Kofi Inkoom
In the scorching heat of competition at the FIBA Basketball World Cup, Serbia once again proved their mettle by securing a spot in the semi-finals.
Their path to this stage was paved with a resounding 87-68 victory over Lithuania, thanks in large part to the sharpshooting skills of Bogdan Bogdanovic.
Serbia’s journey through the World Cup has been a storied one. They reached the Semi-Finals in 2010, made it to the Final in 2014, and finished fifth in China in 2019.
🚨 𝗕𝗢𝗚𝗜 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥 🚨
Bogdanovic came out spitting fire, he is up to 18 points in the first half! 😳 🔥#FIBAWC x #WinForSrbija 🇷🇸 https://twitter.com/FIBAWC/status/1698993511813513351/video/1
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) September 5, 2023
Their latest triumph sees Lithuania moving on to Classification Games 5-8.Lithuania had been on fire in terms of shooting throughout the tournament, particularly during the second half against Greece when they hit an impressive 12-of-16 three-pointers.
Their hot streak continued with a remarkable 9-of-9 start in three-point shooting against the United States and an additional 5-of-6 in the first quarter against Serbia.
However, despite their sharpshooting prowess, they only managed to hold a slim 25-24 lead after the first ten minutes of play.
The key to Serbia’s success in this matchup was their unrelenting defensive pressure. Players like Rokas Jokubaitis and Vaidas Kariniuaskas of Lithuania found themselves relentlessly pursued by the defensive duo of Ognjen Dobric and Aleksa Avramovic.
Even if they managed to slip through, the rest of Serbia’s defense forced turnovers time and time again.
With every fast break point, the Lithuanian section of the stands grew quieter, while the volume escalated behind the Serbian bench, where passionate fans donned their red, blue, and white.
When Bogdan Bogdanovic drained a deep three-pointer to close the first half with an 11-point lead, the trajectory of the game became clear.
Bogdan Bogdanovic turned in yet another terrific offensive outing to tow Serbia to the Semi-Finals and earn TCL Player of the Game honors 💪
📊 21 PTS | 4 REB | 69.2% FG | 2 STL | 25 EFF#FIBAWC x #WinForSrbija 🇷🇸 | #InspireGreatness https://twitter.com/FIBAWC/status/1699021428329423257/video/1
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) September 5, 2023
Bogdan Bogdanovic was undoubtedly the star of the match, with 18 points scored before halftime and a final tally of 21 points on an impressive 9-of-13 shooting, along with 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals.
His remarkable performance marked his ninth game with 20+ points since the start of the last World Cup in 2019, a feat unsurpassed by any other player in that same period.
Furthermore, Bogdanovic’s point total in World Cup games surpassed the 400 mark, solidifying his status as one of the tournament’s top scorers.
Further, Miami Heat’s Nikola Jovic, a key figure in Damian Lillard trade discussions, also posted notable stats in the game, contributing 8 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists during his 21 minutes on the court.
Statistics from the game reinforced the pivotal role of turnovers, with Lithuania committing 15 turnovers, eight of which were converted into steals by Serbia.
This translated into a significant 21-8 advantage in points from turnovers for Serbia.
Additionally, Serbia’s dominance in the paint was evident, as they outscored Lithuania 48-24 in points from the paint.
In summary, Serbia’s relentless efforts have secured them a spot in the Semi-Finals once again.
If Canada and the United States win their Quarter-Finals, it would also guarantee Serbia a place at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Their next challenge awaits in the form of the winner between Canada and Slovenia in the Semi-Finals.
For Lithuania, their energy seemed to wane just two days after their remarkable victory over the USA.
Their shooting, which started strong at 5-of-6 from beyond the arc, dwindled to a mere 4-of-22. While four Lithuanian players reached double figures, none managed to score more than 14 points.