Slovenian national team representative Luka Doncic spoke after the quarterfinal game against Canada at the FIBA World Cup.
Doncic scored 26 points, but it wasn’t enough for the “Dragons” to overcome Canada and advance among the top four teams.
“First, congratulations to Canada. They played excellently, very physically, and they have one of the best in the world; it was tough to guard him. I’m proud of my team; we all gave 100 percent. We’ll go back to the hotel with our heads held high,” Doncic said.
The Dallas Mavericks player left the court early due to a disqualifying foul and often expressed frustration with the referees’ decisions.
“Everyone knows why I’m so frustrated. When I play for the national team, there are a lot of emotions involved. In most cases, I can’t control myself, but the officiating wasn’t fair. I know I complain a lot. They played very physically against me. Dillon Brooks played excellently. Many people don’t like him, but I respect him for what he does, and he does it very well,” Doncic added, expressing gratitude for the tremendous support his team received from the fans.
Slovenia will now compete for a placement between 5th and 8th, while Canada will face Serbia in the semifinals, scheduled for Friday.