LJUBLJANA (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Eight of Slovenia's 12 winners at FIBA EuroBasket 2017 are in the squad for this month's World Cup Qualifiers at Montenegro and Belarus.

One of them is small forward Edo Muric, a big part of Stelmet Enea Zielona Gora's late run to the Basketball Champions League Round of 16 after his late December move to the Polish club from Anadolu Efes. Muric averaged 4.8 points and 3.2 rebounds for Slovenia in their unbeaten EuroBasket campaign last summer.

Also in the squad are Slovenia linchpins Gasper Vidmar, Klemen Prepelic and Jaka Blazic.

"We selected the 14 basketball players for the second qualification window, with whom we will all be together until the end of the cycle, which means that everyone travels to Montenegro and Minsk," Slovenia coach Radovan Trifunovic said.

The director of Slovenia's national team, Matej Likar, says those called are not only geared up to do a good job in vital games but also looking forward to some home comforts, with some overseas-based players returning to the country for a short training camp before leaving for Podgorica.

"I believe that the players are really happy to have a reunion with their friends in the national team, and at the same time, they can see the family during the season when they return for a few days to Slovenia," he said.

The first Qualifier will be against Montenegro in Podgorica on February 23 and three days later, Slovenia will visit Minsk to take on Belarus a second time.

Slovenia rolled to an 87-74 triumph at home over Belarus in their opening Qualifier on November 24.

The team then travelled to Burgos, Spain, and despite getting 27 points from Prepelic, fell 92-84.

FIBA