Triumphant Slovenia comforts rivals: “Lithuania deserves to be in Tokyo too”

Just over a week ago, Slovenia, which celebrated its 30th anniversary of independence, received the best gift.

The team from a country that has never played before the Kaunas Olympics defeated Lithuania 96:85 and will move to the Tokyo Olympics village in a few weeks.

“On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the restoration of independence, Slovenia, led by Luka Dončičius, has achieved what Slovenian teams have not been able to do since 1992,” writes the Slovenian basketball portal kosarka.info. “The players coached by Aleksandras Sekuličius were impressed at the national team tournament in Kaunas and showed beautiful basketball and won four tickets to the Tokyo Olympics after winning four games.”

The Slovenian press recalled the best moment in 1992 to enter the Olympic Games, when basketball players from the then Commonwealth of Independent States stopped Slovenians on their way to Barcelona. Later, the Slovenians returned to compete in the 2008 Olympic qualifiers, but they too were overboard.

“The Slovenian basketball team made the Olympic dream come true on the third try,” trumpet dnevnik.si.

Many ditirambs in the Slovenian press went to L. Dončičius, who scored three times in the deciding match.

“On the incredible wings of Luka Dončičius, one of the best players in the world, the Slovenian team flew to the Olympics for the first time in history,” writes dnevnik.si.

But other Slovenian heroes were not forgotten either.

“Vlatko Chanchar, our second NBA player, also played with enthusiasm and, by winning five points in a row in the fourth quarter, he allowed us to set foot on a plane flying to Asia,” wrote kosarka.info about the Los Angeles forward. Denver Nuggets, who scored about 18 points.

While the headlines and texts of many Slovenian portals flashed praise for themselves, little ones, only 2 million. the mass media of the populous state did not forget to put their hats on the Lithuanians as well.

“The teams have shown the true beauty of basketball and proved once again how wrong the FIBA ​​system is when only 12 teams enter the Olympics. At least four who deserve to be there remain overboard, considered kosarka. info. – Both Slovenia and Lithuania deserve to be in Tokyo. Fortunately, Slovenia got there. “

The Slovenians were also impressed by the green bleachers of the Žalgiris Arena, which yesterday had more than 11.5 thousand people. fans.

“For the first time in the Kaunas tournament, the Slovenians played against more than 11 thousand. Warm-blooded Lithuanians who created an exceptional atmosphere,” stressed dnevnik.si.

In a small Balkan country, there was no shortage of funny angles to succeed in Kaunas. Here, the Statistical Department of Slovenia has provided statistics on the amount of gold imported from Japan to Slovenia over the last decade: 0 grams.

“These statistics can be adjusted soon,” the statistics department said in an amusing tweet, hoping that Luka Dončič and the company will succeed at the Tokyo Games.

The Slovenian team will play in the Group C Olympic basketball tournament, where its competitors will be Japan, Spain and Argentina. The Slovenians will play their first match on July 26 against the Argentine world champions.