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Serbia eliminates South Sudan to set up quarterfinals pairings

Serbia eliminates South Sudan to set up quarterfinals pairings

Članak

3 август 20245 Min čitanja

Serbia eliminates South Sudan to set up quarterfinals pairings

Serbia punched its ticket to the quarterfinals with a 96-85 victory over South Sudan on Saturday night at Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille. The result finalized the quarterfinals pairings and eliminated South Sudan, which was within 1 point in the fourth quarter before Serbia pulled away with a 19-3 run. In the quarterfinals in Paris, Serbia will face Australia, Germany will take on Greece, Canada will match up with France, and USA plays Brazil.

Two-time EuroLeague Rising Star Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 30 points on 6-of-9 three-point shooting and dished 8 assists to lead the way for Serbia. Nikola Jokic produced 22 points and 13 rebounds, former EuroLeague MVP Vasa Micic added 15 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists and Filip Petrusev added 10 points.

Carlik Jones, who has been linked to Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, played all 40 minutes and tallied 17 points and 10 assists for South Sudan. Marial Shayok, formerly of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, also scored 17, Nuni Omot added 14 points and Wenyen Gabriel of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv contributed 9 points and 8 rebounds.

Gabriel showcased his range with a three-pointer to open the scoring only to see Jokic match him. Petrusev put Serbia on top with 4 points in a 7-0 run that made it 12-6. South Sudan kept it close and moved in front again on an Omot triple. Omot added free throws to make it 15-18. A layup by Micic lifted Serbia to a 23-22 edge at the end of the first quarter. Olympiacos Piraeus center Nikola Milutinov’s three-point play sparked an 11-0 Serbia run early in the second quarter that made it 34-25. South Sudan rallied through Jones and Majok Deng to even things at 39-39. Jokic put Serbia back in front and Jones capped the first half at 47-44.

Wenyen Gabriel of South Sudan dunks against Serbia. (Photo: FIBA)

Jokic and Bogdanovic upped the Serbia lead to 7 early in the second half and Micic made it 57-49. Gabriel scored twice to wipe away mush of the deficit and bring South Sudan within 59-58. The red-hot Bogdanovic hit back with a pair of three-pointers. Nikola Jovic got involved in stretching the difference to 9. J.T. Thor and Jones drew South Sudan to within 72-67 at the end of the third quarter. Omot and Gabriel made it a 1-point game with the first baskets of the fourth quarter. Serbia pulled away again with 5 points from Bogdanovic. Micic added a three and then gave Serbia a double-digit lead, which continued to rise until it reached 91-74. Threes by Omot and Jones gave South Sudan hope, but they would prove to be too little, too late, as Serbia held on for the win.

Undefeated USA KO’s Puerto Rico

The USA remained undefeated with an 83-104 victory earlier in the day over Puerto Rico, which heads home with a 0-3 record. Puerto Rico led for most of the first quarter and kept it close for half of the second before the Americans closed the second quarter with a monster run to take control of the game for good.

Anthony Edwards starred for the USA with 26 points, Joel Embiid added 15 and LeBron James amassed 10 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists for the winners. Jose Alvarado paced Puerto Rico with 18 points, Ismael Romero posted 12 points and 10 rebounds and George Conditt of Dreamland Gran Canaria added 4 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.

George Conditt of Puerto Rico shoots over Joel Embiid of USA. (Photo: FIBA)

Alvarado had the hot hand early to give Puerto Rico a 5-2 lead. Tremont Waters got involved before a triple by Alvarado made it 12-6. Stephen Curry powered a 0-7 American run to get back on top, but the Puerto Ricans responded with a run of their own and back-to-back threes by Jordan Howard and Aleem Ford made it 25-17. Edwards helped trim the American deficit to 29-25 after 10 minutes. A Kevin Durant triple gave the USA a slim lead 90 seconds into the second quarter, but Puerto Rico remained feisty and continued to trade buckets with Conditt making it 37-36. Despite a 0-8 run for the USA, Romero and Alvarado kept Puerto Rico close, 43-46. That would prove to be Puerto Rico’s last stand as Devin Booker and James led a 2-18 charge to give their team a commanding 45-64 lead at halftime.

The teams traded shots for the first few minutes of the second half. The USA made a move with an Anthony Davis-led 10-0 run that made it 54-83. Edwards stayed hot to send the USA to a 59-87 lead after three quarters. Little changed in the fourth quarter as the Americans managed the lead and secured the victory to head into the quarterfinals on a high note.

Top photo: FIBA