![Serbia Fiba World Cup](https://sports.inquirer.net/files/2023/09/IMG_3458_FIBA-world-cup-championship-Germany-vs-Serbia_Team-Serbia-scaled.jpg)
Serbia after losing to Germany in the gold medal match of the Fiba World Cup. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
A silver medal on the back of a 6-2 record is something that 30 other teams participating in the Fiba World Cup would have happily traded their return tickets for. For Serbia, however, it was an achievement second only to what they said the team had accomplished in the global showcase.
“We really became brothers in this tournament. We struggled, it was very difficult for us, but we worked hard, never gave up and the friendship, brotherhood and chemistry were there,” said an exhausted Nikola Milutinov after an 83-77 defeat to Germany in the final.
“We went through so many difficulties with this group of guys and we put ourselves in a position where we could make our nation even prouder, but unfortunately we didn’t make it.”
Just a slur
Serbia looked invincible for most of the World Cup, with a shock loss to Italy in the second round the only blemish on their way to the final. Until a strong performance in a semi-final victory over Canada, where Milutinov, the 2-meter tall Olympiacos BC player , who scored 16 points and 10 rebounds and sent Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and company to a bronze medal game against Team USA, Serbia seemed by all accounts the favorite for the Naismith Trophy.
However, when he was needed most, Milutinov had his worst game of the tournament, dropping just two points and four boards while drawing blanks.
“This is basketball, sometimes bad games happen… I keep working hard, keep pushing and don’t give up,” Milutinov said. “It was really difficult. Unfortunately I couldn’t find my rhythm throughout the match and of course I should have been better.”
Still, despite a mediocre performance, Milutinov felt he had no reason to worry.
Bogdan Bogdanovic certainly didn’t have one. Not even after averaging 19.1 points, 4.6 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game on an efficient shooting percentage of 52.6 percent to lead Serbia to the final.
He also had 17 points against Germany, but his efforts still fell short of gold.
But amid the confetti celebrating a rival’s victory, Bogdanovic had nothing but pride for his brothers. “I’m just happy and proud of these guys. Since day one, no one believed in this group and we just worked hard from day one and I think we accomplished something,” the Atlanta Hawk sharpshooter said.
Lack of faith
Much of the lack of belief centered on the absence of National Basketball Association (NBA) champion Nikola Jokic. The Denver star begged off playing in the World Cup due to fatigue after helping the Nuggets win the 2023 NBA title.
However, coach Svetislav Pesic was confident that his core of Bogdanovic, Milutinov and Aleksa Avramovic would take them far. And they did.
Avramovic saved his best for last for the Serbians, scoring 21 points in the defeat against the world’s very best, but to no avail.
His efforts did not go unnoticed by captain Bogdanovic as he praised his entire team for bringing the fight to the Germans.
“It’s already good. I’m really happy with the boys. As I said when we started the preparation, I’m just happy that we reacted like this.”
Besides the silver medal and the brotherhood forged, the Serbs had also punched their ticket to the 2024 Olympics in Paris, where they would be able to achieve what they could not in Manila and ultimately get the gold.
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