Serbian import Kristina Arsenic hoping to reach new heights with West Adelaide Bearcats

West Adelaide Bearcats’ Serbian import Kristina Arsenic is loving playing hoops in Adelaide and hopes it will boost her chances of making her country’s 2020 Olympic team.

West Adelaide women’s Premier League basketball club’s Serbian import Kristina Arsenic. The 22-year-old is stamping her mark on the competition. Picture: AAP/Mark Brake)

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Kristina Arsenic had lit up courts in Serbia, the Czech Republic and Spain but playing basketball in Australia was a bucket list item yet to be ticked off – until last month.

Arsenic is West Adelaide’s newest import.

She made her debut with the Bearcats’ women’s Premier League side in their 95-65 victory against North Adelaide at home.

The 22-year-old is originally from Valjevo – a city near Belgrade in Serbia.

She has averaged 13.33 points and 7.67 rebounds across three games for the Bearcats.

Bearcats Serbian import Kristina Arsenic. Picture: AAP/Mark Brake

“I know basketball in Australia is really good and I wanted to try something new,” Arsenic, now of Brooklyn Park, says.

“When I saw the opportunity to come to Adelaide, I accepted.

“It’s much different than in Europe.

“The quality of basketball is good and I really like it so far.

“The basketball is kind of faster here than in Europe and there’s much more shooting than Europe.

“Although in Europe, the basketball is a bit rougher, so I am struggling a bit with the fouls here but I’m getting used to it.”

The centre arrives at West following a season with KP Brno in the Czech National Basketball League – the highest competition in the central European nation.

Before that, Arsenic featured with Olimpia CSU Brasov in Liga Nationala – the women’s top-tier professional basketball league of Romania.

She was also part of Serbia’s junior European Championship teams in 2014, 2015 and 2016 as well as the country’s 2015 under-19 FIBA women’s world championship team.

But her junior career has not always been smooth sailing after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament in 2017 while training in her home town.

She returned to the court last year and has been working hard to get back to full fitness and strength.

“My last (junior) national team appearance was two years ago because I got injured and wasn’t able to play,” she says.

“I tore my ACL – it was a horrible move during practice.

“It was just annoying being out for so long.”

Arsenic plans to play with the Bearcats until at least August.

She hopes a season in the SA Premier League will boost her chances of selection for Serbia’s 2020 Olympic team.

“I want to try and get as far as I can so I’ll just continue to work hard and we’ll see.”