The fifth place Slovenia achieved at the home European Championship was the second biggest success in the history of the national team, and just as four years ago in Poland, where the fourth place was won, a player of the Slovenian team was voted among the top five players of the tournament. "I didn't expect it, as we finished in the fifth place. The award belongs to the whole team. I would like to thank all my coplayers who made it possible. I would like to thank the expert staff as well, primarily the selector, and all the faithful fans, and special thanks to the most important people in my life, my family and my wife who supported me."
Erazem Lorbek's success is repeated
In 2009 Erazem Lorbek found himself in the best company; he played exceptionally under the leadership of Jure Zdovec. This time the power forward was absent from the national team because of an injury, but his success was replicated by Dragić, who was chosen into the top five, accompanied by Bojan Bogdanović from Croatia, Linas Kleiza from Lithuania, Marc Gasol from Spain and Tony Parker from France, the latter winning, besides the title of the European Champion he won with his team, also the flattering title of MVP – most valuable individual player of EuroBasket: "I joked with Tony and asked him whether he had enough space for all his trophies, as he had so many. He said that he had been waiting for the European crown for 13 years. I think it was deserved. He is one of the best game organizers in the world."
"The French changed speed after the tie in the first quarter. Almost every shot brought new points, and the final celebration was well deserved. In the end the point difference was quite big. If we look back at the match with France from this perspective, we can say we put up quite a good resistance," 27 year old player from Ljubljana remembered the match. He was the first shooter with 15.8 points, and with 4.5 assists the best of the Slovenian team. In the end he finished as the fourth shooter of the tournament, and he was the third best in assists.
The French a step ahead of all the others
In Ljubljana the Championship title was won by France, who reached the European top for the first time. The team of Vincent Collet ended the Slovenian dream about the first medal at one of the big tournaments: "In the quarterfinals I wished for an easier opponent, as it would allow us to get closer to our goal. But in the end we have to admit that they were better. We must congratulate them. The French were the best when it was the most required. In the second part they proved that they are a step ahead of other national teams, perhaps the Spaniards are the closest pursuers, and they deserved to reach the top."
Although in the past a lot was said about the undefined roles within our national team, this championship made it absolutely clear that the leader of the Slovenian team at this moment is the exceptional Phoenix Suns game organizer, who led the home team at EuroBasket well. He was the real leader on the court, was good in defense, but excelled in offense. The popular "Gogi", while thanking the fans, often invited them to come to Spain as well, hoping that there Slovenia would reach new goals: "I hope this is a reward for the entire team. Without my coplayers it wouldn't be possible. We lived as a family from the first till the last day of the Championship. Slovenia deserved it, as we got support from all sides. We must go forward, we have a lot of goals left, and I hope we will reach them."
