![Captain Luka Doncic of Slovenia.](https://sports.inquirer.net/files/2023/09/IMG_0770_FIBA-world-cup-classification-Slovenia-vs-Lithuania_Luka-Doncic-620x413.jpg)
Captain Luka Doncic of Slovenia. —MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines – Slovenian head coach Aleksander Sekulic had some positive words for Luka Doncic after the side’s loss to Lithuania in the 2023 Fiba World Cup standings stage for fifth to eighth places.
The Slovenians went down 100-84 to the Lithuanians, meaning the highest they can reach is seventh place and would need to beat Italy for that on Saturday.
Despite the outcome, Sekulic praised the Dallas Mavericks star who finished with 29 points, six rebounds, three steals, two assists and a block in the loss.
Even with the game already out of reach midway through the fourth quarter, Doncic only left the game with 27 seconds left.
“He was great. What I liked about him is that he came up to me and said, ‘I’m ready to play, I’m fresh, I’m good, I’m great and I want to play. I don’t know where he got his energy from,” Sekulic said at the Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday.
“He was just amazing, he probably wanted to show gratitude to the fans here in the Philippines who really love him here. Maybe it has something to do with it, he probably got the energy from the fans.”
![Captain Luka Doncic of Slovenia.](https://sports.inquirer.net/files/2023/09/IMG_0904_FIBA-world-cup-classification-Slovenia-vs-Lithuania_Luka-Doncic-620x413.jpg)
Captain Luka Doncic of Slovenia. —MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
However, Doncic didn’t shoot the ball as well as he did in the loss to Canada, where he finished with 26 points on 40 percent efficient shooting.
This time, he only had a 33.3 percent shooting clip and scored 1-10 in the second half, with this lone field goal a three-point point in the closing seconds when the game was already decided.
Fatigue may have played a role, as the Slovenians were back on the field less than 24 hours after the defeat in the quarter-finals.
As far as the team is concerned, Doncic will also play against Italy in Slovenia’s last match at this World Cup on Saturday.
“The plan is for him to play, I hope he is ready to play.”
Doncic is currently the top scorer in the Fiba tournament with standards of 26.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game.
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