Solid D
06-26-2007, 08:36 AM
http://www.eurobasket.com/events/ec/07/ec07qualif.asp
Slovenia: Udrih will not take part at the Eurobasket - Jun. 26, 2007 - by Kostas Papadopoulos
Slovenians may have celebrated the NBA title along with their patriot San Antonio Spurs' Beno Udrih (194-G-82), but they remained up to this joy since the guard declared to the national team's coach Ales Pipan that he will not play at the forthcoming Eurobasket; he intends to prepare himself for the final year of his contract. Thus, after Primoz Brezec (216-F/C-79), Bostjan Nachbar (207-G/F-80, agency: Interperformances), Alexander Vujacic (200-G-84), Marko Milic (199-G-77), Nebojsa Joksimovic (193-G-81, agency: Beo Basket) and Marko Maravic (201-F-79, agency: VTBM/SRBM), another absence has been added to Ales Pipan 's future roster.
“I hope that from now on, we will all focus only on the players that are on our list and not on those who will not be with us” Ales Pipan said to the Slovenian basketball federation's official website. “I think that we have built a strong team, even though some well-known players have cancelled their participation. In my opinion, Slovenia will be able to compete with all the teams in Spain if we prepare well enough”.
With all the absences referred, Goran Dragic (192-G-86, agency: Interperformances), Jaka Klobucar (198-G-87), Emir Preldzic (206-F-87, agency: Beo Basket) and Gasper Vidmar (210-C/F-87) - players who were born in 1986 or 1987 - will now all have a serious chance to play in Spain, as Ales Pipan has included each one of them in his 15-man preliminary squad.
Smiljan Pavic (210-F/C-80, agency: VTBM/SRBM), Hasan Rizvic (212-C-84), Miha Miha Zupan (206-F/C-82, agency: Interperformances) and Sandi Cebular (196-G-86) are also among the reserves and will only feature the Slovenian team if a member of the 15-strong list drops out. “I have added some younger players to the list” Ales Pipan stated; “I am sure they will use their chance and get the experience that will help them in the coming years and big competitions”.
Despite the fact that none of the absentees stand out as the best players in the team, Ales Pipan has every reason to be confident with star performers from leading European clubs in the mix. Since CSKA Moscow's power forward Matjaz Smodis (205-F-79) has made himself available, Panathinaikos' star Sani Becirovic (195-G-81, agency: Interperformances) and Barcelona's star Jaka Lakovic (186-G-78) are the rest players that will go into the summer as the starting guards.
And Ales Pipan ended stating that “our goal remains always the same - making it to the places that offer extra qualifiers for the Olympic Games in 2008”.
Slovenia: Udrih will not take part at the Eurobasket - Jun. 26, 2007 - by Kostas Papadopoulos
Slovenians may have celebrated the NBA title along with their patriot San Antonio Spurs' Beno Udrih (194-G-82), but they remained up to this joy since the guard declared to the national team's coach Ales Pipan that he will not play at the forthcoming Eurobasket; he intends to prepare himself for the final year of his contract. Thus, after Primoz Brezec (216-F/C-79), Bostjan Nachbar (207-G/F-80, agency: Interperformances), Alexander Vujacic (200-G-84), Marko Milic (199-G-77), Nebojsa Joksimovic (193-G-81, agency: Beo Basket) and Marko Maravic (201-F-79, agency: VTBM/SRBM), another absence has been added to Ales Pipan 's future roster.
“I hope that from now on, we will all focus only on the players that are on our list and not on those who will not be with us” Ales Pipan said to the Slovenian basketball federation's official website. “I think that we have built a strong team, even though some well-known players have cancelled their participation. In my opinion, Slovenia will be able to compete with all the teams in Spain if we prepare well enough”.
With all the absences referred, Goran Dragic (192-G-86, agency: Interperformances), Jaka Klobucar (198-G-87), Emir Preldzic (206-F-87, agency: Beo Basket) and Gasper Vidmar (210-C/F-87) - players who were born in 1986 or 1987 - will now all have a serious chance to play in Spain, as Ales Pipan has included each one of them in his 15-man preliminary squad.
Smiljan Pavic (210-F/C-80, agency: VTBM/SRBM), Hasan Rizvic (212-C-84), Miha Miha Zupan (206-F/C-82, agency: Interperformances) and Sandi Cebular (196-G-86) are also among the reserves and will only feature the Slovenian team if a member of the 15-strong list drops out. “I have added some younger players to the list” Ales Pipan stated; “I am sure they will use their chance and get the experience that will help them in the coming years and big competitions”.
Despite the fact that none of the absentees stand out as the best players in the team, Ales Pipan has every reason to be confident with star performers from leading European clubs in the mix. Since CSKA Moscow's power forward Matjaz Smodis (205-F-79) has made himself available, Panathinaikos' star Sani Becirovic (195-G-81, agency: Interperformances) and Barcelona's star Jaka Lakovic (186-G-78) are the rest players that will go into the summer as the starting guards.
And Ales Pipan ended stating that “our goal remains always the same - making it to the places that offer extra qualifiers for the Olympic Games in 2008”.