In their last exhibition match before the FIBA World Cup, Serbia secured a victory against Brazil at the Solidarity Cup in Shenzhen, with a score of 89-85.
Svetislav Pesic opted to rest Nikola Milutinov and Bogdan Bogdanovic for this game, while Gustavo De Conti made the decision to rest veteran Marcelinho Huertas.
The match started with numerous errors on both sides due to aggressive defense from both teams. In the first half, standout performances from Filip Petrusev and Aleksa Avramovic, each showcasing their unique skills, highlighted Serbia’s play. Petrusev impressed with offensive rebounds and delicate shots, while Avramovic displayed aggressive defense and three-pointers. The first-half score swings were interrupted by Serbia’s surge just before halftime, establishing a 7-point lead.
Pobeda u poslednjoj proveri pred @FIBAWC#FIBAWC #KSS #WinForSrbija 🏀🇷🇸 pic.twitter.com/2dRiT68tgN
— Košarkaški savez SRB (@KSSrbije) August 21, 2023
After three minutes into the second half, Serbia extended their lead to double digits. However, Brazil managed to bounce back, primarily through successful shots beyond the 6.75-meter line. Despite Brazil winning the third quarter 21-19, Serbia entered the final quarter with a 64-59 lead. Ejections of Dusan Ristic and Filip Petrusev due to personal fouls posed a potential issue for Serbia, but they displayed better focus in the final moments to clinch a well-deserved victory.
Leading Serbia’s charge were Petrusev with 17 points and Avramovic with 14, while Brazil’s Vitor Benite and Bruno Caboclo contributed 17 and 16 points, respectively. Yago dos Santos also scored in double digits with 10 points.
The starting role suited Filip Petrusev, who immediately posed problems for Brazil’s defense under the rim, causing foul trouble for center Bruno Caboclo. However, Serbia’s offense in the first quarter lacked fluidity, allowing Brazil to remain competitive. A late three-pointer by Avramovic gave Serbia a 21-20 lead after the first 10 minutes.
Both teams gained momentum in the second quarter, resulting in more meaningful attacks and receiving applause from the Shenzhen audience. The score remained close until the end of the first half, when Pesic’s team managed an 8-1 run to lead 45-38 at halftime.
Vanja Marinkovic’s three-pointer pushed Serbia to a 10-point lead, later extended to 12 points after Petrušev’s successful free throws. Caboclo’s long-range shots prevented Serbia from pulling away, bringing Brazil to within five points before the final quarter.
The fourth quarter opened with two three-pointers from new Red Star player Yago Dos Santos, putting Brazil ahead 65-64 and prompting Pesic to call a timeout. Subsequently, Dusan Ristic and Vitor Benite exchanged three-pointers, signaling a shootout between the teams. Avramovic’s aggressive on-ball defense, once again, resulted in easy points for Serbia.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Ristic earned his fifth personal foul, followed shortly by Petrusev. Serbia essentially lost their classic “five,” forcing Pesic to play a small-ball lineup with Dejan Davidovac and Nikola Jovic as the tallest players.
Entering the final minute at 82-82, young Nikola Jovic took matters into his own hands, sinking his third three-pointer for a crucial +3 advantage. A turnover on the other end dashed Brazil’s last hope of handing Serbia their first loss in the Shenzhen tournament.
The Serbian squad is now set to travel to the Philippines, where they will face their first Group B opponent, Team China, on August 26.