SLO – Smodis to lead Slovenia in qualifying games for FIBA World Championship

LJUBLJANA (EuroBasket 2009) – CSKA Moscow veteran Matjaz Smodis has been entrusted with the captaincy of Slovenia’s national team ahead of their qualifying campaign for the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

The top six teams at September’s EuroBasket in Poland will earn a trip to Turkey for next year’s big event, and the Slovenians will play in Group C against Serbia, Great Britain and world champions Spain.

A top seven finish would be good enough for Slovenia to qualify if FIBA World Championship hosts Turkey were to end up in the top six.

The 29-year-old Smodis played in Slovenia’s EuroBasket squad two years ago in Spain but an injury knocked him out of the 2008 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Athens.

National team coach Jure Zdovc has announced a 24-man preliminary squad for the EuroBasket.

He has failed to lure Indiana center Rasho Nesterovic out of international retirement.

Guard Sasha Vujacic, who is in the NBA Finals with the Los Angeles Lakers, is among the 10 guards in the preliminary squad.

Slovenia’s preliminary squad: Goran Dragic (Phoenix), Beno Udrih (Sacramento), Sani Becirovic (Roma), Nebojsa Joksimovic (Hemofarm Vrsac), Jaka Klobucar (Union Olimpija), Jaka Lakovic (Barcelona), Domen Lorbek (Benetton Treviso), Saso Ozbolt (Union Olimpija), Beno Udrih (Sacramento Kings), Samo Udrih (Estudiantes), Sasha Vujacic (Los Angeles Lakers), Goran Jagodnik (Nymburg), Marko Maravic (Union Olimpija), Bostjan Nachbar (Dynamo Moscow), Emir Preldzic (Fenerbahce Ulker), Mirza Begic (Union Olimpija), Primoz Brezec (Roma), Jurica Golemac (Roma), Matej Krusic (Helios Domzale), Erazem Lorbek (CSKA Moscow), Uros Slokar (GMAC Bologna), Matjaz Smodis (CSKA Moscow), Gasper Vidmar (Fenerbahce Ulker), Marko Tusek (Air Avellino), Miha Zupan (Union Olimpija).

FIBA