Mario Hezonja led Croatia to a 104-67 win over Cyprus, posting 40 points and playing over 35 minutes. Despite his team's EuroBasket elimination, he emphasized national pride and revealed Real Madrid's stance with regards to his presence with the national team.
In a game where nothing important was at stake, Mario Hezonja led Croatia to a comfortable 104-67 win over hosts Cyprus in Nicosia.
The Real Madrid forward came three assists short of a triple-double, posting 40 points, 11 rebounds, and seven dimes. His team had been eliminated following the 80-83 home loss to France, where the 29-year-old recorded 37 points and 11 boards.
This marks the first time Croatia hasn't made a EuroBasaket final stage since the country became independent.
Under normal circumstances, no one would expect Hezonja to suit up in a meaningless game; still, the captain of the Croatian NT wanted to make a statement, as he stayed on the court for 35:20 in a contest that had essentially been decided long before the final buzzer.
"I'm here because of our people back home - they gave all for us to support us for us to qualify. They were there for us for years and years in order for us to be where we are now. At the end of the day, I played for my family," Hezonja told reporters after the game in Cyprus.
"They went through hell. Not only my family but many, many families that went through hell in order for us to grow up and to be able to put this jersey," he continued.
Hezonja pointed out that Croatia missing out on the EuroBasket is "sad," and added that it was "the strange rules" that prevented them from doing so.
"You need to give congratulations to Bosnia, congratulations to France, and also to Cyprus because these guys come out and play very hard," he acknowledged.
"They don't look at the score what they come out, and they play hard, and they execute what their coach wants them to play," he praised the hosts.
The former NBA player emphasized that he doesn't care about Croatia being involved in any pre-qualifying games for a major tournament.
"I'm going to be there, and we start from zero, but we are going to get where we want to be," he stressed with determination.
Playing more than 35 minutes in such a contest looked like a symbolic message from him as a captain to his teammates.
"I could have sent a message," he admitted.
"Croatia went through a lot of things in order for us to be alive. It's an honor, and you need to be proud of these things. I'm very proud of my family and how they raised me and how they put in my head the right things to follow," Hezonja said, further pointing out that Croatia will bounce back from that debacle.
"I told everybody in the federation to never get down. We're going to get better."
After the away game in Bosnia, Dzanan Musa admitted that he had a hard time convincing Real Madrid to join his national team.
"I came from Madrid literally despite Real Madrid's insistence, since they told me not to come," he revealed following Bosnia and Herzegovina's 110-90 win over Croatia that largely decided which of the two teams would make the EuroBasket final stage.
On the other hand, Musa's Real Madrid teammate didn't have any of that.
"I think this is the best front office, they really don't stick their nose in this business," he commented.
"They come, and they ask you, 'Are you going or are you staying?' Your decision, but also this is Real Madrid. They know that the national team is above everything else- and that's how they treat the Spanish players also.
They are so happy for us, and they push us to be the best because, at the end of the day, it's to their benefit that we are improving because we want to win trophies with this club, so I think it's in everybody's interest," Hezonja said.
As Real Madrid are going through a turbulent season, as manifested in their 13-13 EuroLeague record, Hezonja knows that there's little margin for error in the remaining regular-season rounds.
Madrid faces Barca and Panathinaikos on the road in their upcoming tasks, while standing below the Play-In zone in 11th place.
"There is no more room for mistakes. This is going to be very, very fun," he argued.
"Because the pressure is going to be at an all-time high. When you lose a game in football and basketball, the whole world turns upside down.
So, I love this. It's an amazing place to be in, and I think we are going to get tough as a group right now. Every time we're with our backs against the wall, we always clicked and it doesn't matter if we make or miss or while we play, but as a group we always find the best chemistry," Hezonja concluded.
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