The basketball players of Buducnost Voli welcome Bayern Munich in the 24^th round of the European League on Friday at 7 pm.

"The Blue" play for pride and honor in the elite competition, for a win and the confidence before the final fight in the ABA league.

Goga Bitadze returns to the court after almost 20 days. The ankle injury, which he earned in a match with Partizan on February 10^th healed. 

"I feel good, everything is fine, I'm ready for the match," Bitadze said. Unlike Buducnost, Bayern is playing a game of great competitive significance. "Bayern is a very good defensive team, they play very well in the defense, they are very aggressive, and attackers are very dangerous," Bitadze said, who recorded the European League debut against Bayern in Munich with 17 points and seven rebounds.

Buducnost lost 93:88.

The Georgian super talent is convinced that Buducnost can win and end a series of three defeats.

"We can beat everyone, I'm sure. We have quality, we will go out on the court to show what we know, show the character and do everything to win," Bitadze said.

Text by Vijesti sport, on February 28th 2019, read more at Vijesti

The biggest Montenegrin club, the Women's Handball Club Buducnost, celebrated the Jubilee - 70 years of existence in the Montenegrin National Theater.

The history began on February 13^th, 1949, when Jug from Dubrovnik was defeated in Titograd with the result 5:2.

Seven decades were presented through a documentary by Blagota Marunovic and the Center for Multimedia Production (CEZAM), in which their stories about Buducnost were told by the former presidents Misko Kalezic, Rade Djurdjic, Budimir Stanisic and Predrag Boskovic, famous coach and sports director Nikola Petrovic, legends of this sport Maja Bulatovic and Bojana Popovic, current head of the expert staff Dragan Adzic and well-known senior fans - Zef-Bato Dedivanovic and Husein-Ceno Tuzovic.

A monograph was also presented, edited by Ana Markovic and Milos Pavicevic."The number of years of existence and trophies in club cabinets is almost identical - 65 cups in national, regional and European frames, give us the right to say that Buducnost is both a Montenegrin and European brand. Buducnost is the history of European handball, and I am sure it will have a bright future," said Radmila Petrovic, the president of Buducnost, who presented the thank-you notes to the Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic, to EHF's leader Michael Viderer and to Boskovic, his predecessor at the head of the board.

At the end of the ceremony, the six legends of this sport received the newest club's most prestigious awards. The stars of Buducnost became Svetlana Antic, Ljiljana Vucevic, Olga Sekulic, Maja Bulatovic, Bojana Popovic and Milena Raicevic, who achieved the greatest successes in the history of Montenegrin handball.

Text by Nikola Nikolic, on February 28th 2019, read more at Vijesti

February 28, 2029 - The water polo players from Jadran Carine from Herceg Novi celebrated last night against OSC Budapest at 13:12 (2: 3; 1: 4; 5: 3; 5: 2) in the second semi-final match of the LEN Euro Cup and came to the finals. The first man of the national water polo team and Jadran’s trainer, Vladimir Gojkovic reminded that his team was better than Hungary and in the first semifinal match (11:10), played on 23 January in Herceg Novi. Final games are scheduled for March 30 and April 13.

25 February 2019 - In the direct clash for Europe’s last World Cup ticket, Latvia won 80-74 against Montenegro on the last game day. However, the Latvians needed a win with 9 points or more to qualify; hence, Montenegrians will be the ones traveling to China.

Latvia was holding the lead for all forty minutes and was above the needed margin multiple times during the game. In fact, Dairis Bertans shot twice in the last 15 seconds to reach the nine-point margin but fell short while on the other side, Derek Needham banked the free throws to secure Montenegro’s World Cup ticket.

Needham nailed 22 points while Marko Todorović scored 13 in addition to Bojan Dubljević’s and Aleksa Popović’s 11 points each.

For Latvia, Janis Strelnieks had an excellent game notching game-high 25 points while missing only one shot from the field (8-9). Martin Meiers added 12 and Janis Timma 11 points.

"It is difficult to find the words to explain how I feel tonight, especially because I remember very well when we started a year ago without any idea, but really any idea at all of going to the World Cup. We competed to get to the Second Round and it was our goal. Tonight I am delighted because all of these guys who played, they all deserve this. Like Blagota (Sekulić) kept saying, we are really, really, extremely happy. And for our country, you saw the atmosphere; it was really amazing tonight. Congratulations to everybody," said Montenegrin coach Zvezdan Mitrović.

Montenegrin forward player Blagota Sekulić also noted that the game was very hard and that this is a historical win for sports in Montenegro.

"It was a challenging game. We knew that this team is different from the previous game with five players who never played in the Qualifiers before. So we knew it would be a tough game because those players are great shooters and it isn't easy to guard them. Somehow we made it come true, and we did something historically great for basketball and sport in Montenegro," said Sekulić.

Head coach of Latvia Arnis Vecvagars congratulated Montenegro and wished the players good luck in China.

"First of all, I would like to congratulate Montenegro for qualifying to the World Cup. Good luck to them there. Talking about today's game, the main reason we did not get the result we wanted is defensive rebounding. We allowed too many offensive rebounds. We allowed too many second-chance points, and in the second half, we had a lot of plays one on one where we did not execute defensively as necessary. Obviously in the last minute of the game, our team's offense was different because of the injury to our point guard Janis Strelnieks. As you all could see, the Montenegro team could not stop him," concluded Vecvagars.

February 16, 2019 - He knows they’re building mementos in his hometown, he embraces the fact he’s the first NBA All-Star from his country and he appreciates the love.

In short, Nikola Vučević sounds elated to represent Montenegro in the 2019 NBA All-Star game.

“It’s an amazing feeling to be the first player from Montenegro ever to do it,” said Vučević. “I’ve had a lot of people from back home reach out to me, and text me to let me know how proud they are. Actually, the city I’m from put a billboard with my picture on [it]. Things like that make this even more special.”

Amidst the train of events and engagements, Vučević was found sitting on a bench coaching international youth basketball players at the NBA’s ‘Basketball Without Borders’ camp Friday in Charlotte.

Vučević, at times, could be seen rooted on sidelines next to Montenegro’s own, 17-year-old Jovan Kljajic.

“It’s funny, I saw [Kliajic] over the summer when he did the BWB in Europe, and now he’s here,” Vučević said. “He actually reached out to me a couple of days ago telling me he was going to be here. It’s fun to see him, and I try to give him some advice when I see different stuff.”

Kliajic is unavailable for comment until after camp.

For ‘Vooch’ as he is affectionately called here in the states, coaching international players at the camp is a way to give back to over 60 teens from more than 30 countries who are following in his path.

Vučević was joined by fellow 2019 NBA All-Star Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets; Serbia), 2018s No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton (Phoenix Suns; Bahamas), and Bogdan Bogdanović (Sacramento Kings; Serbia) to coach the top high school age talent from Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe.

This year marks a changing of the guard, in some respect, as international NBA icon and 14-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki makes his final appearance in the game.

Most understand Nowitzki is a big reason why this generation of international players is reaching back to guide today’s international youth.

Nowitzki seems content with the future of international players in the NBA under the charge Vučević and others.

“He does everything the right way, and I'm a big fan of his game,” Nowitzki said.

The 40-year-old Nowitzki reflected on what it was like for him to return Würzburg, Germany, after his first All-Star selection, and compared it to what Vučević is probably feeling right now.

“It's awesome. Friends, family, and fans are excited about your success,” Nowitzki said. “The people who have gone through the tough times - the good times - they’re excited for you. The country is excited for you, and this should be a fun time for him.

After all the events that require his presence, Vučević will lace it up Saturday to compete in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge at 8 p.m. EST, and then he’ll don a team Giannis jersey for the 67th NBA All-Star Game Sunday at 8 p.m. EST.

“I’m proud to represent my countrymen here,” Vučević said. “It’s a huge honor, and I’m going to do my best to represent them in the right way.”

Text by Christopher Cadeau

15 February 2019 - The 15th Open Swimming Championship of Montenegro, a sporting event organised within the official program of the 50th Mimosa Festival will be opened at the Simo Milošević Institute in Igalo on February 16, followed by the 24th International Swimming Meeting "Montenegro Mimosa Cup". This year's swimming meeting will gather over 400 competitors from all countries which were a part of the former Yugoslavia, as well as from Italy, Hungary, and Russia.

The delegates' meeting and cocktail gathering at the Institute, which will be held on February 15, will precede the competition, organized by Herceg Novi Municipality and Public Culture Institution Herceg Fest.

The opening of the 24th International Swimming Meeting is scheduled for February 16 at 4:45 pm, with the City Music and the performance of the city majorettes, while the first competitors will enter the swimming pool already at 8:30 am, when the first debrief is scheduled.

The first part of the competition will start at 9 am, which is a 50 metres women swimming race. The second part begins with the competitors’ preparations at 3:30 pm, after which a 100 metres swimming race of mixed style swimming for men will start at 5 pm.

The third phase of the program will begin on Sunday. From 8 am to 8:45 am the competitors will warm up. The 100 metres mixed style swimming race for women will start at 9 am.

Last year's winner was Swimming Club Olimpija from Ljubljana.

The event is supported by the Government of Montenegro, Water polo and Swimming Federation, Olympic Committee and numerous sponsors.

Source: Radio Jadran

In the month of three defeats in four games (two in the European and one in the ABA league), Buducnost Voli basketball players have the chance to qualify for the first trophy of the season.

They are the hosts of the final tournament of the Cup of Montenegro, and will play against the main competitor, Mornar, in the semi-finals.

"The Cup is such a competition that always carries more uncertainty than any other competition, simply because it is to be or not to be in one game. Our commitment as a club and me as a coach is to confirm that we are, at this moment, the best club in Montenegro, which has to be confirmed on the court as well. We need to play well and appropriate to such a competition, to give our best to get to the trophy," coach Jasmin Repesa said. In addition to playing at home, in Buducnost’s favor is their quality.  Since only three foreigners can play, Repesa will have to decide by Friday whom he will send to the stands out of the Americans Norris Cole, Earl and Coty Clarke, James Bel, the Frenchman Edwin Jackson and Nemanja Gordic (Bosnia and Herzegovina).

If there are no unexpected events, the Croatian expert will not be able to count on Georgian Goga Bitadze, who hurt his ankle against Partizan. Repesa, therefore, has at his disposal a number of high-quality Montenegrin players, Suad and Sead Sehovic, Filip Barovic, Petar Popovic, Danilo Nikolic.

"Bitadze's injury is such that it will be difficult for him to play the Cup. I think it would be inappropriate to force it because of the great obligations that are waiting for us later. However, I am still waiting for official confirmation regarding his current state of fitness, recovery length and all that that can affect such an injury. In the last period, we had a lot of problems with the flu, many players missed one or two days of training, and the drop in the quality was visible. A stabilization program is in progress, hopefully, by Friday we will succeed to put each player in their places," added Repesa.

Specialized basketball website Sportando yesterday sent Blagota Sekulic to Buducnost Voli, but the Montenegrin representative rejected that option. Now, supposedly, as Sportando reports, the wish of the team from Podgorica is Milko Bjelica, the wing center, but the final word still needs to be given.

The final deadline for the registration is Friday. "As for new players, we have not signed a contract at this point, and I think the timing is too short for a player to get in the game system and adjust to playing in the Cup, no matter who he is," concluded Repesa. The match Buducnost - Mornar is on Friday night at 8 p.m. Lovcen and Sutjeska will play at 5 p.m. The final in "Moraca" is scheduled on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Text by Sasa Joncic, on February 13th 2019, read more at Vijesti