Jun 15, 2007, 1:00 pm
LJUBLJANA (FIBA U20 European champ) - Three weeks shy of the U20 European Championship tip-off in Nova Gorica (Slovenia) and Gorizia (Italy) Slovenians make their first tests in a series of friendly matches. The list of candidates for a spot in the team now features 15 names.
Young Slovenians played three friendlies so far; they won the first against a selection of Slovenian senior players, lost against Quatar's senior team, and succeeded against Finnish peers.
Winning is not a priority in the preparation stage, though. Slovenian NT coach Miro Alilovic said: 'During the first match, players had "heavy legs" after our conditioning camp. We started to work on team play on Monday, though. I am not too concerned with the final score in these training matches, nor at the tournaments we will play in the next weeks.
'After all, we did not win many friendly matches last year, but came in top shape at the European championship in Izmir.' In Turkey they won the bronze medal.
Slovenia's odds are good. Six members of the team already played last year, including the team's three top scorers. Emir Preldzic, Jaka Klobucar, and Gasper Vidmar combined over 50 points per game last year. They are now a year older and more experienced.
After practicing in Slovenia, the 15 players will travel to Italy to play at a tournament in Domegge di Cadore. They will face teams from USA and Russia. After the tournament coach Alilovic will cut the candidates' list to 14 people.
Before the championship tip-off Slovenians will play in tournaments in FYROM and Nova Gorica. Afterwards they will begin the closing stage of the preparation for the European championship. The event is scheduled for 6 to 15 July.
The 15 men contending a spot in the team are point guards Tadej Kostomaj, Jan Mocnik, and Rok Perko; guards Jaka Klobucar, Aljosa Kristo, Klemen Lorbek, and Dejan Mlakar; forwards Miha Markic, Emir Preldzic, Jaka Pticak, Drago Brcina, and Dejan Cigoja; and centers Borut Grusovnik, Matej Krusic, and Gasper Vidmar.
Reduces from last year's team are Perko, Klobucar, Preldzic, Brcina, Krusic, and Vidmar - Izmir's team's top scorers, rebounders, and stealers.
Young Slovenians played three friendlies so far; they won the first against a selection of Slovenian senior players, lost against Quatar's senior team, and succeeded against Finnish peers.
Winning is not a priority in the preparation stage, though. Slovenian NT coach Miro Alilovic said: 'During the first match, players had "heavy legs" after our conditioning camp. We started to work on team play on Monday, though. I am not too concerned with the final score in these training matches, nor at the tournaments we will play in the next weeks.
'After all, we did not win many friendly matches last year, but came in top shape at the European championship in Izmir.' In Turkey they won the bronze medal.
Slovenia's odds are good. Six members of the team already played last year, including the team's three top scorers. Emir Preldzic, Jaka Klobucar, and Gasper Vidmar combined over 50 points per game last year. They are now a year older and more experienced.
After practicing in Slovenia, the 15 players will travel to Italy to play at a tournament in Domegge di Cadore. They will face teams from USA and Russia. After the tournament coach Alilovic will cut the candidates' list to 14 people.
Before the championship tip-off Slovenians will play in tournaments in FYROM and Nova Gorica. Afterwards they will begin the closing stage of the preparation for the European championship. The event is scheduled for 6 to 15 July.
The 15 men contending a spot in the team are point guards Tadej Kostomaj, Jan Mocnik, and Rok Perko; guards Jaka Klobucar, Aljosa Kristo, Klemen Lorbek, and Dejan Mlakar; forwards Miha Markic, Emir Preldzic, Jaka Pticak, Drago Brcina, and Dejan Cigoja; and centers Borut Grusovnik, Matej Krusic, and Gasper Vidmar.
Reduces from last year's team are Perko, Klobucar, Preldzic, Brcina, Krusic, and Vidmar - Izmir's team's top scorers, rebounders, and stealers.
Respect and thanks for everything:
Alvertis, Bodiroga, Jasikevicius, Radja, Wilkins, Vrankovic, Fotsis, Rebraca, Kattash, Gentile, Koch, Middleton, Kutluay, Rogers, Papadopoulos, Becirovic, Tomasevic, Siskauskas, Pekovic, Lakovic, Vujanic, Chatzivrettas, Maljkovic, Spanoulis and many more to follow in the near future.