VALENCIA (Jeff Taylor's Eurovision) - Jure Balazic didn't get the call to play at a third straight FIBA EuroBasket this summer for Slovenia but the 37-year-old is proving that he's still got it!

Playing in one of the toughest leagues in Europe, Turkey's top flight, with Gaziantep, Balazic's quality, and experience, is making a winning difference for a side that is also looking to make waves in the Basketball Champions League.

Balazic sparkled on Tuesday night when Gaziantep hosted Capo d'Orlando and beat the Italian outfit, 82-77.

A 2.04m (6ft 8in) power forward best known for his defense, the primary reason why former Slovenia coach Bozidar Maljkovic allowed him to make his senior team bow at EuroBasket 2013, Balazic wreaked havoc with his scoring against the Sicilian club. He was 5 of 8 from behind the arc and finished with a game-high 23 points.

He scored 10 points in the decisive fourth quarter, including five in the last minute that showed what a big-time player he is.

I'm satisfied we broke the ice and won the first home game. That was very important for us. We could show what we are trying to do this season, to play like a team. We're still working on this.BalazicBalazic

With his team up 77-73 but a minute still remaining, Balazic found himself being guarded by the smaller (1.91m, 6ft 3in) Justin Edwards and asked for the ball. Catching Stefan Armand's pass well outside the lane, Blazic put Edwards in a spin cycle. He turned to his right and dribbled before spinning back to his left and getting into the lane for an easy right-handed layup.

Then with 24 seconds to go and Gaziantep up 79-75, Armand passed to a wide-open Balazic in the corner and he drilled his fifth 3-pointer of the game to put the result beyond doubt.

"I'm satisfied we broke the ice and won the first home game," he said. "That was very important for us. We could show what we are trying to do this season, to play like a team. We're still working on this."

Balazic's (No. 15) defense was always important for Slovenia

On Saturday, Balazic and Gaziantep were again at home and against another Basketball Champions League side, Pinar Karsiyaka, but in a Turkish domestic encounter.

With coach Stefanos Dedas giving Balazic 27 minutes, the Slovenian played his usual tough defense but also drilled three more shots from long range and scored 11 points.

The next time we'll be able to see Balazic and his exciting Gaziantep team will be on Wednesday at PAOK in Thessaloniki, Greece, in the Basketball Champions League.

Who knows? While it seems unlikely, Slovenia might be tempted to call Balazic back into the national team. In addition to EuroBasket 2013, he also played for his country at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and at FIBA EuroBasket 2015.

Slovenia will soon begin their FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers Group A campaign against Belarus, Spain and Montenegro.

The EuroBasket champions will take on Belarus on November 24 in their first qualifier, in Balazic's hometown of Ljubljana. They will next play at Spain in Burgos on November 26.

Experience is never a bad thing to have in a team, nor is a player that is in form.  

Jeff Taylor
FIBA

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