SLO - Becirovic looking forward to tough tests in Maribor

MARIBOR (FIBA World Championship) - Slovenia coach Memi Becirovic believes the strength of the field at the Adecco Cup will make this weekend's tournament the ideal warm-up for the FIBA World Championship.

Slovenia will take on Serbia, Russia and New Zealand in Maribor, and Becirovic is hoping a home crowd can cheer them on to some confidence-boosting victories.

"All the teams here are going to the World Championship, which shows they are all quality teams," Becirovic said.

"Our game is improving week after week, and we are increasingly well co-ordinated. We will now play in front of a packed auditorium which can help carry the players."

Slovenia's last game was a tight 79-72 overtime loss to world champions Spain in Ljubljana, and big center Uros Slokar is happy to get a chance to play for a different set of fans this weekend in order to drum up support across the country.

"It's good to be in Maribor. We're happy to be here. We're moving all over Slovenia, which is good for Slovenian basketball because it means there is no centralization.

"The atmosphere in the camp is positive, and we're looking forward to playing against strong opposition because we need that at this time.

"Our form must be improved, and we must be in ourselves and each other."

FIBA

• On Twitter | On Facebook l On FIBA tv