By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Despite the 103-95 defeat and the tension in the closing seconds, Luka Doncic believes that Slovenia proved against France that they can aim high.
After a 0-2 start, things are bound to get better for Slovenia, which has to face Belgium, Israel and Iceland, aiming for a 3-2 record, which can be enough for the third spot of Group D and a ticket to the Round of 16.
Doncic’s echoed this sentiment talking after the game to the press: “”The goal is to get out of the group. In both matches so far, we have given our all, we are really giving our all. We are here to represent Slovenia and try to win and we will continue to fight. I think we have proven that we can do it, all the guys fought, really all credit to everyone. We win and lose as a team. I made a lot of mistakes today and I know that I can be much better. The analysis will be important and that we prepare as well as possible”.
Talking about the way he was guarded, the Lakers stars said with a sarcastic smile: “I feel great, wonderful. We have a match tomorrow at 14.00, so we will have to do a lot to recover properly”.
Speaking about the game against France he added: “We really fought, in the end we gave up a little in the last two or three minutes, but we gave it our all. France is really not an easy opponent, I told the guys that too, and we have to continue at that pace. We prepared well for the game, Francisco shot 1/23 in the warm-up games, now he has scored 30 points. Our opponents have an average of 105 points, which is too much. Now it’s important to keep winning, nothing else matters”.
Doncic also talked about the effort of the bench players of Slovenia: “The boys did a good job, everyone who stepped on the court gave their all. Like I said, France is a great team, unfortunately we lost, but we now have to learn something from this defeat. I know that sometimes I lose my temper, but I try to help the team. I do all this out of good will, no one wants anything bad and I think we are getting better every day”.
The Slovenian star also addrssed the last second layup of Sylvain Fransisco, which was the cause of a schuffle: “We shook hands at the end, the difference in points can be important at the end, but we shook hands. I didn’t think he would finish the play”.
Photo credit: FIBA