Jeff Taylor

Zuzana Zirková has played at EuroBaskets and a FIBA World Championship in her national team career with Slovakia.

None of those experiences were as fulfilling as 2008, she says, when Zirkova led her country through a successful qualifying campaign for this year's EuroBasket Women in Latvia.

"My favourite moment was last summer," she said. "We hadn't been at a European Championship for several years.

"We changed some players, got a new coach and went from the downstairs to the upstairs. It was good for Slovakian basketball that we made it back to the European Championship."

Slovakia missed the previous two EuroBaskets after playing in the Additional Qualifying Round.

Trying to make it to Turkey for the Final Round in 2005, Slovakia finished second behind Poland in the AQR and hoping to play in the Final Round in Chieti two years ago, Slovakia lost on a tie-breaker to Israel.

The Israelis, Poland and Slovakia each finished with 1-1 records in the Additional Qualifying Round and Israel advanced.

Zirkova never lost hope that her country would make it back, though.

"Every year, I thought we would go to the European Championship," she said.

Zirkova, who plays in the Czech Republic with EuroLeague Women giants Gambrinus Sika Brno, says the arrival of Pokey Chatman as coach was essential.

One reason is because she had no preconceived notions about the players and made her own decisions about squad selection.

"We played better defense, and the new coach arrived," Zirkova said. "Those were the two main things.

"And for the coach, everybody was on one line. She didn't know this person came from this town or that person played for that club. Everyone was on the same line and that was very important for us.

"I think everyone likes the coach. It's important at this level to be a good coach and a good person, and she is both."

Zirkova says Slovakia's group, which also includes hosts Spain, the Czech Republic and Ukraine, is the hardest at the EuroBasket.

"Hopefully we can win one game and enjoy the experience," she said.

As for taking on some of her Gambrinus teammates that are in the Czech team, Zirkova said: "I don't know if this brings any more motivation for me just because I know them. I think it will be harder for me because they know how I play.

"I think Spain have the best team in Europe along with Russia. They're at a different level."