The Kosovo basketball player has started the European Prequalification stage for the 2019 World Cup victory.
Kosovo Wednesday night at the Palace of Youth and Sports in Pristina before about 2,000 spectators beat Macedonia with the result 72:68 (23:11, 17: 9, 15:23, 17:25).
Our basketball began frantic game where in the first quarter stood opponent to 11 points, while on the other hand they scored slightly more than twice (23:11). The second quarter was similar to the first, in fact even more frantic for Kosovo, so the teams went into the break at 40:20 figures.
But what our basketball players did in the first half almost made the Macedonians in the second, but this did not suffice for the guests, so Kosovo came out of the Palace of Youth with the support of the unswerving fans "Dardans" who at never stopped believing on Kosovos win .
In the last quarter, more precisely in his last five minutes, a great fight took place, where Macedonia approached at one point in three points to Kosovo, but that was all, as our representative finally enjoyed the victory with four Point of superiority.
Kosovo next match within the pre-qualification phase for the World "in 2019 China Cup" will play on August 9 against Estonia in Tallinn.
Declared after the game:
Jordancho Davitkov, Macedonia's Selection Manager:
"It was a tough match. We may have played the weakest first part of the game since I took the lead of the Representative. Kosovo in the first half managed to manage the situation and pick up many balls under the table, where almost all the balls under the basket they managed to get and that is why after 20 minutes the opponent's game has led with 20 points of superiority. We knew what the strong arms of Kosovo are, but we like to "sleep" in the first part. Dardan Berisha had a fantastic appearances, he is a fantastic player and a true leader. This one testified again tonight against us. We played much better in the second half, but returning for less than 20 points in such an atmosphere made from Kosovos fans made it really hard. Kosovo had the unswerving support of the fans. Everything was perfectly in terms of organization, security and other technical parts in this match. "
Vojdan Stojanovski, basketball player of the Macedonian Representative:
"I want to congratulate Kosovo. It was really a very difficult match. In the first part, Kosovo was excellent. We played much better in the last 20 minutes, but we did not finish it, as the opponent had already created a kind of security that eventually brought the victory. "
Brad Greenberg, a Kosovo representative selector:
"This is a very good start, but we have to stay 'hungry'. With the victory today, I believe we showed what team we are in reality. So we understood our true strength. For me it was a special experience to see Dardan Berisha playing at this level that he did in this match.
We all in the team have talked a lot about how much we have to have a strong desire for the win, but also that it is worth doing it. It was also very important to understand that this game is important, but that victory is of great value. We did this and that is why we finally triumphed.
We played very well in defense in the first half but also in the attack we were quite efficient.
I am very proud of every member of this team, it has indeed been a special night for us all. "
Dardan Berisha, Captain of Kosovo Representative:
"I'm very proud to be part of this that we all experienced tonight. It has been a dream for us all to play at this level. We've been together now for a month and this is a great achievement. I can say that this is more than a win.
However, the match was quite difficult. That was the reason why in the recent moments we experienced a decline, but the first part, where we played very well, motivated us and gave us the will to bring this work to the end.
The second part was quite difficult, but victory is more than deserved. I think we will continue to win even in the next meetings.
I take this opportunity to thank all those who believed in us, and especially to thank the fans Dardans, but also to all those who accompanied us to the gym and through the television. I'm very proud of all that we showed today in the parquet. "
