EuroBasket 2017: Serbia and Slovenia to clash for gold

The gold medal game of EuroBasket 2017 will be contested between Serbia and Slovenia on Sunday after the former punched its ticket to the final on Friday. Serbia started hot and weathered a second-half storm to see off Russia in the semi-final. Slovenia had already progressed on Thursday will a giant-killing victory over Spain.

Serbia and Slovenia will now contest a EuroBasket 2017 final few would have predicted at the start of the tournament. Both former Yugoslavia states have never won the competition since becoming independent, although Serbia has previously contested the 2009 final, losing to Spain.

As for Russia, the team has one more game left and will clash with Spain this week to decide which team gets bronze. That is an interesting game, but the eyes of global Basketball will certainly be on the Serbia vs. Slovenia battle.

Serbia vs. Russia, 79-87

Serbia started the game very well and looked hot through the buckets during the first half. Russia managed 20 first-quarter points, but Serbia drained 25 points to close ten minutes in front. In the second frame, the Serbs kept consistent in offense and tightened at the back, using a 23-14 run to open a 48-34 advantage through the long break.

Russia emerged from the locker room post halftime in much better touch. The teams set about eating into the Serbia lead through the third act, claiming a 23-18 period to make it 66-57 through thirty minutes. The Russians had the momentum now and used it through the fourth quarter to put pressure on the Serbs. However, Serbia managed to drain enough points to close the victory.

Bogdan Bogdanovic continued his blazing form this week with 24 points to pace the win, while Marjanovic dropped 18 for Serbia.

Like Bogdanovic, Russia’s Alexy Shved has been among the players of EuroBasket 2017. In the losing effort today, he grabbed a game-high 33 points and also dished out 5 scoring passes.