VILNIUS (Lithuania) – While Slovenia are just beginning their preparation campaign, Lithuania can already be considered veterans. They hosted the 2017 FIBA EuroBasket champions in their fourth game of the summer and remained undefeated.
Lithuania won the rematch of the 2020 FIBA OQT final with a score of 92-86, despite the absence of Domantas Sabonis, who missed the game for personal reasons. Lithuania will face Slovenia again on Wednesday, June 25, in Ljubljana for their final preparation game before heading to the FIBA OQT in Puerto Rico
The story of the game
Following three convincing wins over Lebanon earlier this month, Lithuania faced a bigger challenge in Slovenia, who are still awaiting the final decision on Luka Doncic's ability to play in the FIBA OQT in Greece. The memories of the fantastic 2020 FIBA OQT final in Kaunas were still fresh, and the clash between these two teams did not disappoint.
Josh Nebo made his debut in the Slovenian national team jersey while still competing with Mike Tobey for a spot on the final roster. Vlatko Čančar made his long-anticipated return following last year's serious injury. For Lithuania, Marius Grigonis was back with the national team after missing the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Grigonis made his presence felt immediately, finishing the first half with 13 points and receiving a warm welcome from the Lithuanian crowd.
With Sabonis sidelined and Donatas Motiejunas playing only 18 minutes, Lithuania focused on spreading the floor and perimeter shooting, attempting 34 three-pointers (making 9). They built a double-digit lead by the second quarter and maintained control throughout, leading by as much as 14 points.
In the fourth quarter, Slovenia reduced their turnovers and trimmed the deficit to just one point, with Aleksej Nikolic hitting a crucial three-pointer to make it 81-80. However, a timeout called by Kazys Maksvytis proved effective as Lithuania managed to secure the victory.
The player of the game
Tadas Sedekerskis made a significant impact in the first quarter of the game, with Lithuania utilizing him effectively in his preferred post-up situations. At times, Sedekerskis also found himself playing at the center position, tasked with guarding Nebo or Tobey, which he handled comfortably.
While his scoring pace slowed down later in the game, finishing with 13 points, Sedekerskis played a crucial role for Lithuania on the boards, particularly on the offensive end during key stages of the match.
After an impressive 2023 national team campaign, Sedekerskis is once again establishing himself as a pivotal player under Maksvytis's leadership.
The stats of the game
It was evident that Slovenia were playing their first preparation game, judging by the frequency and nature of their turnovers. They ended the game with 18 turnovers, a figure they will likely aim to reduce in upcoming matches this summer.
Lithuania's experience also manifested in their assist count, tallying 20 assists compared to Slovenia's 10. This demonstrated their cohesive teamwork and ability to capitalize on offensive opportunities effectively.
The takeaways from the game
The entire world is eagerly awaiting news from the Slovenian camp regarding a key player. Slovenia's journey to the FIBA OQT in Greece could become significantly more challenging without Luka Doncic, should he be unable to play. However, Aleksander Sekulic's team once again demonstrated their competitiveness, proving they can perform strongly even in his absence.
As for Lithuania, they will certainly feel the absence of their longstanding star Jonas Valanciunas and Ignas Brazdeikis. Nevertheless, their victory at the FIBA OQT in Puerto Rico showcased their quality and positioned them as favorites for the Olympics. With Domantas Sabonis being the sole NBA player on the team, expectations are high for his performance.
These teams will meet again in two days' time in Ljubljana. This upcoming game will likely provide a clearer picture of Slovenia's capabilities without Doncic.
FIBA