SLO - Maljkovic calls it a day as national team coach

LJUBLJANA (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Slovenia will have a new man at the helm next year when they travel to the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

Veteran coach Bozidar Maljkovic has decided that he is not interested in remaining in charge of the team after three years, which culminated with a fifth-place finish at this summer's EuroBasket in Ljubljana.

Representatives of the Basketball Federation of Slovenia (KZS) visited Maljkovic in Belgrade, Serbia, to discuss his status and the 61-year-old informed them of his decision, although stressed his desire to help the KZS in any other way.

"We have had three wonderful years together," Maljkovic said in a KZS statement.

"Thank you to everyone at the Basketball Federation of Slovenia, to the players, fans and the media for a fantastic attitude and great support in my work with the Slovenian national team.

"It's true that I will not coach, but I'm not leaving Slovenian basketball, as we will forever remain great friends."

Maljkovic added that the hard work and commitment by everyone to rejuvenate Slovenian basketball is paying off.

"The Dragic (Goran and Zoran) brothers, Jaka Blazic, Edo Muric and other names provide a bright future," he said.

"I'm convinced that Slovenia, with a little more luck and a complete lineup as well at the World Championships in Spain, will be among the favorites for the top spots."

Slovenia were without one of their leading players, Erazem Lorbek, at the EuroBasket.

The Barcelona big man had to rest last summer and recover after a long, hard 2012-13 campaign in the Spanish Liga Endesa and the Turkish Airlines Euroleague with Barcelona.

Slovenia reached the Quarter-Finals at the EuroBasket but lost to eventual champions France, 72-62.

They rebounded with a 92-74 victory over Serbia in a Classification Round game to qualify for the World Cup.

The Slovenians the signed off with a 69-63 triumph over Ukraine in the battle for fifth place.

FIBA