In the bustling city of Manila, the absence of their star player, Nikola Jokic, didn’t dampen Serbia’s spirits as they powered their way to the Basketball World Cup finals. The game was a thrilling showdown between Serbia and Canada, with Serbia emerging victorious with a score of 95-86 in the semifinal.
Bogdan Bogdanovic was the hero of the day, scoring an impressive 23 points, while Ognjen Dobric and Nikola Milutinov contributed 16 points each. Serbia had been the best-shooting team in the tournament, and they didn’t disappoint, making 62% of their shots to extinguish Canada’s gold medal hopes.
Serbia’s Marko Guduric summed up their resilient spirit, saying, “It doesn’t matter who’s not here. everything is about these men, whoever is present, and whoever is sporting the Serbian jersey. Never do we give up. We battle to the bitter end. It runs in our family.
We never give up. We fight until the end. It’s in our blood.”
This victory propels Serbia (6-1) to the World Cup final for the second time in the last three tournaments. Their previous attempt ended in a loss to the U.S. in the 2014 final. Now, they await the winner of the Germany-U.S. matchup for a shot at the gold on Sunday night in Manila.
Despite their remarkable journey, Serbia’s success story didn’t come without challenges. They had to adapt after losing reserve forward Borisa Simanic, who underwent kidney removal due to an elbow injury during a game against South Sudan.
For Canada (5-2), it was a hard-fought battle, but they fell short of reaching their first World Cup final. RJ Barrett led the way with 23 points, and they’ll now compete for the bronze against the loser of the Germany-U.S. clash on Sunday, aiming for their most significant international medal since their silver win at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
Barrett acknowledged Serbia’s prowess, saying, “Credit to Serbia.
In the end, Serbia’s exceptional chemistry and determination paved the way for their remarkable journey to the finals, showing that when you have a tight-knit group of talented players, anything is possible. They’ve not only made their country proud but also dedicated their victory to a teammate in the hospital, sending a message of hope and unity.
As the tournament’s climax approaches, all eyes are on Serbia as they vie for the coveted gold medal, but no matter the outcome, their journey has already been one for the books.