Hapoel Tel Aviv Blocks Vasilije Micić From Joining Serbian National Team Without Explanation

The Serbian national basketball team, regarded as one of Europe's strongest, will face Iceland on August 28 and Italy on August 31 in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. However, head coach Dušan Alimpijević announced that several key players, including Vasilije Micić of Hapoel Tel Aviv, will not be available for the matches. According to Alimpijević, Micić was not released by Hapoel Tel Aviv to participate in the qualifiers, and the club provided no explanation for this decision. Similarly, Bogdan Bogdanović and Filip Petrušev were also withheld by their clubs, with Bogdanović wanting to play but his club prioritizing preseason training. Petrušev's club in Dubai cited medical reasons related to his ongoing rehabilitation as the cause for his absence. The Serbian team will have to compete without these important players in the upcoming international window starting in two weeks.