SLO/CRO –Towers of Power

ISTANBUL (FIBA 2010 World Championship) - If the 2010 FIBA World Championship is going to be remembered for introducing a new generation of international stars in the game, then everyone should pay attention to Monday's first Group B clash at the Abdi Ipekci.
 
Two true giants will meet when Croatia's 7ft 2in Ante Tomic goes up against Slovenia's 6ft 10in Gasper Vidmar.
 
While Tomic has already established himself as number one center in the Croatia line-up and is their ‘go-to guy’, Vidmar is still a back-up to Primoz Brezec.
 
But in the very near future, the muscular dunking machine from Ljubljana is going to be one of the main men in the Slovenia team.
 
He slammed and jammed his way to 10 points against the United States on Sunday in the 99-77 defeat to the Americans.
 
Vidmar had done the same on Saturday against Tunisia when he had 15 points in Slovenia’s 80-56 victory.
 
It could be that Vidmar feels right at home in the Abdi Ipekci because he's a player on the books of Fenerbahce Ulker.
 
He started playing there in the 2007-08 campaign and also was on the books the following season.
 
In 2009-10, he joined Union Olimpija on loan but his rights are still held by Fener.
 
Additionally, there are 3,000 fans from Slovenia that have travelled to Istanbul to support the team so it feels like a home-court advantage.
 
Vidmar, who did play at EuroBasket 2007 and made three brief appearances but wasn't in last year's team, says he's just having fun.
 
"It's a great feeling that I am playing a lot," he said.
 
And what about the Americans?
 
Might he, one day, like to follow in the footsteps of so many other Slovenians and play in the NBA?
 
The country's players seem to be a perfect fit for the league across the Atlantic.
 
In the Slovenia side in Istanbul, Bostjan Nachbar is a former NBA man and both Goran Dragic and Brezec are in the league.
 
"You never know," Vidmar said.
 
"I have a contract with Fenerbahce for two more years, so we will see."
 
Tomic is a player that has had more fanfare.
 
In 2008, the Utah Jazz drafted him but his career didn't take off until the beginning of 2010, when he left long-time club KK Zagreb for Real Madrid to play for Ettore Messina.

Tomic made an impact almost immediately, helping Madrid play well in the Euroleague and in Spain’s domestic league.

Tyson Chandler of Team USA, an NBA veteran, guarded Tomic on Saturday and was hugely impressed.
 
"He was definitely tough," Chandler said to FIBA.com. "He has nice footwork, a great touch around the basket - a really nice feel for the game. I think he has  a very promising future."

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