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We won Georgia 65-63
Uber-chemistry fuels Macedonia
Anyone taking F.Y.R. of Macedonia lightly or dismissing their chances of EuroBasket success could be in for a seriously rude awakening.
We all know when it comes to F.Y.R. of Macedonia there is an elephant in the room -a huge and obvious issue which isn't discussed aloud very often. Well, let me tackle it head on.
The simple truth is, they aren't a trendy, established and (dare I even say) a ‘fashionable' basketball nation who has the same kind of pulling power outside their own borders as a host of other teams at EuroBasket 2011.
They don't have NBA superstars. They don't even have a genuine array of top European stars for that matter. They don't have a big name coach. They aren't chased by the wider media pack.
Consequently, F.Y.R. of Macedonia rarely receive the kind of credit and wider recognition their accomplishments deserve. And, believe me, as far as their efforts so far are concerned, they are due a bucket load of praise - and some.
Group C may not have been viewed as one of the strongest around but the bare facts are there for everyone to see. Two teams expected to do relatively well, in Montenegro and Croatia, are now back home while F.Y.R. of Macedonia wrapped up their five games in Alytus with four wins and an overtime loss (when they were without the influential Todor Gechevski).
For everything Tony Parker has done for France so far, you had better believe that during Round 1, Pero Antic has done exactly the same for his team, albeit in a different way.
I have little doubt reading such a line may cause surprise and even a degree of hilarity in some quarters but for someone who has absorbed every living moment of what F.Y.R. of Macedonia have done so far, it's a very easy line to write.
All eyes in Vilnius will primarily be on Group E and as basketball fans, we all understand why. If Group F ends up living slightly in the shadow of its counterpart then it won't be a big shock.
Only within those shadows, lurks a team I truly feel are capable of big things in this tournament. I could be wrong and hope my confidence doesn't jinx them but F.Y.R. of Macedonia has something truly special which many coaches would give their right arm for.
They possess an uber-chemistry.
Bo McCalebb (F.Y.R. of Macedonia)
If you think Bo McCalebb does not 'honour' the F.Y.R. of Macedonia shirt like his team-mates, it's because you haven't seen him celebrating after every victory of his team in Alytus
Without stellar names (in tournament terms at least), they rely on their leaders bringing the goods to the floor. With quality and rock solid starting players alongside unsung heroes who come off the bench such as Damjan Stojanovski and Giorgij Chekovski, you sense they would all gladly run through a brick wall for their country.
They also win tight games. Well, let's be honest, they simply have to because they don't have the firepower to blow teams away.
In addition, while every player is proud to represent their country, the passion for wearing the F.Y.R. of Macedonia vest just seems to ebb from every pore of every player - yes, even Bo McCalebb, the name on the tip of every cynic's tongue reading this.
I accept the point fully. However, he is hardly the only naturalised player at EuroBasket 2011. Even the reigning champions have felt the need to make the most of this process despite having a vast talent pool, the kind of which F.Y.R. Of Macedonia could only dream of.
Roared on by their fanatical followers, they have already matched their second phase accomplishment of EuroBasket 2009.
They crave a place in the last eight of this tournament. And as crazy as it may seem to some, I wouldn't back against them to not only get there but to be a seriously uncomfortable team for any opponent in a knockout situation.
Someone could be on the wrong end of a mighty surprise. Only if it happened, it wouldn't be much of a surprise to me.
The only time F.Y.R. of Macedonia will probably be spoken about to the degree they deserve will be if they fell one of the more glamorous nations should they make it to Kaunas.
For now though, it's business as usual as they continue to fight for their position around the top table at Eurobasket 2011 and gain some long overdue recognition and respect.
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Vnatreshna Makedonska Revolucionerna Organazacija.
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