As the first quarter came to an end with Georgia clinging to a narrow 17-16 lead, Slovenia recognized that a tough battle awaited them in Okinawa, Japan.
However, the magic of Luka Doncic soon came into play, transforming a closely contested match into a one-sided victory. And that secured the Junaki’s second group-stage win in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.
“Luka (Doncic) took matters into his own hands, especially when they were switching defenders on him.
“He believed he could take on their big players, and we capitalized on this,” remarked Slovenia coach Aleksander Sekulić regarding their second-quarter performance, during which they outscored Georgia 29-16.
“In this situation, the most crucial aspect is that all five players on the court were on the same page, supporting Luka’s play. Ultimately, others also found open shots because of his contributions,” he continued.
(C) FIBA.basketball
Receiving minimal resistance from his teammates, Doncic engaged in a showdown with various Georgian defenders, drawing fouls consistently. These fouls gradually built momentum in Slovenia’s favor.
He attempted a game-high 17 free throws, successfully converting 13 of them, culminating in a 34-point performance despite shooting only 9-of-20 from the field. Doncic also secured 10 rebounds, distributed six assists, and recorded three steals, capping off an exceptional evening.
Doncic’s well-rounded brilliance and adaptability on the court make Slovenia highly potent at exploiting opposing defenses.
“With Luka, we possess versatility.
“We can adapt to different defensive setups. That’s how we approach each team. We analyze their strategies and exploit their vulnerabilities,” Sekulić explained.
