Slovenia captain Luka Doncic. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web
MANILA, Philippines—Slovenia’s head coach Aleksander Sekulic had some constructive phrases for Luka Doncic after the squad’s loss by the hands of Lithuania within the 2023 Fiba World Cup classification stage for fifth to eighth place.
The Slovenians fell to the Lithuanians, 100-84, which implies that the best they will end is seventh they usually must beat Italy on Saturday so as to take action.
Regardless of the result, Sekulic lauded the Dallas Mavericks star who completed with 29 factors, six rebounds, three steals, two assists and a block within the defeat.
Even with the sport already past attain halfway by means of the fourth quarter, Doncic solely checked out of the match with 27 seconds left.
“He was wonderful. The factor that I favored about him is he got here to me and mentioned ‘I’m able to play, I’m recent, I’m good, I’m nice and I need to play. I don’t know the place he obtained his vitality from,” mentioned Sekulic at Mall of Asia Enviornment on Thursday.
“He was simply wonderful, he in all probability needed to point out gratitude to the followers right here within the Philippines who actually love him right here. Possibly it’s related, he in all probability obtained the vitality from the followers.”
Slovenia captain Luka Doncic. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web
Doncic, nevertheless, didn’t shoot the ball in addition to he did within the loss to Canada the place he completed with 26 factors on an environment friendly 40 % capturing.
This time, he solely had a lowly 33.3 % capturing clip and went 1-of-10 within the second half, with this solely subject objective a three-point within the dying seconds with the match already determined.
Fatigue might have been an element with the Slovenians hitting the court docket once more lower than 24 hours after dropping within the quarterfinals.
So far as the group is worried, Doncic may also play towards Italy on Saturday in Slovenia’s remaining recreation on this World Cup.
“The plan is for him to play, I hope he’s going to be able to play.”
Doncic is presently the main scorer of the Fiba match with norms of 26.7 factors, 6.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists per recreation.
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