Home FIBA FIBA World Championship 2010 Slovenia down Tunisia

Slovenia down Tunisia

Slovenia have begun the 2010 World Championships with a comfortable 80-56 win over Tunisia in Istanbul.

 

“It was a great game for us, both on defense and on offence.” Said Slovenia guard, Goran Dragic, who led all scorers with 16 points.

The red seats inside the Abdi Ipekci Arena were covered with Slovenian flags, banners with Slovenian writing – and the Slovenian green warm-up jerseys that the fans wore. It was revealed that Slovenians were handed free tickets to watch their heroes compete in Turkey.

It was the men in green who got off to a fast start, racing to 7-0 start off buckets from Goran Dragic, Bostjan Nachbar and Uros Slokar. The Tunisians pulled it back to 9-6 with a bucket from Marouan Kechrid.

Slovenia looked comfortable on the ball, and forced Tunisia into hard shots, most of which were contested. Slovenia pressed on to an 18-10 lead off a Gaspar Vidmar dunk, which sent the sea of green into a frenzy.

They ended strong, on a Jaka Lakovic jumper, but as time was called, Mohamed Hadidane threw a hail-mary half-court shot, which dropped straight in. Even the Slovenian fans and players added their applause.

“I just hoped for something, despite losing – that made me happy.” Said Hadidane.

The lead stayed around nine to eleven points for Slovenia in the second period, Tunisia were not able to put on a run of sorts. Every basket they scored, the Slovenians answered back.

Mid-way through the second, Hadidane hit back-to-back buckets, and the Tunisian point-guard, Kechrid was creating havoc in the opposition key, hitting running floaters within a minute of each other. Goran Dragic had a quiet ten first-half points, as Slovenia led 39-28 at the half.

Any hopes of a Tunisian fight back though disappeared though, when the Mehmed Becirovic’s men started with a 7-0 run, as they held Tunisia scoreless for the first five minutes – a Dragic lay-up in transition, gave Slovenia a 20-point cushion (48-28).

“We were told that we were not going to win the game in the first two quarters, we have to play strong in the third and throughout.” Dragic stated.

Back-to-back triples from Sani Becirovic and Nachbar extended the Slovenians lead to 59-36 – as Tunisia could only manage 12 points, compared to Slovenia’s 24.

Tunisia were well beaten going into quarter number four. As Slovenia were starting to go to their bench frequently – they started the fantasy basketball, but could not execute when needed.

Gasper Vidmar added 15 points for the victors. Tunisia’s Radhouane Slimane was the only player in double-digits – posting up 11.

John Hobbs for TalkBasket.net – in Istanbul

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