Luka Doncic powered Slovenia to yet another win to top Group B in the Kaunas Qualifying Tournament
By Eurohoops team at eurohoops.net / info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic and the Slovenian national team are making the most out of their time in Kaunas. While both Poland and Angola aren’t considered traditional powers in the basketball world, combining a total of 230 points in just two days is impressive.
Doncic stepped up for Aleksandar Sekulic’s selection with a double-double of 18 points, 10 assists along with 6 rebounds in 21 minutes in a 112-77 win over Poland, before heading to the bench as Slovenia held on to a large margin by the middle of the third period.
Sharpshooter Klemen Prepelic took charge in the second half to finish the game with 17 points, 4 assists and Gregor Hrovat had 16 points, as Sekulic kept shuffling his rotation, taking advantage of the large deficit.
On the other end of the court, Mateusz Ponitka had 16 points to lead Poland, which will play against the winner of Group A in the semifinals.
Slovenia has topped Group B of the Kaunas tournament and has already advanced to the semifinals, where they will face the team that ranks second in Group A (Venezuela, Lithuania or South Korea).
In Belgrade, Italy outlasted Puerto Rico 90-83 in the only clash of Group B (given that Senegal couldn’t make it to the tournament). Achille Polonara led the way for Meo Sacchetti’s squad with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Nicolo Mannion and Simone Fontecchio had 21 points as well. Italy wins Group B and will face the team that finishes second in Group A, while Puerto Rico will take on the winner of Group A.
Daily results:
Kaunas
Slovenia – Poland 112-77 (Doncic 18 pts 10 ast, Prepelic 17 pts – Ponitka 16 pts)
South Korea – Lithuania
Belgrade
Italy – Puerto Rico 90-83 (Polonara, Mannion, Fontecchio 21 pts – Clavell 24 pts, Brown 16 pts, 16 rebs)
Philippines – Dominican Republic
Split
Russia – Germany 67-69 (Vorontsevich 17 pts – Voigtmann 13 pts 7 rebs)
Croatia – Tunisia
Victoria
China – Greece
Czech Republic – Uruguay
Photo: FIBA
