MIES (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - The World Cup Qualifiers seems to have given a real spark for numerous players. That was evident over the weekend when they returned to domestic league action.

Jaka Blazic, Slovenia

FIBA EuroBasket 2017 winner Blazic thrilled the home fans in Ljubljana

The 27-year-old Blazic, who played a key role for Slovenia in their first FIBA EuroBasket title-winning campaign this summer, logged a lot of minutes for his country in their World Cup Qualifiers triumph at home over Belarus and in a hard-fought defeat at Spain. With his MoraBanc Andorra side hitting the road and taking on Valencia Basket on Sunday in Spain, Blazic was 4 of 4 from long range and poured in 22 points. He also had 7 rebounds and 4 assists but Andorra lost a thriller to the Spanish Liga Endesa champions, 89-87.

Eloy Vargas, Dominican Republic

Vargas had 19pts and 12reb in a hard-fought win over the Virgin Islands

When Dominican Republic center Vargas gets on a roll, it's impressive to watch. Remember the 18 points and 13 rebounds he had in his country's World Cup victory over Finland three years ago in Bilbao? Fast-forward to 2017. Eight days ago, Vargas had a double-double in points and rebounds in a 99-89 World Cup Qualifiers triumph over the Virgin Islands in Santiago de los Caballeros and he also played in the team's win over Canada. Just 48 hours after returning to French club Boulazac, Vargas turned on the style with 17 points and 12 boards in a 109-102 victory over Strasbourg.

Kenneth Kadji, Cameroon

 Kadji was big at FIBA AfroBasket 2015 and again at the World Cup Qualifiers

Kenneth Kadji played for Cameroon in their World Cup Qualifiers against Chad, Guinea and Tunisia, helping the Lions to two victories (Tunisia edged them, 67-66). After returning to Turkey, where he plays for league leaders Tofas, Kadji played his usual solid role coming off the bench over the weekend, making 5 of his 9 shots from the floor against Galatasaray and scoring 10 points in 16 minutes to help his club prevail, 97-90.

Quim Colom, Spain

Spain's new star Colom is about as steady a performer as they come

You think becoming a national team star as Quim Colom most certainly did by leading Spain to victories over Montenegro and Slovenia boosted his confidence? You betcha! Judging from his first game back for Unics Kazan, the answer is an emphatic yes. Colom had 18 points and 4 assists for Unics in their 80-79 triumph over BC Khimki.

Philip Scrubb, Canada

Scrubb was arguably Canada's top player in their World Cup Qualifiers

Philip Scrubb shone for the Canadians in their World Cup Qualifiers, a 93-69 victory over the Bahamas and an 88-76 defeat to the Dominican Republic. The 25-year-old averaged 19.5ppg and hit a 5 of 9 shots from 3-point range over the two games. Scrubb also dished out 10 assists and collected 14 rebounds over the two games. When he got back to Germany, Scrubb lit up the scoreboard after drilling 8 of 14 3-balls and scoring 34 points. Wow! 

Mitch Creek, Australia

The high-flying Creek can do no wrong for club or country

How does Creek, a player some felt was the MVP of the FIBA Asia Cup 2017 in Beirut, go about his work? He just does his thing, which is to "D" up, crash the boards and provide all sorts of points with his aerial artistry, including those of the slam dunk variety. After helping Australia beat Chinese Taipei and then Japan, Creek hit 11 of his 14 shots from the floor and scored a game-high 23 points for the Adelaide 36ers in their 84-83 triumph over a Brisbane Bullets team coached by Boomers boss Andrej Lemanis.

Robin Benzing, Germany

Benzing is one of the main men for World Cup-chasing Germany

The s.Oliver Wurzburg sharpshooter took no prisoners in the World Cup Qualifiers when he played for Germany against Georgia in Chemnitz, nailing 3 of 4 from deep and scoring 25 points in a 79-70 victory. After Germany's 90-49 romp at Austria, Benzing returned to Wurzburg and had 21 points in his first game back, an 86-80 setback at medi Bayreuth.

FIBA