LJUBLJANA (Slovenia) - If you push the rewind button back to 2017, it barely seems possible that Eva Lisec and Slovenia had never previously featured at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket. 

Yet here they are four years later preparing to step out at a third consecutive edition of the flagship event and hoping to write a new page of history. The center is not only looking for her nation to make the Quarter-Finals for the first time, she believes a landmark performance could open the door to a first ever global tournament.

"I AM SO PROUD TO REPRESENT SLOVENIA, BEING ABLE TO PLAY FOR A TEAM WHERE YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH FRIENDS - THAT IS PURE JOY." - Lisec

She said: "My team and I have big goals heading into the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2021. We are well aware that finishing in the top six would give us the possibility to go to the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup next year.

"I am confident that our qualities and, most importantly, our good atmosphere and the trust we have in each other, could help us achieve our goals."

Lisec has grown into a colossus when wearing a national team vest and so she has every right to set the bar high. Slovenia were unbeaten during the Qualifiers and have stacks of top-level performers such as Teja Oblak, Shante Evans, Nika Baric and rising star Zala Friskovec.

"We have so many good and talented female basketball players in Slovenia, meaning that a country with only two million people is able to compete and win against countries with over 50 million people - isn't that amazing?" mused Lisec proudly.

"Beyond the great qualities that this team possesses, our indescribable chemistry is the one that I love the most. It's something which is really rare to find in professional sport.

"We are also all cool and funny," laughed the center.

There's no doubt that the travel of direction for Slovenia is positive. They're on an upward curve and some observers have even suggested that a podium finish could come into play. It's a far cry from their debut when they were initially happy to join the top table. Although with a bit more luck, they could have advanced past the first phase.

Lisec debuted in 2017 in Slovenia's first-ever appearance at the event

"Wow it's seems so long ago," admitted Lisec.

"It was for sure one to remember - writing history for Slovenia with the first appearance on this big stage. We were all were so excited to be participating in that tournament.

"We had a tough group so we didn’t expect much. I remember that I had the best birthday ever because we won our first game against Greece. After the tournament, we were definitely thirsty for more and we knew how freaking good we could be.

"Meanwhile in 2019, we took another step forward. We were just a bit unlucky and not experienced enough during the Qualification to the Quarter-Finals game against Belgium.

"One thing I can say is that with every loss, you learn something and get more experience - right?"

While painful at the time, being edged out in 2019 seems to have given Slovenia the strength to improve and continue on their journey with a renewed purpose. By now making a deeper run than they have previously on their third appearance, Lisec and her colleagues will see their role model status being heightened in their homeland - a fact not lost on the player.
 

"I WANT TO BE SITTING ON THE COUCH AT THE AGE OF 40 OR 50 YEARS OLD WATCHING MY DAUGHTERS WINNING MEDALS WITH THE NATIONAL TEAM." - Lisec

She stated: "I am so proud to represent Slovenia, being able to play for a team where you feel comfortable and is filled with friends - that is pure joy.

"Even though we come from a small country I just hope that all the young guns looking up to me or to any other girl from the national team realize and see that anything is possible when the desire of wanting to be the best and hard work collide.

"While it is honestly hard to talk about the wider impact of the national team in Slovenia, because we still didn't win anything big yet, I can still point out that people have started watching and supporting women's basketball more and more.

"Girls are also deciding to hoop, which is a great thing, because when we are all going to retire, we will need the next generations to continue what we have started. I want to be sitting on the couch at the age of 40 or 50 years old and watching my daughter's winning medals with the national team," smiled Lisec.

The Celje native can also demonstrate to young aspiring basketball players that it's never too late to start the sport and still reach the top.

"At first I was playing handball and I was really good, but my club sadly closed and therefore for some years, I didn't do any sports," she revealed.

"Then I went to high school and at age of 15, I started playing basketball and it was love at first sight.  I would say I was born with a sports DNA in my blood, because whichever sport I decided to do, I knew I could be successful.

"I feel so blessed being able to play basketball and to also call it my job," added Lisec, who will celebrate her 26th birthday on the first day of action in Strasbourg.

Slovenia are in Group C and will play Turkey on June 17, as well as Belgium on June 18 and Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 20.

FIBA