By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Sixteen players were called up by head coach Aleksander Sekulic, launching preparations for Slovenia on the way to the approaching FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Piraeus, Greece.
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Headlining the preliminary list is Luka Doncic. The superstar of Slovenia is set to compete in the 2024 NBA Finals but is also expected to suit up for his country in the summer, hoping to punch in a ticket to the Olympic Games. A date for him joining the senior national team training camp will be decided upon the conclusion of the best-of-seven series pitting the Mavs against the Boston Celtics.
“We are facing uncertainty and challenges once more as we do not know when we will have a full team,” noted Sekulic, “Many players will arrive from various roles in different teams. Some will be fresh, others tired. But we already have experience with this. I hope we can find the right balance and a way to combine all these circumstances into a functioning team. I believe all players will be extremely motivated, bringing a great work ethic into an excellent atmosphere. This is the only way we can travel to Greece fully prepared.”
His side was drawn into Group A with Croatia and New Zealand emerging as the opponents in the group stage of the OQT in Greece. Host Greece, the Dominican Republic, and Egypt were placed in Group B. Among the six countries, only one spot in the Olympic Games is available. It will be decided after two contests in the preliminary round, Semifinals, and Finals of the tournament. Moving to Group A of the preliminary round of the Olympic Games, the winner will place alongside Australia, Canada, and the winner of the OQT in Spain.
Returning from lengthy spells on the injury lists of the Denver Nuggets and Cedevita Olimpija, Vlatko Cancar and Edo Muric were called up. Jaka Blazic of Cedevita Olimpija, Miha Cerkvenik of Krka, Ziga Dimec of Anwil Wloclawek, Zoran Dragic of Cedevita Olimpija, Gregor Hrovat of JDA Dijon, Aleksej Nikolic of Elan Chalon, Tibor Mirtic of Kansai Helios Domzale, Bine Prepelic of Spirou, Klemen Prepelic of Galatasaray Ekmas, Leon Stergar of Krka, Luka Scuka of Cedevita Olimpija, Jan Span of Krka, and naturalized Mike Tobey of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet were the remaining selections.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL