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Already next week, Lithuanian basketball players and representatives from five other countries will start fighting for the only ticket to the Tokyo Olympics, and its owner will be revealed on July 4 at the Žalgiris Arena.
“No, there will be no comment,” said Dončičius, who was the first to pursue several journalists from the meeting.
As he belongs, he and the entire team and administration wore masks at the airport.
The NBA star also did not sign the Lithuanian who requested the autograph.
Although the Slovenian national team started training on June 10, the full team only met last Sunday.
The latest to join the national team are Vlatko Chanchar and Alexei Nikolich, whose clubs played the final games of the season in the NBA and the French leagues last week.
It’s true that Chancchar didn’t play as much as he warmed up the Denver Nuggets. The 203 cm tall forward was only able to enter the court when the end of the game was clear, and during the two stages of the playoffs (10 games) he played only 20 minutes and scored 11 points.
Later, several other top Slovenian basketball players who spent time in clubs joined the national team: Luka Dončičius, Klemen Prepeličius, Zoran Dragičius.
Not since the first day of the camp has naturalized American Mike Tobey, who only received Slovenian citizenship documents last week, been working hard.
Slovenian basketball players played two friendly matches with the Croatian national team last week. Although L. Dončičius and M. Tobey were not in the team during the first match, the Slovenians won both times: first at the opposite half 94:80, then at home 97:88.
Even before the flight to Lithuania, L. Dončičius himself assured that the Slovenes in Lithuania would achieve the goal: they would win first place in the selection tournament, which would give an invitation to Japan.
“I like basketball, without which I spent a week, I managed to miss it. “I am well prepared, I think we will make it to the Olympics,” said the NBA star.
“Playing for the national team is always an honor, especially with these guys. We all grew up in four years.
It is true that the disadvantage is that there is no Goran Dragicz in the national team. Then he helped a lot and was fascinated with his game. But I think we can still do a lot, ”said the Slovenian basketball star.
Slovenian coach Aleksanderis Sekuličius brought 14 players to Lithuania, and the two basketball players will say goodbye to two just before the tournament on June 27. Jan Kosi was thanked for the work before the trip. The Slovenians will begin qualifying on June 30 when they face Angola.
Members of the Slovenian team: Luka Dončičius (“Dallas Mavericks”), Jaka Blažičius, Žiga Dimecas, Edo Muričius, Luka Rupnikas (Liublianos “Olimpija” hanging), Vlatko Čančaras (“Denver Nuggets”), Zoranas Dragičius “Vitorktasöjos” (Šolės “Cholet”), Miha Lapornikas (Den Bošo “Heroes”), Aleksejus Nikoličius (Diunkerko “Gravelines”), Mike’as Tobey, Klemenas Prepeličius (abu Valencijos “Valencia”), Maticas Rebecas (Ravenos “Orasi”)) , Jakobas Cebashekas (Bucharest “Dinamo”).
The Olympic qualifying tournament will run from June 29 to July 4. Six teams will play in Kaunas. Lithuania, Korea and Venezuela will compete in Group A of the first stage, Poland, Slovenia and Angola in Group B.
The top two teams will advance to the semi-finals, and the winners of the semi-finals will meet in the final. Only the winners of the qualifying tournament will win a ticket to the Tokyo Olympics.
Three other qualifiers will take place at the same time. Teams from Canada, China, Greece, Turkey, Czech Republic and Uruguay will compete in Victoria (Canada), teams from Croatia, Brazil, Tunisia, Germany, Russia and Mexico in Split (Croatia), Belgrade – Serbia, Philippines, Teams of Dominican Republic, Italy, Senegal and Puerto Riko.
Eight teams have already qualified for the Tokyo Olympics: Japan, France, Spain, the United States, Argentina, Australia, Nigeria and Iran.
