CroHoops

It seems that Croatian NT finally has a Leader  – swingman Bojan Bogdanovic

It was all that we envisioned it to be – Tournament opener vs Finland was an overall struggle for Croatian NT on the both ends of the floor. Croatia somehow managed to fight off it’s own demons of the past, take control of the game and overcome it’s potential new nightmare.

Finland gave Croatia quite a headache with numerous offensive rebounds and long distance bombs. However with the score 31:42 Croatia was able to regroup, score 10 unanswered points and narrow the lead to only one point (41:42) at the halftime.

In the 2nd half Croatia did a much better defensive job of controlling the Finish “pick & roll” plays while also increasing the overall level of it’s team defense. For the game Finland shot the ball just 33% inside the arc.

2011 Nets draftee G/F Bojan Bogdanovic led the way for Croatia with 27 points and 7 boards while hitting 6-8 threes. C Ante Tomic added 14 points and 8 rebounds while his frontcourt mate PF Damir Markota had 11 points and 7 boards.

Croatian NT captain PG Marko Popovic (12 points) was able to hit all four of his critical free-throws in the last minute of the encounter.

On Thursday (20.00 CET), Croatia will face well organized Macedonian NT feat. Bo McCalebb which today lost an overtime thriller to Montenegro by 70:65.

They are now teammates in Cibona - Kovacevic & Zubcic (photo by kkcedevita.hr)

ZAGREB CO (web site: www.kk-zagreb.hr)

31-08-2011 – according to the official team’s web site (interview with head coach Ivica Buric) team has signed Slovenian combo guard Saso Ozbolt

26-07-2011 – according to zagrebancija.com team has reportedly signed G Diante Garrett, PF/C Gary McGhee and PF Papa Dia

05-07-2011 – according to an independent source close to CroHoops.com Zagreb CO C Mario Kasun “could be close in reaching a deal with his former team.”

28-06-2011 – according to kosarka.hr Kovacevic’s teammate from Cedevita SF Damjan Rudez is rumored to cross the river Sava and become a new member of Zagreb CO.

28-06-2011 – according to an independent source close to CroHoops.com Zagreb CO C Mario Kasun “is not involved in any kind of negotiation with Montepaschi Siena.”

CEDEVITA ZAGREB (web site: www.kkcedevita.hr)

18-08-2011 – Cedevita Zagreb has officially confirmed the signing of experienced Slovenian PF Matjaz Smodis.

03-08-2011 – has signed veteran swingman Chris Warren who played for Cibona Zagreb before moving to Spain where he spent the last couple of seasons.

04-07-2011 – 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)

29-06-2011 – Cedevita has announced the signing of experienced G/F Ivan Opacak. 31-year old played for Cedevita in it’s inaugural Adriatic League campaign back in 2009/10. Last season Opacak helped Krizevci to reach Croatian A1 League.

20-06-2011 – Cedevita has named Drazen Anzulovic the new head coach. 44-Year old Anzulovic, who coached Cedevita’s local rival Cibona Zagreb for the part of the last season, has also previously coached Charleroi, Ural Great, Donjetsk and Lietuvos Rytas.

11-06-2011 – Cedevita has added experienced sharpshooter Marko Car. Car finished last Croatian A1 League season as the 2nd best statisticly ranked player overall, trailing only to F/C Luka Zoric.

CIBONA ZAGREB (web site: www.cibona.com)

29-08-2011 – team has acquired NCAA standout combo guard Demonte Harper

25-08-2011 – team has signed experienced veteran PF Andrija Zizic

10-08-2011 – according to EuroBasket.com Cibona Zagreb has reached one-year deal with prolific SG Antwain Barbour.

09-08-2011 – team is reportedly very close to sign versatile combo guard Brian Chase who had stellar season for Igokea Aleksandrovac averaging 16.2 points and 4.0 assists

06-07-2011 – according to team’s web site Cibona Zagreb has signed sharpshooting SF Damjan Rudez (6’8”, 1986). Native of Zagreb has spent the last couple of seasons with Cedevita Zagreb and was rumored to sign with Zagreb CO.

05-07-2011 – according to team’s web site Cibona Zagreb has signed one-year deal with experienced and hard working PF Goran Suton (6’10”/1985).

28-06-2011 - according to Sportske Novine explosive combo guard Hrvoje Kovacevic has signed two-year deal with Cibona and will try to spark the team in it’s effort to reach Euroleague through the additional qualifying cycle.

ZADAR (web site: www.kkzadar.net)

13-07-2011 – named Slovenian expert Ales Pipan as the new head coach

- team has reportedly added potential starters in Slovenian PG Uros Zadnik, high-scoring G Ante Delas (Alkar Sinj), explosive G/F Toni Brnas (Cibona/Zabok), hard-working PF Ivica Radic (Alkar Sinj) and experienced C Franko Kastropil (Cedevita Zagreb)

SVJETLOST SLAVONSKI BROD (facebook.com/kksvjetlostbrod)

- has added head coach Mladen Erjavec who coached eventual Croatian champion Zagreb CO to Croatian Cup title in 2011. Team has also added experience and size with the acquisition of veteran G Ivan Tomeljak, G/F Filip Basljan, F Ivan Papac, PF Marijo Hajdic and PF/C Ljubo Samadan

PRIGORJE FINANCIJE KRIZEVCI (web site: www.kk-krizevci.hr)

17-08-2011 – added prospects G Roko Jurlina (Zadar) and F Ivan Buva (Cedevita)

05-07-2011 – signed veteran G/F Mladen Gligora (6’7”/1982) to a one-year deal

28-06-2011 – ex-Zadar head coach Tihomir Bujan took over as the head coach of the newest Croatian A1 League member Prigorje Financije Krizevci.

JOLLY JADRANSKA BANKA SIBENIK

29-08-2011 – team has reached three-year agreement with talented combo guard Marko Petrovic. Team has also added PG Ronald Ross and G/F Luka Katura.

Last updated on 31-08-2011. Any trade or rumor missing? E-mail us at   crohoops@gmail.com.

Talented combo guard Petteri Koponen will be in the main focus of Croatian NT team defense (photo by basket.fi)

Croatian NT will look forward to make an opening statement vs underdog Finland in it’s opening game of 2011 EuroBasket in Lithuania.

However, Finland which has just won additional FIBA EuroBasket qualifying cycle, is in it’s top form right now and just can not be taken lightly by any team.

With combo guard Petteri Koponen known as the “chief executor” of Finland’s offense, expect Croatian G/F Marko Tomas to chase him all over the court for 40 minutes.

Expect a rough & tight game until the closing seconds.

RELATED: Group C Preview – Day 1

Marko Petrovic (photo by flickr.com/Emily Bogden)

Being Aleksandar Petrovic’s son and Drazen Petrovic’s nephew never really helped talented 6’4” combo guard Marko Petrovic in his basketball career.

After leaving his alma mater Cibona Zagreb, Petrovic was a part of stellar Findlay Prep (Las Vegas, Nevada) squad in 2009/10 and University of San Francisko freshman in 2010/11.

Although he showed quite a promise for USF Dons while averaging 5.8 points, 1.9 boards and 1.1 assists in 17.4 minutes per game in his freshman season, Petrovic has decided to alternate his career path.

Having signed three-year deal Petrovic has reportedly joined his father’s and uncle’s alma mater Sibenik which might be on a way to make some serious domestic competition to respective Dalmatian counterparts Split and Zadar.

Expect Petrovic to bring a unique set of skills as well as invaluable international experience on board of exciting Jolly Jadranska Banka Sibenik squad which also reportedly added PG Ronald Ross, G/F Luka Katura, F Stipe Rezic and C Denis Vrsaljko.

Cibona Zagreb make just another move to futherly strengten up it’s backcourt in order to boost it’s chances for the upcoming Euroleague qualification cycle.

22-year old 6’4” combo guard Demonte Harper had a solid NCAA career. While starring for Morehead State Eagles he posted 15.5 points, 5.0 boards and 3.4 assists per game.

Harper is known for his late game heroics vs NCAA powerhouse Lousville in 2011 March Madness when he hit a game winning three with 4.2 seconds left on the clock.

C Stanko Barac, Croatia (photo by ezadar.hr)

CROATIAN NT ROSTER

PG Dontaye Draper
PG Marko Popovic
PG Rok Stipcevic
SG Kruno Simon
G/F Marko Tomas
G/F Bojan Bogdanovic
SF Damjan Rudez
F Damir Markota
PF Luka Zoric
PF Luksa Andric
PF/C Ante Tomic
C Stanko Barac

EUROBASKET  SCHEDULE

Wednesday, August 31st 
vs Finland   84:79

Thursday, September 1st 
vs Macedonia    76:78

Saturday, September 3rd  
vs Montenegro   87:81

Sunday, September 4th
vs Bosnia & Herzegovina    80:92

Monday, September 5th
vs Greece   69:74

FRIENDLY GAMES RESULTS – SUMMER 2011

26.7. Croatia vs Bulgaria 72:59
27.7. Croatia vs Bulgaria 77:54

Addeco Cup (Ljubljana, Slovenia)
6.8. Croatia vs Montenegro   85:71
8.8. Slovenia vs Croatia   60:65
9.8. Croatia vs Serbia 71:80

London Invitational Tournament
16.8. Serbia vs Croatia   83:71
17.8. Great Britain vs Croatia  70:75
18.8. Australia vs Croatia   78:66
20.8. Croatia vs France   60:83
21.8. China – Croatia   53:83

Last updated on 29-08-2011. Anything missing? E-mail us at   crohoops@gmail.com.

Both sides are very pleased with the agreement (photo by CroHoops.com)

Speculations about Croatian NT PG Marko Popovic potential agreement with Zalgiris Kaunas lasted for a last couple of weeks.

On Friday, sharpshooting marksman has been officially announced as a new member of Lithuanian powerhouse.

Popovic was already a member of Zalgiris from 2006-2008 and is known among Lithuanian fans under the nickname “Popovicius”.

After being Cedevita Zagreb’s anchor in the middle for the 2nd part of the last season PF Andrija Zizic has decided to change local sides and to rejoin foces with Cibona Zagreb.

This will be veterans second stint with Cibona’s organization as he was a part of the team from the summer 2003 until January 2005.

6’9” Zizic adds much needed international experience, hard-nosed inside play and mid-range jumper to Cibona Zagreb’s  new dynamic equation.