Luka Doncic was sent off while Shay Gilgos-Alexander led Canada to the semi-finals
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Dillon Brooks and Luka Doncic were sacked in the fourth quarter
Dillon Brooks was disqualified for taunting and Luka Doncic was sent off for a second technical foul.
Manila, Philippines – Luka Doncic battled with the umpires all night. Which is why he wasn’t around for the final minutes, as Canada advanced to the semi-finals of the FIBA World Cup.
Shay Gilgios Alexander scored 31 points and RJ Barrett added 24 as Canada beat Slovenia 100-89 on Wednesday night. The win sends Canada to the semi-final match with Serbia on Friday.
“It’s a great honour,” Gilgios Alexander said after Canada secured its first World Cup semi-final spot. “It is an honor in itself. But we are not satisfied.”
Doncic scored 26 points for Slovenia, but was sent off 6:37 minutes before the end after receiving the second technical warning in the match, both of which came after a dispute with the referees regarding calls or non-contact. Slovenia were 15 points behind at the time and ended up closing the gap to nine points shortly after Doncic’s departure, but it wasn’t enough.
Doncic returned to the court, wearing flip flops instead of sneakers, as time expired to congratulate the Canadian players.
“Playing for the national team is full of emotions,” Doncic said. “Often I can’t control myself, which is something I have problems with.” “But you know, the referees told one of the players that they’re not going to foul him for getting close to us. I think it’s not fair. I know I complained a lot, but I don’t think it’s not fair. This isn’t fair.”
Canada, who saw Dillon Brooks sent off shortly before Doncic’s departure, also after a technical examination, will play Serbia in Friday’s semi-final, while the United States and Germany will meet in the other semi-final. The winners of those matches will play in the World Cup finals on Sunday night.
Brooks met his teammates in the hallway next to the locker room after the match, wearing boxing gloves and punching the air. In fact, Canada was a fighter in this World Cup. Doncic, who praised the way Brooks played, didn’t get a chance to land a knockout blow.
“Men like him can get hot,” Gilgios Alexander said. “But we tired him out.”
Slovenia was seeking to qualify for the World Cup semi-finals for the first time since gaining its independence in 1991. Slovenia will play Lithuania on Thursday in the start of the consolation qualifiers that will be used to determine fifth through eighth place.
The win was big for Canada and big for Germany and Serbia. The top two from Europe guarantee an automatic place in the Paris Olympics – and with Slovenia now guaranteed they can finish no better than fifth, while Germany and Serbia can finish no lower than fourth, these two nations will be heading to France next. summer.
Slovenia still has a chance to participate in the Olympics, but it will have to win a qualifying tournament next July.
Canada won the silver medal at the 1936 Olympics — and in the 22 trips to the Olympics or what is now called the World Cup since then, Canada hasn’t added to that medal collection. And no matter what happens the rest of the way in Manila, this will be Canada’s best World Cup achievement; He finished sixth in the 1978 and 1982 tournaments.
The first half could not have been more even. The score was 50-50 after 20 minutes – Canada won the first quarter 26-24, Slovenia won the second quarter 26-24, each team’s biggest lead of the half was exactly four points, and even the total rebounds were tied at 14-14 at the break. They went back and forth, with 18 lead changes and six ties in the opening two quarters.
Canada turned everything around with a score of 19-5 to start the third quarter and held the lead the rest of the way. And he ended up shooting 33 free throws, compared to 19 for Slovenia.
“Congratulations to Canada,” Doncic said. “They played great.”
