SLO - Domen winning for missing Lorbek brothers

LJUBLJANA (EuroBasket/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - The name Lorbek has a big standing in Slovenian basketball. Not only was Radovan Lorbek a star and currently the President of the Adriatic League, but his sons Erazem, Domen and Klemen all turned into professional players.

Domen is the only Lorbek at EuroBasket 2013 in their homeland and he's playing for the family as well.

Erazem is already with his club Barcelona and recovering from knee surgery while Klemen has already ended his basketball career.

When asked if he is playing for the absent Lorbeks, Domen admitted: "Yeah a little bit."

Domen said it's not easy for Erazem to not be in Ljubljana playing with the team or at least watching it. But the brothers are in regular contact.

"It's tough for him but he has his injury. He's now recovering, but we speak every day on the phone. He's full of suggestions like I should try to post this guy up or this guy is good at this or that. He knows a lot of players," he said.

Lorbek has played a strong role in Slovenia's run to a 2-1 record in Group F in the second round, averaging 10.3 points and 2.2 rebounds through six games. He chipped in five points as he struggled with foul trouble in the hosts' 84-77 win over previously undefeated Italy on Thursday night.

"This win is very good for us, very important but if we don't win the next game it doesn't count," he warned.

"It's a tough group and I think it's going to be interesting until the end."

Slovenia, Italy and Croatia are all 2-1 in the group while Spain, Greece and Finland are all 1-2 with the top four teams advancing to meet the top four teams from Group E in the Quarter-Finals.

The top six teams in Ljubljana - excluding Spain - will qualify for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

"Our goal is to go as far as possible. Now with this win we are in a great position. It all depends on us. We have our fate in our own hands. That's what we wanted," said Lorbek.

"If we play the way we did against Italy especially on defense we can beat anybody."

A big help in Slovenia's cause has been the home support they've enjoyed as a crowd of more than 10,000 fans came out to Stozice Arena to watch the Italy game.

"It's amazing, we have 10,000 plus supporting us. I didn't expect that. I expected a little less. But the way we are playing it should be even more fans to the next game (against Greece)," said Lorbek.

Erazem won't be among the fans, but Domen will be playing the game for him and the rest of his family as well.

For full and in-depth coverage of EuroBasket 2013, go to the official website http://www.eurobasket2013.org.

FIBA