Croatian national team prepares for final push to qualify for Eurobasket 2025

Eurobasket 2025 will be co-hosted by Cyprus, Finland, Poland and Latvia from the 27th of August to the 14th of September this year.

At a press conference in Zagreb on Saturday the Croatian men's national basketball team coach, Josip Sesar, announced his roster for the final qualification cycle for Eurobasket 2025. Unable to call on Croatia's NBA talent and with forward Filip Bundović and guard Marko Ramljak out with injury, his roster is comprised of guards Mateo Drežnjak, Antonio Jordano, Borna Kapusta, Dominik Mavra, Toni Perković, Krešimir Radovčić and Jaleen Smith; forwards Luka Božić, Dario Drežnjak, Mario Hezonja, Antonio Sikirić, David Škara and Luka Šamanić; and centers Danko Branković and Marin Marić.

The team will gather in Zagreb tomorrow afternoon, after which they will depart for Zadar where they will begin preparing for their last qualification cycle in which they will host France on February 21st, with opening tip-off at 8PM in Zadar's Jazine Arena, followed by an away game against Cyprus three days later to close out the qualifications. Croatia is currently third in Group "E" with six points having registered two wins and two losses. France is first with a perfect four wins and zero losses. Bosnia and Herzegovina also has six points from two wins and two losses, but is ahead of Croatia on point difference. Cyprus is last in the group having yet to register a win.

Coach Sesar will be looking to capitalize on Mario Hezonja's recent form, having been named the best player of the last round of play in the Spanish Liga Endesa. Last night he led Madrid to a 92:69 thrashing of Manresa in the quarter-finals of the Spanish Cup, with a game high 24 points.

Source: HRT