Slovenia - Montenegro 56:62 (after the third quarter)

The Slovenian men's basketball team fell to Montenegro with a score of 78:85 in their second preparatory match ahead of the second round of qualification matches for the World Championship. The game took place in Celje on August 22, 2026, marking the culmination of a challenging week of training before the crucial phase of competition begins. Slovenia will face France in Paris on Thursday and Hungary in Tivoli next Sunday, both matches set to air live on TV SLO 2 and MMC. The match began with immediate intensity, as Montenegro established early dominance. Within three minutes, Montenegrin player Sekulić secured a timeout after scoring a quick basket. Former organizer of the game Cedevite Olimpije, Yogi Ferrell, who received a Montenegrin passport this year, scored from beyond the arc, giving his team a two-point lead. Montenegro maintained control throughout the opening quarter, leading 37:43 at halftime despite efforts by Slovenian players such as Gregor Glas, who helped narrow the gap to 18:23. Slovenia showed improvement in the second quarter, forcing Mitrović into a timeout in the 14th minute and briefly cutting the deficit to 25:27. However, Montenegro regained momentum with consecutive three-pointers, extending their lead to 37:43 at the end of the first half. Montenegro’s shooting accuracy from beyond the arc was significantly higher than Slovenia’s during the first half, hitting around 40 percent compared to Slovenia’s seven percent. In the second half, Slovenia made some progress, with Prepelič narrowing the gap to two points. However, Montenegro responded with successful free throws and continued to extend their lead. By the end of the third quarter, Montenegro led 56:62. In the final quarter, Slovenia struggled with turnovers and missed opportunities. After two lost possessions, Montenegro extended their lead to double digits. Despite a brief resurgence from Slovenia, including a five-point run by Prepelič, Montenegro remained composed. Radović scored successfully from beyond the arc in the last four minutes, helping Montenegro maintain a 71:73 advantage. Slovenia failed to capitalize on key offensive chances, resulting in two critical turnovers. Montenegrin player Djordje Jovanović sealed the victory with two three-pointers, securing a decisive win for his team. This loss marks the end of the second week of preparation for Slovenia ahead of the qualification matches. The team will now face France in Paris on Thursday and host Hungary in Tivoli next Sunday. These matches will open the second part of the qualification process, where Slovenia will compete against Finland, Estonia, Sweden, and Hungary. In the first round of qualifiers, Slovenia recorded three wins and three losses, facing stiff competition. France is considered the favorite in the newly formed Group L, having suffered only one defeat. Finland has two losses, while Estonia, Sweden, Slovenia, and Hungary have identical records. Slovenia holds a better head-to-head record against Sweden but a worse one against Estonia. As the competition intensifies, Slovenia must remain focused to secure its spot at the World Championship. Key performers for Slovenia included Prepelič with 23 points, Hrovat with 12, Radović with 10, Omić with 7, and several others contributing smaller numbers. On the Montenegrin side, Ferrell and Jovanović each scored 10 points, with Hadžibegović adding nine and Kljajić and Drobnjak each scoring eight points.