By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
MANILA, Philippines – Dillon Brooks has emerged as one of the key players of the Canadian national team which will face Slovenia’s Luka Doncic in a few hours for a spot in the FIBA World Cup semifinals.
And of course, this is a huge challenge for him on a personal level, since he is expected to guard the Slovenian superstar.
“He’s used to playing in these games, he knows all the tricks in the trade’, Brooks said to the media in the morning shootaround. “I feel it will be kind of the same thing as in the NBA, trying to be physical and tiring him out looking to the 4th quarter”.
This is a different version of Brooks and this has to do with the coaching of Jordi Fernandez who helped him “to control my emotions and to be a leader out on the floor. He challenges me to be the best and a playmaker”.
And this is also a different version of Canada with the basketball national team finally delivering what was expected from its talent.
As Brooks said: “We have a good group of guys ready to play World Cup basketball, committed and wanting to play with each other. You see when it comes to fruition. We’re back in the Olympics for the first time since 2000, now we’re in the Quarterfinals and we want to push for a medal by beating Slovenia. A lot of kids back home trying to get where we are, Olympics gets guys motivated to play for the country”.
That’s why there’s excitement and not pressure for the quarterfinals: “I feel like we’re composed and excited to play this game. It’s something new for everybody, the energy and the excitement are going to be high. They’re all great teams. Germany, Slovenia, and Serbia just upset Lithuania. They all make it here for a reason. I guess that the team that is going to make it all the way is the one that will be the most ready and unselfish”.
PHOTO CREDIT: 2023 FIBA World Cup
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