By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Poland shocked the world by getting a crazy upset over Slovenia and qualifying for the EuroBasket 2022 semifinals. Luka Doncic had to deal with a back injury in the second quarter and couldn’t deliver a great performance. However, he still had a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds, but also 6 turnovers and he didn’t accept any excuse.
“I wasn’t in my 100%. I received an injection in the third quarter and I’ve been dealing a lot this EuroBasket”, he said and added: “But today I played terribly, I let my team and my whole country who was supporting us down. That’s on me. I’ve gotta look back on this game and be better”.
The Dallas Mavericks leader expressed his feelings after the 87-90 loss in the press conference. “I don’t know, I will always represent my country. When I can and when I’m healthy, I will always represent my country”, he said, when asked if he was upset by some calls in the game in which he fouled out.
Poland played an amazing game, and Luka Doncic recognized it: “I will give credit to Poland. Most had us as favorites, but Poland has a great team, just like Belgium. This EuroBasket was amazing to see, the level was unbelievable. I’m sad we couldn’t get through but I think this EuroBasket was something else: a lot of amazing teams”, he said about the high level of the competition.
The MVP of the game has surely been Mateusz Ponitka, who registered a very rare triple-double and led his team to the Top 4 for the first time since 1971.
“He had an amazing game. I’m not surprised, I’ve played a couple of times against him, he’s a great player and a great leader. Probably he’s an NBA type of player, but I’m not a GM”, Luka Doncic said about the Polish superstar.