Slovenia loses preparation match against Montenegro ahead of World Cup qualifiers

The Slovenian men's national basketball team concluded its preparation matches for the second round of the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers with a loss to Montenegro. After defeating Latvia earlier in the week, Slovenia fell to Montenegro 78:85 in Celje.

Klemen Prepelič once again led the Slovenian team in scoring, putting up 23 points. Gregor Hrovat contributed 12 points, and Rok Radović added 10. The team, coached by Aleksandar Sekulić, will now turn its attention to the upcoming qualifiers.

Slovenia's first match in the second round is scheduled for August 27 in Paris against a formidable French team. Three days later, they will play Hungary in Tivoli. Žiga Samar is set to join the squad for these games, while Aljaž Kunc has withdrawn due to injury. Several other players have also opted out for personal reasons, injuries, or academic commitments, including NBA player Luka Dončić, who is currently hosting his Los Angeles Lakers teammates in Slovenia.

In the first round of qualifications, Slovenia secured three wins and three losses. The upcoming second round will feature six more games against France, Hungary, and Finland. The group is highly competitive, with only France appearing to have a relatively secure path to the World Cup in Qatar. The remaining five teams are closely matched, separated by just one victory.