World Cup Qualifiers: Big wins for Serbia and Slovenia

Serbia and Slovenia have scored quite big wins in the opening round of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers. 

Serbia have prevailed over Latvia at home after a thrilling ending in which Budućnost VOLI power forward Marko Jagodić Kuridža became the hero of the night as he scored the game-winning free throw with less than 3 seconds remaining on the game clock.

Team captain Miloš Teodosić was the top scorer of Serbia with 21 points, Partizan NIS star players Aleksa Avramović and Alen Smailagić scored 17 and 15 points, respectively, while game hero Marko Jagodić Kuridža finished the match with 16 points.

Slovenia have also achieved very valuable win as they defeated Croatia on the road. Slovenian hero tonight in Zagreb was 30-year-old Jakob Čebešek who made the key AND-1 three-pointer right at the start of the final minute. By completing this 4-point play, Čebešek put Slovenia in front – 72:69 – and the visiting side has stayed in front until the end thanks to their perfect free-throw shooting.

Klemen Prepelič made 16 points for Slovenia, while Cedevita Olimpija tandem Jaka Blažič – Edo Murić scored 15 and 14 points, respectively.

On the other side, Filip Bundović made 16 points for Croatia, while Cibona rising star Roko Prkačin finished the match with 15 points.

2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, Round 1, Group A, Thursday, 25.11.2021:

SERBIA – Latvia 101:100 (28:33, 24:23, 25:19, 24:25)
Teodosić 21, Avramović 17 | Lomazs 33, Bertans 17.

Group C, Thursday, 25.11.2021:

Croatia – SLOVENIA 74:76 (19:16, 20:25, 17:14, 18:21)
Bundović 16, Prkačin 15 | Prepelič 16, Blažič 15.