SLO - EuroBasket 'a good school' for Blazic

LJUBLJANA (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - There is no substitute for experience, so rest assured that Jaka Blazic is going to benefit from his summer of 2013 with Slovenia's national team.

As the host nation of the EuroBasket, the Slovenians played in front of roaring crowds in Celje and Ljubljana and clinched fifth place.

Blazic, 23, competed alongside some of the most famous players ever to wear a Slovenia shirt.

"For me, it was a real good school for next season and the seasons ahead of me," he said to FIBA.com.

"I was able to play with Goran Dragic and Bostjan Nachbar, who are really good players, and I gained some experience from them."

Blazic paid close attention to the veterans, and especially Phoenix Suns star Dragic, as they prepared for games.

"I could see his rituals before the game, during the game, what he does the best, so he's really helpful," he said.

"I hope this experience will help me with the team that I'm going to play with this season."

That team is Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade (Red Star) and in 2013-14, it will compete in both the Adriatic League and the Turkish Airlines Euroleague.

The 1.96m Blazic averaged 5.5 points and 2.6 rebounds in 16.3 minutes per game for Slovenia at the EuroBasket.

He had one of his most important performances when the national team needed it most against Serbia in the Classification Round.

Blazic, with Slovenia coming off an emotionally-draining Quarter-Final defeat to France, played 26 minutes and had 15 points, five rebounds and two steals in a 92-74 victory over the Serbians.

He helped Slovenia set the pace early as they punched their ticket to next year's World Cup in Spain.

"We achieved one goal but it's bittersweet," Blazic said of the qualification.

The Slovenians had desperately wanted to reach the podium of the EuroBasket for the first time but were denied.

"We had pressure this year, the crowd was behind us and they supported us in every game."

Taking part in the 24-team FIBA Basketball World Cup is going to bring a different set of challenges.

Slovenia won't have the home crowd behind them, and they will take on countries from other parts of the world.

"Next year we'll play in the World Cup, maybe with USA, we don't know," Blazic said. "The teams there will definitely be better."

Blazic smiled and added: "I will have to prepare myself not to ask for autographs before the game. They're really stars.

"I watch them all of the time. But we have a star, too, Goran Dragic, and he's one of the best in the NBA so he can be really helpful for us."

Having played in the EuroBasket, and with Euroleague clashes coming up, Blazic will have plenty of important games under his belt by the time the World Cup comes around.

He is a player that brings a lot of energy and tenacity to the team.

"The motor of our team is Goran Dragic," Blazic said.

Dragic was voted to the All-Tournament team.

"We stood behind him," Blazic said.

"Some games, he gave his best but we had ups and downs.

"I hope next year he will have more help from us and we'll be even better."

FIBA