EuroBasket Qualifiers: Serbia triumphed in the opening round
Serbia defeated Finland on the road in the 1st round of the 2021 FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers. Slovenia and Norht Macedonia suffered defeats.
ABA ball (Photo: Mornar/MEDIA Pro)
The 2021 FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers have officially started this Thursday evening, while Serbia will certainly be pleased with the way they opened the competition. With new head coach Igor Kokoškov at the helm, Serbia has scored a convincing win against Finland on the road – 80:58. Experienced center Miroslav Raduljica led the Serbian troops toward the win with 19 points, while Rade Zagorac and Aleksa Avramović added 10 points each for the winning side.
Unfortunately, Slovenia and North Macedonia suffered defeats at the start of the 2021 FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers.
Slovenia was defeated on the road by Hungary in a thrilling game. Zoltan Perl scored two crucial free-throws on 5 seconds before the end to put Hungary in front – 76:75, while after that Slovenia made a turnover and stayed without chances of winning this match. In the remaining time, Szilard Benke made one free-throw to seal the win for Hungary – 77:75.
North Macedonia suffered defeat at home against Estonia. The crucial period in this match was the 2nd quarter which the visitors won by 25:5.
EuroBasket 2021 Qualifiers Round 1, Group B, Thursday, 20.2.2020:
North Macedonia – ESTONIA 72:81 (18:20, 5:25, 23:15, 26:21)
V. Stojanovski 26, Whittington & Dimitrijević 15 | Kullamae 31, Vene 16.
Group E:
Finland – SERBIA 58:80 (10:19, 14:18, 13:23, 21:20)
Palmi 16, Lindbom, Koivisto & Murphy 7 | Raduljica 19, Zagorac & Avramović 10.
Group F:
HUNGARY – Slovenia 77:75 (16:16, 16:20, 17:18, 28:21)
Allen 16, Perl 15 | Blažič 18, Morgan 16.
