Junior Maria Kostourkova, a veteran of the European Championships, had a chance to have a cyber sit-down with redshirt-freshman Jovana Subasic at the 2017 FIBA U20 European Championships. Subasic, playing for her home country of Serbia, will have a chance to take on Portugal in consolation play on Saturday.
How do you feel to be back on the court after your redshirt season at WSU?
After I finished my redshirt season last year, to be back on the court is the best feeling ever. I came back to the court stronger and faster than I was before I decided to redshirt my first season at WSU.
How is the experience of the European Championship going?
As I get older I feel like all teams are good and that just little details make a difference between the winners and the losers. To play for the national team of my country is honor for me and it's great to represent my country at the biggest championship in Europe. My team, Serbia, did not start the European Championship very well so I learned something from our mistakes.
You had a great win against Lithuania, does that bring confidence to your team?
When we beat Lithuania the confidence of our team grew bigger. Also, we felt more relaxed because that game gave us a chance to stay in the A Division of European Championship for the next generation of Serbian women's basketball players. It was the most important game for us to have won.
This is your sixth European Championship over the age groups, how do you think those experiences has shaped you as a player?
Six European Championships has helped me to learn a lot of new aspects of basketball. I feel like I saw a lot of different basketball systems so I have seen what is important if you want to win the championship. As a player that experience makes me a smarter player and has given me more confidence for the future.
How do you feel to be back on the court after your redshirt season at WSU?
After I finished my redshirt season last year, to be back on the court is the best feeling ever. I came back to the court stronger and faster than I was before I decided to redshirt my first season at WSU.
How is the experience of the European Championship going?
As I get older I feel like all teams are good and that just little details make a difference between the winners and the losers. To play for the national team of my country is honor for me and it's great to represent my country at the biggest championship in Europe. My team, Serbia, did not start the European Championship very well so I learned something from our mistakes.
You had a great win against Lithuania, does that bring confidence to your team?
When we beat Lithuania the confidence of our team grew bigger. Also, we felt more relaxed because that game gave us a chance to stay in the A Division of European Championship for the next generation of Serbian women's basketball players. It was the most important game for us to have won.
This is your sixth European Championship over the age groups, how do you think those experiences has shaped you as a player?
Six European Championships has helped me to learn a lot of new aspects of basketball. I feel like I saw a lot of different basketball systems so I have seen what is important if you want to win the championship. As a player that experience makes me a smarter player and has given me more confidence for the future.