Slovenia’s journey to the Olympics is not an easy one. After failing to qualify for the Olympics during last summer’s FIBA World Cup, they must earn admission through an Olympic Qualifying Tournament. This is a challenging task for a country with a population of only 2 million people.
The first game was a loss to Croatia, but Slovenia refused to give up hope. They needed to defeat New Zealand by at least 10 points in their next game to advance to the semifinals. With Luka Doncic leading the way, Slovenia managed to achieve this with a 104-78 win. Doncic’s impressive performance of 36 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists was instrumental in this victory.
There are still four spots available for the 12-team field in the Olympics Qualifying tournament. Eight teams have already secured Olympic bids, leaving just four spots left for the remaining countries. The tournament features 24 teams split into six groups, with the top two advancing to single-elimination rounds. Notably, two of the biggest stars competing this week, Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo, are set to face off in the semifinals.
Slovenia has performed well on the international stage in recent years. In fact, they finished fourth in the 2020 Olympics with Doncic as their captain. While there is still some work left before they can secure their spot in Tokyo, they are determined to succeed and represent their country on the world stage.
The Olympics are still a few weeks away, but top players from around the world are already competing for a chance to be selected for their respective national teams. It will be exciting to see which countries will emerge victorious and secure their place in Tokyo come July and August!
