The Finnish men’s basketball team defeated Slovenia 83-79 in the World Cup qualifiers. However, the sensational victory at Koper did not yet guarantee Susijeng a place to continue.
Susijengi, who won Kivikova Slovenia in Espoo on Friday, won his third game in the fourth match of the World Cup qualifiers. The magnificent 83–79 (52-31) away win did not yet secure a place for Finland, as Croatia won 105-98 in Sweden’s second extra time in the evening game.
Upon arrival at the press conference, Susijeng’s head coach Henrik Dettmann was satisfied but serious.
– We are happy to be able to play basketball, given how Ukraine will have to fight for its country and independence at the same time, Dettmann commented.
– I’m really, really proud of how my players performed. Two consecutive victories over the reigning European champion. We made the history of Finnish basketball, the veteran coach emphasized.
Finland led the match with 21 points at halftime and 15 points after the third quarter. At the end of the match, Finland lasted, although Slovenia rose to three points in the final minute.
Mikael Jantunen was Susijeng’s foremost body manufacturer with 17 points. Good back support was given to him by those who scored 13 points Sasu Salin and Ilari Seppälä as well as breaking the ten-point limit as well Elias Valtonen (11/5/4) and Shawn Huff (10/8).
Seppälä’s successful third throw lifted Finland to an easy 81–76 lead after a sticky offensive period, with only 1.14 left in the match. The points made by Jantunen and Valtonen from the free throw line in the fourth quarter also played a big role in the victory.
– Excellent first half, and the second half survived. The main thing was a good result. A gang at the Slovenian level will always come from behind, if you relax in the game. Near Slovenia visited. At that stage, many people may not believe in running out, but it is a sign of a good team when it is overcome, emphasized Jantunen, who excelled again at the time of the decision.
Within four days, the reigning European champion and the Tokyo Olympic elite fell twice. Let’s talk about a fiction, considering that only a day before the first Slovenian game, coroner-infected players dropped out of the line-up. Petteri Koponen and Edon Maxhuniwho were on the sidelines of this dawn as well.
– Unity is the thing. We play together and at the same time for each other. Everyone knows what needs to be done together and then it just happens to be anyone on the field. We proved that we can do anything against anyone at this point. Tactical things have not been changed at any stage, we believe in our own operations and work hard, Jantunen bundled Finland’s recipe for success.
The top three teams in the qualifiers will advance to the qualifiers. Susijengi will still face Sweden and Croatia in the World Cup qualifiers. The matches will be played at the turn of June-July.
Block C:
Finland 4 3 1 7
Slovenia 4 2 2 6
Sweden 4 2 2 6
Croatia 4 1 3 5