Croatia and Serbia both head to the Olympic Games in Rio
Both Croatia and Serbia national teams have secured themselves spots at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro by winning the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in Turin and Belgrade, respectively.
Both Croatia and Serbia national teams have secured themselves spots at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro by winning the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in Turin and Belgrade, respectively.
Serbia did not want to leave anything up to any coincidence in the final game of the Belgrade Olympic Qualifying Tournament Final against Puerto Rico, which they have previously beaten already in the group stage of the tournament. Everything was decided in the opening quarter of the game, when Aleksandar Đorđević's side have created themselves a 26-point lead (37:11). By half time, the lead was increased to 33 points.
Second half was therefore only a formality for the home side, which crossed the milestone of 100 points by the end, when the scoreboard has shown the score 108:77. Former Partizan NIS sharp-shooter Bogdan Bogdanović was the top scorer for the Eagles with 26 points, while former Mega Leks center Nikola Jokić added 23.
Things were far more dramatic in Turin, where Croatia and Italy met for the second time in the tournament. This time, after no less than 45 minutes thanks to the overtime, Croatians were the ones that came out on top and they won themselves a ticket for the Olympic Basketball Tournament in Rio de Janeiro.
The final outcome of the game was 84:78 for Croatia and Bojan Bogdanović was the hero again with 26 points, while Krunoslav Simon added 21.
Turin Olympic Qualifying Tournament Final, Saturday, 9.7.2016:
CROATIA - Italy 84:78 (19:12, 20:22, 15:18, 16:18)Bogdanović 26, Simon 21; Belinelli 18, Gallinari and Datome 12.
Belgrade Olympic Qualifying Tournament Final, Saturday, 9.7.2016:
SERBIA - Puerto Rico 108:77 (37:11, 23:16, 22:29, 26:21)Bogdanović 26, Jokić 23; Barea 22, Arroyo 14.
