By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The score was 38-24 in the second quarter, Serbia was cruising and everything seemed under control. However, after a crazy turnaround, Italy got the big 94-86 win and qualified for the quarterfinals leaving Nikola Jokic and Serbia out.
It’s the biggest upset yet and it all happened when the game was on a fine balance in the third quarter. Coach Gianmarco Pozzecco was ejected with a second “T”, he kissed all his players before leaving his bench and his team not only didn’t back down but with a 25-7 run got an 82-70 lead four minutes before the end of the game.
There was no coming back for Serbia after that.
Marco Spissu hit a number of big shots and scored 21 points. Nicolo Melli also had 21 and kept Italy alive in the first half, which ended with Serbia leading 51-45. Simone Fontecchio was also crucial with 19 points, as also Achille Polonara with 16.
“The ejection of our coach did something inside us”, admitted Spissu, “and in the end, we played really good defense, we supported each other and that put us on the game. I am very happy and really proud of this team”.
On the losing side, Nikola Jokic scored 19 points in the first half and finished the game with 32 and 13 rebounds. Still, Italy attacked him on defense and took advantage of him in several possesions.
Vasilje Micic also had 16 points and eight rebounds, but couldn’t turn the tide when needed as one of the strongest medal contenders of the tournament said an early goodbye. “We started missing a lot of open shots in the second half, we lost our confidence”, said Serbia’s co-captain Vladimir Lucic.
“Italy was more physical than us and our most important problem was our continuity in defense”, added coach Svetislav Pesic.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL