Filip Petrusev of Serbia prevents Kelly Olynyk and Canada from taking the semifinal game in their FIBA World Cup match yesterday. Serbia won, 95-86, and will meet the winner of the other semis pairing involving the United States and Germany that was being played at press time. | Photograph by Joey Sanchez Mendoza for the daily tribune @tribunephl_joey
Share
Games today:
(Mall of Asia Arena)
4:45 p.m. — Italy vs Slovenia
8:30 p.m. — Latvia vs Lithuania
Serbia is just a win away from hoisting its first FIBA Basketball World Cup title in 21 years.
The Serbians used a series of runs in the first half to build significant separation to repulse Canada on their way to a 95-86 victory in the knockout semifinal on Friday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Bogdan Bogdanovic had plenty of help in Serbia's balanced offense as the European powerhouse fought its way back into the gold medal match for the first time since a runner-up finish in 2014 in Spain.
Now, what stands in Serbia's way to getting hold of the shiny Naismith trophy is either its 2014 tormentor United States or Germany.
The five-time winner Americans and Germans are playing for the last final ticket as of press time.
The winner-take-all final is set Sunday at 8:40 p.m.
Bogdanovic finished with 23 points off 8-of-11 field goal shooting to lead Serbia, whose last taste of the championship was back in 2002 in Indianapolis.
Ognjen Dobrovic and Nikola Milutinov added 16 points each while Marko Guduric got 12 for Serbia.
Meanwhile, Lithuania and Latvia face off in the battle for fifth today.
Game time is at 8:30 p.m. following the clash for seventh place between Italy and Slovenia at 4:45 p.m.
The Lithuanians look to carry the momentum of their 100-84 demolition of Slovenia at the start of the classification round to pull off an end of campaign victory over World Cup first-timer Latvia.
The Latvians, on the other hand, seek to make the most of its maiden run with a win after toppling world No. 10 Italy, 87-82, last Thursday.
Italian skipper Luigi Datome wants a fitting sendoff before he hangs his jersey but Luka Doncic and the rest of the Slovenians are ready to spoil Italy's party and put an end to their three-game skid.
Serbia unleashed a 9-0 blitz in the first quarter to turn a 12-13 deficit to an eight-point lead after a Guduric stepback trey with 1:08 left.
Milutinov, who pulled down 10 rebounds, then made nine straight points to hike Serbia's lead to 49-37 with 1:18 remaining heading into halftime.
RJ Barrett led Canada with 23 points, Dillon Brooks got 16 while top Most Valuable Player contender Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a rough night with early fouls to finish with 15.
