Nemanja Bjelica ''I spent seven years playing for Serbia and it was very emotional watching them play without me''

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HERAKLION (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Nemanja Bjelica experienced a night of mixed emotions on Thursday when he made his debut for Serbia in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers against Greece.
He was bitterly disappointed that Serbia lost, 70-63, to complicate the team's path to the first-ever 32-team edition of FIBA's flagship event in China next year.
Only the top three sides in each of the four groups by the end of the Second Round will qualify from Europe. Serbia remained in third in Group L behind Germany and Greece (both 7-0) but with a 4-3 record. With five games still to play and Georgia, Israel and Estonia chasing them, they still have some work to do before booking their place.On the other hand, Bjelica, who this summer left his NBA club of three seasons, the Minnesota Timberwolves, for the Sacramento Kings, was emotionally charged up on Thursday after wearing his country's uniform for the first time since FIBA EuroBasket 2015. Injuries, and his career overseas, had prevented him from suiting up.
"It was terrible watching the national team during the winter (the first and second windows of Qualifiers) because I wasn’t able to be there," he said. "I spent seven years playing for Serbia and it was very emotional watching them play without me. I just want to be healthy and ready to play for the national team."
Bjelica was a part of the young Serbia side that went on a stunning run to the FIBA EuroBasket 2009 Final and also almost reached the title game of the FIBA Basketball World Cup the following year in Turkey.

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