BARCELONA (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - The road to the Beijing Games is full of bumps and potholes for Slovenia.

Nine teams are already in the Olympic tournament, but three places are still up for grabs.

Slovenia will be one 12 teams competing for those spots at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Athens from July 14-20.

The teams that win the semi-finals will go to China, and the side that wins the third place game will also advance.

Slovenia playmaker Jaka Lakovic believes he and his team-mates will make that journey successfully.

The Barcelona playmaker spoke to FIBA.

FIBA: Hi Jaka. We have to ask you about your thoughts on the draw for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Slovenia face Canada and Korea in Group C - with potential quarter-final showdowns against Croatia, Puerto Rico or Cameroon from Group D. What do you think?

Lakovic: "I don't really know Korea. I know Canada a little bit. But I think we have a strong team and we have to believe in ourselves. Our goal is to go to the Olympic Games. And it looks like the way to the Olympics will be (beating) either Croatia or Puerto Rico in the quarters. We know both teams. We played Puerto Rico at the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan. So I think we can do a good job. In the semi-finals, maybe the Greeks are waiting for us. Greece in Greece is hard. But we never lose our faith or confidence. We are very confident because we play good against Greece. Greece is a good opponent for us and they know we are not a good opponent for them. So we just have to wait and see."

FIBA: Jaka, there were a lot of great moments last year for Slovenia at the EuroBasket, but you also suffered that horrible collapse against Greece in a quarter-final, losing a 12-point lead in the final 2:30. What did that do to your team?

Lakovic: "Yeah, that happens in this sport. But I have to admit, we lost that game, Greece didn't win it. We should learn from that. I just hope we can turn this into a positive for us."

FIBA: Okay, what does Slovenia have to do to make it to the Olympics?

Lakovic: "We have to bring back the chemistry we had in the European Championship when we really played like a team and moved like a team. I think we were the surprise of the European Championship. Many coaches told me we were playing one of the best basketball in the championship along with Spain, Greece and Russia, which means a lot. It proves to us that we can make it."

FIBA: Looking back to the Olympic Qualifying Tournament draw, it's still unclear if he will play, but what would it be like to face Canadian star playmaker Steve Nash?

Lakovic: "It's gonna be so much harder. (Smiling) But I don't think he's coming. We have the same agent and I think I'm going to tell him to tell Steve not to come."

FIBA: Okay, last question. What would it mean for you to reach the Olympics?

Lakovic: "For every athlete in every sport, it is the biggest to play in the Olympics and enjoying the Olympic spirit. In the Olympics, there are 12 teams playing for the title. And I think playing in the Olympics would be much easier than playing in the EuroBasket, where you have many good teams. In the Olympics, you have good teams. But maybe six, so you can fight though the rest."

FIBA