Serbia qualified for the World Cup final for the second time in the last ten years. She was runner-up in 2014, after losing to the United States. In 2010, they took fourth place.

Jokić's absence is not an obstacle

The 74-year-old coach, Svetislav Pesić, was the last Serbian coach to win World Cup gold with the Yugoslav national team in 2002.

The Serbs, although playing without the champion and best player of the NBA Finals, Nikola Jokić, dominated their rivals in the semifinals thanks to their tough defense and, above all, skillful limitation of the actions of the rival leader – Shai. Gilgeous-Alexander. The Oklahoma City Thunder leader scored 15 points and had nine assists, but was often powerless against the opposing defense.

The Serbs dominated from start to finish

The Balkan players had the initiative from the start, they led 23:15 after the first quarter, and in the middle of the match 52:37. The Canadians, who had the greatest success at the World Championships and one of the greatest successes in the country's history (with Olympic silver in 1936), had problems in attack and defense against the Serbs athletic and fast.

They failed to stop Olympiakos Piraeus center Nikola Milutinov near the basket – 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Bogdan Bogdanovic on the perimeter and on the counterattack. The Atlanta Hawks player scored 23 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals.

After Marko Gudurić's throw, Serbia took the biggest lead in the 33rd minute, 80:63, and a moment later 82:65. Coach Pesic's basketball players won the fight under the bands 33:22, they also got 62 percent. the efficiency of two-point shots (at 48% of Canadians) and 45% from behind the 6.75 m line (9/20).

Semi-final result:

Serbia – Canada 95:86 (23:15, 29:24, 23:24, 20:23).

Most points: for Serbia – Bogdan Bogdanović 23 years old, Ognjen Dobrić 16 years old, Nikola Milutinov 16 years old, Marko Gudurić 12 years old; for Canada – RJ Barrett 23, Dillon Brooks 16, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 15, Nyckeil Alexander-Walker 10.

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/ empe, PAP