In the final match of the opening phase of the FIBA World Cup, Serbia squared off against South Sudan in Group B.
The “Eagles” emerged victorious with a score of 115-83. They were led by Bogdan Bogdanovic with 23 points and nine assists, while Nikola Jovic contributed two points more.
In today’s match, both Filip Petrusev and Aleksa Avramovic were absent due to identical ankle injuries. Both had suffered ankle sprains and, as a precautionary measure, did not enter the game.
With an exceptionally serious approach, Serbia took an early lead of 16-10. South Sudan managed to keep a reasonable deficit, largely due to their three-point shooting. Nevertheless, after ten minutes of play, the “Eagles” held a double-digit advantage, 30-20. Serbia’s diverse gameplay and improved defense in the second quarter resulted in an increased lead, with Bogdan Bogdanovic leading the team to a 56-39 score at halftime.
Serbia made a fantastic start to the second half, scoring 21 points in just five minutes of play. There was a slight dip in performance and a hint of nervousness towards the end of the third quarter, resulting in a score of 83-65 going into the final period. Serbia’s rapid-fire offense was on display in the fourth quarter, and while South Sudan didn’t give up, it was inevitable that Svetislav Pesic’s team would secure a convincing victory, finishing the opening phase of the World Cup with a flawless 3-0 record.
The standout performer for the victorious side was Bogdan Bogdanović with 23 points and nine assists, while Nikola Jovic scored two points more (9/9 from the field). Nikola Milutinov contributed 17 points and ten rebounds. Ognjen Dobric scored 12 points, and Stefan Jovic registered 13 assists, six rebounds, and four points. On the losing side, Dut Jok Kacuol was the top scorer with 21 points, and Nuni Omot scored 17 points alongside five rebounds.
In this manner, Serbia flawlessly concludes the opening phase of the FIBA World Cup with three victories. They have secured their place in the second round, while South Sudan’s fate is not in their hands. If China defeats Puerto Rico by fewer than 34 points, the African team will advance to the next stage of the competition alongside Serbia.
Serbia crown a perfect First Round record with a commanding W over South Sudan 😤#FIBAWC x #WinForSrbija 🇷🇸
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) August 30, 2023
First half
Right from the beginning of the match, Bogdan Bogdanovic displayed excellent play. He hit his shots and set up his teammates, with Nikola Milutinov and Nikola Jovic benefiting the most. Serbia took the lead at 16-10, but three-point shooting served the South Sudan players well, with Kuany Kuany and Nuni Omot sinking threes. Despite South Sudan reducing the deficit to two points, a strong finish to the opening period secured a double-digit lead for the “Eagles,” 30-20.
The offensive performance of the Serbian representatives carried into the second quarter. Captain Bogdanovic extended Serbia’s lead to 37-26 with another three-pointer, followed by a three-pointer from the opponent’s Marial Shayok. Omot and Shayok continued their strong play, yet Serbia capitalized on defensive prowess, benefiting from transition plays, resulting in the largest lead at that point, 49-36. Dut Jok Kacuol added another three-pointer, and with two minutes remaining in the first half, South Sudan had a 7/12 three-point shooting record.
Ognjen Dobric’s stylish pass to Milutinov and his own three-pointer extended the lead. Bogdan Bogdanovic capped off the first half with yet another three-pointer, amassing 15 points, four assists, and three steals in the first 20 minutes, granting Serbia a 56-39 advantage.
Second half
The second half started fantastically with Nikola Jovic scoring seven consecutive points, swiftly followed by Bogdan Bogdanovic adding five quick points. Serbia surged ahead at 71-46. The Serbian team displayed a clear intention not to replicate the dismal third quarter they had against Puerto Rico in the previous FIBA World Cup match. Dobric also joined the shooting spree, and Nikola Jovic continued the rapid fire of three-pointers, maintaining a substantial lead for Serbia. However, South Sudan managed to close the quarter with an 8-0 run. The score was 83-65 going into the final quarter.
Exciting basketball was witnessed on both ends in the fourth quarter. Vanja Marinkovic capitalized on his shooting opportunities, while Bogdanovic provided assists and scored as well, extending Serbia’s lead to 26 points. Jok Kacuol put up a strong performance for the South Sudan team, yet the Serbian team simply didn’t allow any drop in their gameplay. Ultimately, with a flawless 3-0 record, they concluded the first phase of the FIBA World Cup.
SOUTH SUDAN – SERBIA 83:115 (20:30, 19:26, 26:27, 18:32)
Arena: “Araneta Coliseum”, Quezon
Referees: Rosso, Baki, Noujaim
South Sudan: Dech 5, Deng 10, Kacuol 21, Maluach, Omot 17, Acouth 3, Bar, Gabriel 4, Jones 3, Kuany 6, Madut, Shayok 12
Serbia: Petrusev, Jovic 25, Bogdanovic 23p 9a, Marinkovic 10, Dobric 12, Ristic 5, Guduric 11, Jovic S. 4p 13a, Davidovac 8, Simanic, Avramovic, Milutinov 17p 10s