Discover Macedonia

EUROBASKET 2011 - Macedonia

2011-09-15T21:39:00.005+02:00

15.09.2011

EUROBASKET 2011

'This could already be the biggest sporting achievement of a lifetime in the country' says Macedonia big man Predrag Samardzisk

Having already reserved a place in EuroBasket history by reaching the Semi-Finals, Macedonia now stand on the verge of sporting immortality in their homeland.

National hero status is assured no matter what happens in the wake of their stunning run to the last four of the competition, and pending participation at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament next year.

After beating the hosts and assuming the role of ultimate party poopers, they find themselves with one foot already in an entirely new stratosphere of basketball acclaim.

Yet, as many writers around the globe reached out for headlines hinting at the biggest shock, surprise (and any word remotely relating to those two aspects) in EuroBasket history, nothing could be further from the truth.

From a basketball tradition perspective, these headlines do stand up of course. But, from an on-court perspective, they simply don't. The ability of Macedonia to continue winning games and reach the latter stages is no surpriseto anybody who has followed them closely.

For they are simple basketball personified. Time and time again, they have done what they do best by sticking to their game plan, controlling the tempo, wearing teams down and executing down the stretch.

They are a well-coached team who maximise every last drop of their limited resource within a framework of extraordinary chemistry and mental toughness, refusing to allow games to drift away from them at any stage. Their approach mocks some of the more illustrious nations who quite literally possess twice the talent (if not more) but can only muster half the application.

Center Predrag Samardziski gave a wonderful insight into the unwavering bond the players have with each other after the victory against Lithuania.

When asked what it felt like to finally win a game, at the third attempt, without injured captain Todor Gechevski he just smiled and said: "This was not our first win without him, this was simply our first win for him."

Not one, not two, but three injuries was what stopped Todor Gechevski, the player who best embodies the spirit of the team, from playing in the quarter-final

"He is the hero. People will talk about Bo McCalebb or Pero Antic but he is our hero - believe me," the center explained.

Now they find themselves with not one, but two bites at the medal cherry. As they dare to dream of what they stand to gain should they either beat Spain or win a subsequent bronze medal game, Samardziski is adamant it will be business as usual.

"Now we are so close to a medal and the Olympics, it would be wrong for us to change our mentality and approach to the games.

"We have been successful because we do the same thing each game and try to remain calm," he added.

Having placed themselves on the elite basketball map in emphatic fashion by crushing the hopes and aspirations of an expectant host nation, they now truly want their name up in lights in a big way - by delivering a killer blow to star laden Spain.

Whatever happens, Macedonia will be playing on Sunday, the final day of Eurobasket 2011 and not surprisingly, Samardziski is confident there has been no bigger achievement in the sporting history of his country.

"I really can't think of anything at all which has been anything like this during the last twenty years.

"This could already be the biggest sporting achievement of a lifetime for everyone back home.

"You never know when success is going to happen and maybe it will be the biggest thing to happen for the next twenty or thirty years but I hope I am wrong.

"We are determined to make the Olympics next year and of course do the same at the EuroBasket in Slovenia in two years.

"We want to continue making everyone proud of us and making basketball an even bigger sport in our country."

--- VIDEO: MACEDONIA CELEBRATING THEIR QUARTER-FINAL WIN ---

Even if they are likely to find Spain too tough a nut to crack, it's something that has been said so many times before ahead of Macedonia games.

Yet they have almost always found a way to win. It's taken overtime in one game and a buzzer beating miracle shot in another to stop them.

Last time out against Lithuania, they had to defeat an entire basketball nation. This time around, it's only a team -albeit the defending EuroBasket champions and their array of stellar talent.

Eurobasket 2011 - Macedonia is in the Semi Final

2011-09-15T02:53:00.000+02:00

14.09.2011

EUROBASKET 2011

Turning Point: Vlado Ilievski capitalised on a horrendous turnover by Lithuania by making a stunning three-pointer with 11 seconds remaining. In the end, it decided the game.

Game Heroes: Aside from Ilievski making what was the game-winning shot and subsequent free throws in the last second to seal the deal, Bo McCalebb has 23 points but the true hero was Vojdan Stojanovski who didn't miss a single shot in the game and made all five triples.

Stats Don't Lie: Lithuania only got to the foul line eight times.

The incredible run of F.Y.R. of Macedonia continues after they won a memorable and epic tussle with Lithuania to reach the semi-finals.

Amidst almost unbearable tension in Kaunas, they left the hosts heartbroken as they once again continued with their amazing ability to keep games tight and take them down to the wire.

The last thing F.Y.R. of Macedonia wanted was a high tempo game and Lithuania's game plan was no surprise as they pushed the ball hard down the court at every opportunity.

One thing they didn't do well however was boxing out and gave up four early offensive rebounds which, combined with three-pointers by Vojdan Stojanovski and Vlado Ilievski kept F.Y.R. of Macedonia within a point at 11-10.

Lithuania then scored six points without reply and at 17-10 with the influential Pero Antic and Bo McCalebb a combined 0 of 6 in the game, F.Y.R. of Macedonia were on the ropes early.

However, the latter came alive to rattle off the last seven points of the quarter for his team to ensure they were only 20-18 behind heading into the second period.

F.Y.R. of Macedonia simply had to slow the pace and they did a good job of doing so, restricting Lithuania to just three points in almost five minutes while McCalebb continued his hot streak, scoring from range to keep his team close at 22-21.

Lithuania needed to raise the temperature and after a time-out, they wrestled the initiative back with a 9-1 run sparked by a dunk by captain Robertas Javtokas who was certainly leading his team by example.

Just when it looked as if F.Y.R. of Macedonia might wilt under the pressure, they kept their composure and limited the damage to ensure they only trailed 34-30 at the interval.

Successive three-pointers by the excellent Vojdan Stojanovski tied the scores at 38-38 and with Lithuania committing five fouls inside four minutes, F.Y.R. of Macedonia took the lead for the first time.

Darius Songaila kept Lithuania ticking over while a big play inside by Jonas Valanciunas was pivotal, helping his team to a slender 52-49 lead heading into the final quarter.

Vojdan Stojanovski however was on fire and flawless from downtown as he made his fifth triple of the game to help set ensure a thrilling and nail biting climax.

It came down to crunch time yet again for F.Y.R. of Macedonia and with McCalebb making huge plays at the basket, the pressure was on Lithuania who led by as many as four points during the last minute.

However Ilievski stepped up to deliver the knockout blow, sending the travelling F.Y.R. of Macedonia fans into raptures and the fans of the hosts wondering what might have been.

About Macedonia

2009-07-25T06:35:00.010+02:00

Macedonia - that unforgettable name evoking images of ancient, great civilizations and exotic adventure - is also a warm and welcoming modern-day republic in the very heart of southeastern Europe.

While easily accessible from all points abroad, and boasting all the amenities of the Western world, Macedonia remains one of Europe’s last great undiscovered countries: a natural paradise of mountains, lakes and rivers, where life moves to a different rhythm, amidst the sprawling grandeur of rich historical ruins and idyllic villages that have remained practically unchanged for centuries.

Macedonia’s geographical and cultural position

Macedonia’s geographical and cultural position as bridge between East and West, as the crossroads between Christian Europe and the mystical Orient, is attested to today in its inhabitants. The Macedonian people – a mixture of ancient Macedonians and Slavic tribes that settled here starting in the 5th century C.E. – make up the greatest part of a country where that mixed population is a vibrant reminder of Macedonia’s rich and lengthy history. Minority populations include: Albanians, arriving first from mountains of Albania and Kosovo; a Turkish population established during Ottoman times; The Roma, hailing ultimately from far-off India; Serbs, Bosniaks and Croats; and Vlachs, famous tradesmen and likely descendants of ancient Romans.

In essence, today’s Macedonia is a unique patchwork of cultures, where Balkan bloodlines have mixed with others more exotic still. Macedonia resonates with the names of the many peoples who have set foot on its eternal soil: from Armenians, Avars and Ashkenazi to Hellenes, Peonians and Gorani; from Kumans, Montenegrins and Jews to Dardanians, Ukrainians and Bulgars.

Such a diverse range of peoples has co-existed for thousands of years in Macedonia, a place where hospitality always welcomes visitors and it comes from the heart. And indeed, the country’s charms have not been lost on an increasing number of Westerners today who are now choosing it as their second home!

In addition to its diversity,, Macedonia’s cultural richness is expressed in its archaeological legacy. Although just a little country, it holds many antique theaters, Byzantine churches and Ottoman mosques, in addition to relics from the Stone Age and even earlier periods of human civilization.

The oldest traces of human habitation in Macedonia are the cryptic, 30,000 year-old stone engravings or “rock art” unearthed in the Kratovo area, as well as the astronomical observatory/ religious ritual site of Taticev Kamen, dating back almost 4,000 years.

The word Macedonia instantly conjures up memories of Philip II and his son Alexander the Great, legendary emperor of the 4^th century B.C.E. who brought great expanses of the known world under Macedonian rule. In this period, and the Hellenistic and Roman ones that followed it, Macedonia reached the apogee of its influence and power. Today, many ruins remain to attest to this ancient heritage, in the sites of cities such as Heraclea, Stobi and Skupi, strewn with amphitheaters and temples, and decorated with intricate mosaics and frescoes.

The missionary Apostle Paul brought Christianity to Macedonia for the first time. Nine centuries later, his Byzantine successors Cyril and Methodius created a brand new alphabet, the precursor to Cyrillic, to expedite their missionary work with the Slavic-speaking Orthodox Christians of the Balkans. Macedonia’s experience of Christianity has thus always been linked with literacy and education. In fact, the first Slavic university was established in the 10th century, in placid Ohrid - famous during Byzantine times for its 365 churches, one for each day of the year.

Today, Macedonia’s Christian heritage is visible everywhere, from the myriad churches that fill up the landscape throughout the country to the enormous “Millennium Cross” that lights up the Skopje night sky from high atop nearby Mt. Vodno.

Following the decline of the Byzantium Empire, Macedonia and the entire Balkans came under control of the Ottoman Turks. Macedonia owes its Oriental influences to five centuries of Ottoman rule, a phenomenon that affected everything from cuisine and language to architecture and religion. The mosques of Tetovo and Skopje and the latter city’s grand castle (Kale), and Stone Bridge exemplify vividly Ottoman aestheticism.

While firmly rooted in its traditions and nostalgia for the past, today’s Macedonia is also a forward-looking country that has embraced its diversity and is becoming integrated within European political and economic institutions, continually expanding its links to the greater global community and economy. It thus provides the curious traveler with the best of both worlds: age-old traditions, historical treasures, and a pristine natural environment, as well as all of the modern amenities, services and consumer goods that today’s sophisticated travelers need. Macedonia today is an undiscovered jewel in the heart of Europe, offering something for tourists of all ages, nations, interests and desires.