PIRAEUS, Greece, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Luka Doncic scored 26 points but struggled from beyond the arc, shooting 0-for-9, as favorites Slovenia were upset by Croatia 108-92 at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQTs) on Tuesday.
Doncic shot only 35 percent from the field, while Slovenia managed just 9-for-38 from three-point range.
Croatia quickly built a 15-5 lead and extended it to 93-68 by the end of the third quarter as the entire Slovenian team struggled offensively.
Six Croatian players scored in double figures, with Goran Filipovic leading the way with 21 points. Dario Saric recorded a triple-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists to secure the victory.
The tournament features six teams split into two groups, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals. Despite the loss, Slovenia still have a chance to secure the sole ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympics if they win their remaining matches.
An earlier match saw the Dominican Republic beat Egypt 90-77. Egypt started strong with a 22-14 lead in the first quarter. However, the Dominican Republic dominated the second quarter with a 27-9 run to take control of the game.
The Dominicans led by as many as 26 points in the third quarter, asserting their dominance in the opener. Ahmed Mewtwaly, standing at just 177 centimeters, scored a game-high 24 points, but his efforts were not enough to save Egypt.
The OQTs are taking place in Greece, Spain, Latvia, and Puerto Rico from July 2-7 to determine the final four teams that will compete at the Paris Olympic Games. ■
