The Serbian national basketball team was defeated by Turkey 82:78 in the 3rd round match of Group C in the Mundobasket qualifiers.
An incredible game was played in Belgrade. The Eagles came back from the dead and took the lead entering the final minute, but ultimately fell against the European vice-champions.
Outstanding Tarik Biberović and scandalous refereeing decisions marked the clash in Serbia, and in the end Ergin Ataman’s squad broke the Eagles precisely on the wings of the Fenerbahçe star.
It was he who hit a difficult three-pointer at the start of the final minute, and in the end the Turks, with solid free-throw shooting, maintained their advantage. The Eagles were also undone by Ognjen Dobrić’s missed three-pointer with 16 seconds remaining, which could have brought us the tie.
Tarik Biberović led his team to victory with 22 points, Cedi Osman added 16, while Omer Yurtseven scored 14. On the other side, Bogoljub Marković was the best with 19 points, Ognjen Dobrić had 17, while Stefan Miljenović finished the clash with ten.
It did not start well for our team, and after a strange refereeing decision, the first of many, Osman gave his team the lead. Ataman’s squad continued in the same rhythm, the Eagles were scoreless for the first four minutes, and after Biberović’s three-pointer the scoreboard read 10:0 for the European vice-champions.
The host finally scored its first points through Novak, who then assisted Tanasković, and Dobrić’s three-pointer ignited Pionir (9:12). Still, the finish of the first quarter belonged to the visitors.
Osman caught fire, Bitim also hit a three, and with several more refereeing decisions going their way, the Turks closed the first ten minutes with a nine-point lead (13:22).
The teams traded runs at the start of the second quarter, and after Ristić’s three-pointer our team cut the deficit to just four. However, the Eagles were never able to fully get back into the game.
The referees also played a major role in that, and after another big mistake by them, following which Luka Mitrović received a technical foul, the EuroBasket silver medalists went to a double-digit lead (29:39). Serbia did not finish the first half any better, and after 20 minutes our rival had a 15-point advantage (31:46).
The Eagles played better defense at the start of the third quarter, but failed to capitalize offensively in the first three minutes, so it seemed the rival had withstood the surge (41:55).
However, the end of the third quarter fully belonged to Serbia. The Eagles flew across the court, fueled by the energy from the stands, and on the wings of Marković and Miljenović, who hit a buzzer-beating three, our team cut the deficit to just three points before the final quarter (54:57).
And there, masterful Biberović and a few more scandalous refereeing decisions. It was Tarik who opened the final period with a three-pointer, and with another shot from beyond the arc forced Alimpijević to call a timeout (59:64).
Serbia threatened, but it seemed Turkey pulled away and settled everything after fast-break points (62:70). Then came another turnaround by our team. Dobrić hit two three-pointers, Novak tied the game for us, and Marković gave Serbia the lead with a three-pointer, with a minute and a half remaining (73:72).
Hazer then missed two free throws, but the Eagles failed to capitalize. The rival grabbed an offensive rebound, which Biberović punished with another difficult three-pointer. Serbia did not convert its possession, the game entered a free-throw finish, where Ergin Ataman’s team handled it better and ultimately secured the victory.
Turkey is first in Group C with a 3-0 record, while Serbia has two wins and one loss. The same teams will meet again on Monday at 7 p.m., but in Istanbul.
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Source: Sportal, Foto: Dusan Milenkovic / ATAImages