Slovenia captain Luka Doncic. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.internet
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 signifies that the very best they’ll end is seventh and so they must beat Italy on Saturday so as to take action.
Regardless of the end 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 superb. The factor that I appreciated about him is he got here to me and stated ‘I’m able to play, I’m contemporary, I’m good, I’m nice and I need to play. I don’t know the place he received his vitality from,” stated Sekulic at Mall of Asia Area on Thursday.
“He was simply superb, he most likely needed to point out gratitude to the followers right here within the Philippines who actually love him right here. Possibly it’s related, he most likely received the vitality from the followers.”
Slovenia captain Luka Doncic. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.internet
Doncic, nevertheless, didn’t shoot the ball in addition to he did in the loss to Canada the place he completed with 26 factors on an environment friendly 40 p.c capturing.
This time, he solely had a lowly 33.3 p.c capturing clip and went 1-of-10 within the second half, with this solely subject aim a three-point within the dying seconds with the match already determined.
Fatigue could have been an element with the Slovenians hitting the courtroom once more lower than 24 hours after shedding within the quarterfinals.
So far as the staff is worried, Doncic may also play towards Italy on Saturday in Slovenia’s ultimate 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 event with norms of 26.7 factors, 6.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists per recreation.
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