011 EuroBasket for Women many questioned Croatian head coach Stipe Bralic’s modified version of Paul Westhead’s “high octane run & gun” system which has been successfully instaled in Phoenix Marcury (WNBA).

Now, when this system has helped Croatia to drastically improve during the course of the Tournament and to win as many as 3 out of it’s 4 last games in 2011 EuroBasket for Women, many of his critics have silenced.

On Saturday, Croatian NT took the 5th place in 2011 Women EuroBasket and has qualified for the additional FIBA qualification cycle for London Olympics.

Fueled by it’s pressing defense and paced by it’s guard duet Jelena Ivezic (21 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals) and Iva Ciglar (19 points, 5 assists) Croatia managed to win the tournament rematch with Montenegro by 73:59.

The most astonishing statistic of the game was that Croatian NT bench led by Marta Cakic’s 12 points managed to outscore complete Montenegrian bench by as much as 34:6!

American-born SF Lisa Karcic saw extended playing time as defensive catalyst in the last two games which were vital to Croatian NT. She has responded with 6.0 points, 7.5 boards and 2.0 steals per game in those contests.

Croatian NT head coach Stipe Bralic’s postgame statement: “This is the biggest achievement of my career” (source: www.fibaeurope.com).

Chris Owens, Cedevita Zagreb (photo by kkcedevita.hr)

According to it’s official web site Croatian runner-up Cedevita Zagreb has signed veteran power forward Chris Owens (6’8”/1979) who spent the last season with Azovmash Donjeck (Ukraine).

Owens had  a couple of very successfull outings against Cedevita in the last season’s Eurocup in which he averaged 15.3 points and 7.5 boards per game.

Cedevita’s head coach Drazen Anzulovic had the chance to coach Owens in Azovmash:

“I have coached him in Donjeck and I know that he is a player with the profile which we  have been looking for. He has very good overall qualities and will bring us additional quality under the basket since he is able to play both PF and C positions.”

Sandra Mandir, Croatia (photo by FIBA Europe)

Croatia’s prolific shooting guard Sandra Mandir has been voted to 2011 Women Eurobasket in Poland All-Tournament team.

34-Year old team captain has been instrumental for Croatian NT success providing both scoring punch and court leadership whenever the team needed it.

Russian guard Elena Danilochkina has been named MVP of the Tournament. Her teammate C Maria Stepanova contributed 18 points, 12 boards and 4 blocked shots in Russia’s 59:42 win over Turkey in 2011 EuroBasket final.

All-Tournament Team:
C Maria Stepanova (Russia)
C Nevriye Yilmaz (Turkey)
F Eva Viteckova (Czech Republic)
G Sandra Mandir (Croatia)
G Elena Danilochkina (Russia)

Boris Barac, Croatian U19 NT
(photo by FIBA.com)

Croatian U19 NT opened it’s 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship campaign
in the most convincing fashion. That was before the loss to South Korea.

On Thursday, led by versatile play of Europhean phenom Dario Saric (22 points, 11 boards, 4 assists) Croatia won Lithuanian team led by #5 pick in 2011 NBA Draft, C Jonas Valanciunas. Final score was 88:75.

On Friday Croatia was again up to the task against Canada led by NBA prospect PG Kevin Pangos and thanks to it’s balanced attack won another one, this time by 88:84. Boris Barac had 18 points and 16 boards for Croatia.

However, on Saturday, intentionally playing without the versatile trio Katic Ramljak-Saric coach Brajkovic’s team made as much as 25 turnovers and suffered the absolutely embarrassing 71:75 loss to South Korea.

Croatia will now move on to the newly formed group F along with USA, Serbia, Lithuania, Canada and Egypt.

Look for Croatia to bounce back very quickly and continue it’s winning way.

C Stanko Barac, Caja Laboral (ACB, Spain)

Croatian big man Stanko Barac (7’2”/1986), who was reportedly mentioned in this year’s Larry Bird’s postdraft speech, is likely to sign a three-year deal with the Turkish powerhouse Efes Pilsen Istanbul.

Turkey in general has see little or no sign of economic recession so far. It’s basketball clubs still have plenty of buying power to remain the leading “players” on the market.

In Istanbul Barac will join existing “Croatian colony” consisting of PG Roko Ukic, G/F Marko Tomas, G/F Bojan Bogdanovic (all three playing for Fenerbahce Ulker) and PF/C Luksa Andric (Galatasaray).

PF Andrija Stipanovic, while playing for Split

Croatian PF Andrija Stipanovic (6’9”, 1986) has reportedly signed the deal with Pepsi Caserta (Italian Serie A). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Stipanovic spent the last two season as a member of Liege (Belgium). Last season he averaged steady 13.7 points and 7.4 boards per game.

In Croatian basketball circles Stipanovic is known as a fierce and relentless competitor, who is always eager to battle for position underneath the basket.