Head coach of China Sasha Djordjevic gestures during the Trentino Cup basketball match between Italy and China, in Trento, Italy on Aug. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Jin Mamengni)
China's head coach Aleksandar Djorkjevic said that all three opponents in Group B, including Serbia, his home country, are tough rivals at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
MANILA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's head coach Aleksandar Djordjevic said on Thursday that Serbia is one of the toughest teams at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
China's young squad faces huge challenges to progress from a group which also includes Serbia, South Sudan and Puerto Rico. Their first opponent on Saturday will be Serbia, who has finished no lower than fifth in the past three editions of the World Cup.
"It's an honor for me to step on the floor and be head coach of China against my home country," Djordjevic told the pre-game news conference.
"It's a very tough opponent, one of the toughest in the World Cup," said Djordjevic. "They are such an experienced team, with great talent, great players, great legacy."
China played several warm-up matches before the World Cup but lost all their games against European teams. Djordjevic tried to encourage his players to enjoy the game and seize the big moment in their career.
"We can enjoy the moment, enjoy the game, show the best," he said. "Sometimes I felt that we were a little bit intimidated by the big teams that we played in this summer, and we just have to show the best game."
Djordjevic regards all three opponents in Group B as tough rivals.
"South Sudan is coming a with a strong, tall, athletic team. Puerto Rico is always a tough rock. We want to be on the same exact level of rivals for them," he said. ■
