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FIBA: Coach credits teamwork as Slovenia overcame Doncic foul trouble, double-teams

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Levi Joshua Verora Jr.

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Players of Slovenia celebrate after winning the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 second round match between Slovenia and Australia in Okinawa, Japan, September 1, 2023. Kimimasa Mayama, EPA-EFE." src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/sports/09/02/090223_fibawc_slovenia_epa.jpg"/><figcaption>Players of Slovenia celebrate after winning the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 second round match between Slovenia and Australia in Okinawa, Japan, September 1, 2023.<em> Kimimasa Mayama, EPA-EFE.</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Slovenian men&#x27;s basketball head coach Aleksander Sekulic gave credit to his entire squad after a hard-earned FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 victory over Australia on Friday.</p><p>With the Boomers throwing constant double-teams on superstar Luka Doncic, three other Slovenians stepped up offensively to help the team earn a quarterfinals ticket.</p><p>Mike Tobey had a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds, Kremen Prepelic added 11 points, while Gregor Hrovat chipped in 10.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/09/01/23/fiba-slovenia-punches-qfinals-ticket-by-routing-australia">FIBA: Slovenia punches q&#x27;finals ticket by routing Australia</a></li></ul><p>&quot;They way we dominated the game, these guys, they deserve the credit, how we dominated the game even though Australia, sometimes they look scary,&quot; Sekulic said.</p><p>&quot;Big credit to the players. Second of all, some of the guys from Australia also played an amazing game, especially Josh Giddey. He was almost unstoppable. That&#x27;s why I think what we did tonight was just a great game. Great teamwork.&quot;<br/> <br/>Picking up three early fouls by the second quarter also prevented the Dallas Mavericks star from performing like the offensive flamethrower that he is.</p><p>Doncic was slapped with a technical early in the second period, causing him to be subbed out.</p><p>Fortunately, his teammates did the damage, proving in the process that Slovenia isn&#x27;t a one-man show.</p><p>&quot;It was a very hard game. Australia had to win no matter what. We went to the game like we had to win no matter what. They had a great team, great players,&quot; Doncic shared.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/09/02/23/australia-look-to-paris-olympics-after-fiba-world-cup-exit">Australia look to Paris Olympics after FIBA World Cup exit</a></li></ul><p>&quot;I’m really proud of how we played today. Everybody together, and we just stayed together no matter what.&quot;</p><p>Doncic still top-scored in the end with 19 points, although it was far from his usual production of 30.0 points a game in the group phase.</p><p>He went on to praise Slovenia&#x27;s ball movement which earned them 26 assists on 32 field goal makes.</p><p>&quot;They had two guys on me every possession. I think that’s great. That’s how we got open looks. Like I said, we stayed together,” Doncic said.</p><p>&quot;We shared the ball. It was amazing to watch. I’m really proud of this team.&quot;</p><p>A record-holder for the second-most points in an Olympic game with 48, Doncic is clearly still the take-charge guy for Slovenia.</p><p>But when the situation gets challenging, the star has his teammates to trust, knowing he does not have to fill the stat sheet every time to ensure a victory.</p><p>&quot;I trust my teammates. They would double-team me every possession, and everybody made the right play. We stay together and we’re a great team,&quot; he said.</p><div><strong> For more stories on the FIBA World Cup, click <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/fibaworldcup2023">here</a>.</strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6WNc1jIDxoA?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><div> </div>

Slovenia coach Aleksander Sekulic gave credit to his entire squad after a hard-earned FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 victory over Australia on Friday.