Second game and second win the men's senior national team of Macedonia in the August FIBA ​​"window" in the second phase of the pre-qualifications for the EuroBasket 2025 after overpowering her Slovakia with 79:75. The Slovaks, after the heavy defeat at the start of the pre-qualifications at home against Norway, tonight in SRC "Kale" - Skopje, proved to be quite a difficult opponent for the players of the selector Aleksandar Jonchevski.

Halfway through the first period, Slovakia reached 12:9, Gjuroski stopped the series of the opponent, who also had "plus five". Bring leveling (14:14), first in the competition. For a moment, because the Slovaks, after Abraham's triple, reached the highest lead (22:15).

Our deficit became even larger at the beginning of the second quarter (19:28), before Robev hit for three and reduced it to 22:28. We had problems with the realization of the attacks, which was not the case with the Slovaks who raised the percentage by three points. After Ihring's correct three-point attempt, in the middle of the second quarter the guests had double digits (36:26). We only slightly reduced the guest difference, so at the break the rivals were leading 40:46.

Things did not change much at the beginning of the second half. Slovakia ran away again to double digits 50:40, we cut them in half with the points of captain Stojanovski to 50:55, in the 26th minute. After Dimitrijevic's new points, we were already very close, at "minus three" (55:58). But we did not take the lead at the end of 30 minutes, because Slovakia was still in advantage (63:59).

Dimitrijevic's super three-pointer should have brought additional motivation to our players in the attack, we came to one basket negative (66:68). And one of the youngest members of the team, Andrej Jakimovski, responded to the challenge. Hit for a triple, and for our first lead (69:68), and then realized a slightly higher 71:69.

After a good defense in his own style, Slovakia's defense was "mixed" by Dimitrijevic, for an advantage that was achieved from "two attacks" (73:69). And already in the next one, he showed that he is the leader in this team. Hit a three-pointer to win (76:69).

Dimitrijevic was the most efficient with 20 points (seven assists) in our selection, and 15 points each Jakimovski (five jumps) and V. Stojanovski. On the opposite side, 18 points and 11 rebounds were the work of Mokran, followed by Korner with 17 baskets.

EUROBASKET 2025 PRE-QUALIFICATIONS

GROUP "D"

RESULTS ROUND 2.

MACEDONIA – Slovakia 79:75

Norway – Denmark 99:75

TABLE

1. Norway 2 2 0 186:143 4 points

2. MACEDONIA 2 2 0 152:145 4

3. Slovakia 2 0 2 143: 166 2

4. Denmark 2 0 2 145:172 2

NEXT ROUND (NOVEMBER 10)

MACEDONIA – Norway

Slovakia – Denmark