Slovenia remains undefeated in FIBA World Cup 2023played in Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia, after beating Australia 91-80 on Friday, who suffered their first defeat in the Asian event and complicated their chances of reaching the next phase.
The problems with the lack of luka doncicthe top Slovenian scorer with 20 points, did not prevent the convincing victory of his team, which led the score from start to finish against a very erratic Australia in decisive moments and too dependent on Josh Giddey, the best of the game with 25 points.
The two teams forgot to defend in the early stages of the game, with quick and accurate attacks from both.
Slovenia put land in the middle in the first quarter, which ended 28-18, led by an intractable Mike Tobey inside the zone.
The Slovenians achieved the maximum income on the scoreboard while their star Doncic had to go to the bench with three fouls, the last one a technical one.
Australia took advantage of it to, despite its irregularity and its lack of referents in attack, get closer on the scoreboard (36-29, m.16).
The foreign success allowed Slovenia to reach the break with nine points of rent (49-40) against an Australia that remained in the game thanks to the good minutes of Patty Mills14 points at halftime.
History repeated itself shortly after the start of the third quarter: maximum income for Slovenia coinciding with Doncic’s fourth foul, which on that occasion remained on the track despite the risk of being eliminated.
Australia, with the awakening of a superb Josh Giddey, spent almost the entire third quarter making the Europeans suffer.
The contribution of Klemen Prepelic and a huge Mike Toby they were oxygen for Slovenia when they needed it most against an Australia stagnating in attack at the key moment of the clash, as they stayed on four points scored in the first six and a half minutes of the final quarter.
The last attempt by the Oceanicians came when the match was already decided in favor of a Slovenia, until now, intractable in the World Cup and that already also beats teams that are candidates for everything.
(With information from EFE)
