By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
After pouring in 37 points in Gameday 1 of Group F, Luka Doncic was in brilliant form to continue the 2023 FIBA World Cup campaign pushing Slovenia to yet another win, 88-67, in Okinawa Arena Monday.
Finally returning to action in Japan, following the premature ending to the 2022-23 season with the Dallas Mavericks, Doncic dropped 34 points with 9/20 from the field. Adding ten rebounds, six assists, and three steals generated a game-high efficiency rating of 36.
Picking up an injury, his teammate Jaka Blazic was limited to six minutes of action. The 33-year-old guard will undergo an MRI. “At the end of the day, we grabbed an important win. Hopefully, we will get good news on Blazic’s injury,” commented 30-year-old guard Klemen Prepelic.
Overcoming the early setback and improving to 2-0, the team coached by Aleksander Sekulic drew up a distance of over 20 points in the fourth quarter to tackle the fighting spirit of Georgia. Prepelic knocked in three three-pointers and followed Doncic with 15 points to his name. Mike Tobey chipped in eight points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block.
“We kept battling, but they just kept on breaking us down, scoring easy threes,” summed up Georgia’s top performer Sandro Mamukelashvili, “Overall, they are a great team with a great leader.”
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On the opposite end, the team guided by Ilias Zouros was forced down to 1-1. San Antonio Spurs big Mamukelashvili packing 21 points and seven rebounds was not enough to prevent the loss. Goga Bitadze of the Orlando Magic had seven points, six rebounds, three assists, three steals, three assists, and one block.
Shifting to Gameday 3 and shaping the final standings of Group F, Slovenia can confirm a spot in the Round of 16 with a win over Cape Verde. Also a candidate to advance, Georgia will face Venezuela earlier on Wednesday.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL