The quarterfinals between Canada and Slovenia (a 100-89 win for the Americans) ended hot. Luka Doncic was sent off for a double technique and with some out of tone. Then he sang the mea culpa…sort of. “There are many emotions. Many times I don’t control myself and that brings me problems. I have to be better for my team and my country (…) I know I complain a lot, but I don’t think it’s fair. They were playing very physical. It’s hard to control yourself when you’re constantly being hit,” Doncic complained to the support of his coach. “He is a great player and it is difficult to defend him legally,” Sekulic commented afterwards.
Canada has accessed the semifinals of a World Cup for the first time and prefers to focus on that, instead of the runrun of the quarterfinal match. “If they complain, let them complain. We have to play our game and we have to keep our composure so we can control what we can control”, said Jordi Fernández, Canada coach. “I think we did a great job yesterday as a team on defense and especially Dillon (Brooks). He gave a defensive clinic that should be in the FIBA museum ”.
Jordi Fernández is now preparing a new defensive trap, this time against the Serbian star, Bogdan Bogdanovic. “He is a great shooter, a very good basketball player. He can play pick & roll, he can score from different spots. He’s an asset, he runs all over the place, so it’s going to be a tough job. But I think we have enough people to stop it. It can be done not only by one, but by several, so we will defend it as a team”.
This Friday (10:45, World Goal) Jordi Fernández and Svetislav Pesic, Serbia’s coach, will face each other, who praised the work of the man from Badalona as he believes that Canada has adapted better to FIBA basketball than the United States. “Those are his words and I really appreciate them, although I think the United States is a great team, coached by a great selector who is backed by a great coaching staff. But I am happy with my players and with the work they are doing. Obviously we must first take advantage of our physique and our size and then adapt to the rules and style of FIBA basketball. We had no experience, but I am very happy with how Canada is growing in this World Cup”.
2023-09-07 12:54:37
#Jordi #Fernández #Brooks #defense #Doncic #FIBA #museum
