Lithuania's Ignas Brazdeikis (1st L) competes during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
MANILA, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Serbia became the first team to reach the final four at the FIBA Basketball World Cup after beating Lithuania 87-68 here on Tuesday.
Bogdan Bogdanovic scored a game-high 21 points for Serbia, becoming the sixth player in the 21st century to reach the 400-point milestone in the tournament. Filip Petrusev took 17 points and Stefan Jovic added 11.
Four players scored in double digits on Lithuania's side, led by Tadas Sedekerskis' 14 points.
Jonas Valanciunas made the game's first 3-pointer, showing that everyone on the Lithuanian squad can shoot from beyond the arc, even big guys. The Lithuanians held an astounding 46.4 percent in 3-pointer shooting in their first five games to lead all 32 participating teams.
But they only made nine 3-pointers out of 28 attempts, a bleak 32 percent. The team's 13 points in the second quarter are their lowest tally in any quarter of a World Cup game since the start of the 2019 edition.
The defense obviously went wrong on the Lithuanian side, as Nikola Jovic easily sneaked into the paint for a dunk and Jovic had too many wide open 3-pointers.
While Serbia's 41 percent behind the arc seemed not that outstanding, Svetislav Pesic's side had fewer turnovers, more rebounds and did well in the paint. They doubled Lithuania's paint points at 48-24, and long passes in transition were another effective and energy-saving way for them to score.
"We had an amazing tournament, winning five games in a row. I don't know what happened today, but they (Serbia) played better offense, they played better defense, they crushed us," Sedekerskis said at the post-game press conference.
"We set a goal of winning a medal, and we have to pass Serbia in the quarterfinal to the semifinal. The game against the United States [last game] is now nothing," he added. ■
Serbia's Bogdan Bogdanovic (1st L) competes during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
Lithuania's Ignas Brazdeikis (top) shoots during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
Lithuania's Donatas Motiejunas (front R) shoots during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
Lithuania's Ignas Brazdeikis (R) breaks through during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
Lithuania's Ignas Brazdeikis (R) breaks through during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
Lithuania's Ignas Brazdeikis (R) goes for a lay up during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
Lithuania's Jonas Valanciunas (L) shoots during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
Serbia's Bogdan Bogdanovic celebrates during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
This photo shows the performance before the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
Serbia's players cheer up before the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
Serbia's players react before the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
Fans of Serbia cheer during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)
Rokas Jokubaitis (L) of Lithuania drives the ball during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)
Filip Petrusev (C) of Serbia reacts during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)
Ignas Brazdeikis (R) of Lithuania competes during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)
Filip Petrusev (top R) of Serbia celebrates with teammate Aleksa Avramovic (C) during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)
Aleksa Avramovic (front) of Serbia celebrates after winning the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)
Bogdan Bogdanovic (2nd R) celebrates with teammate Stefan Jovic (1st R) of Serbia during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)
Ignas Brazdeikis (2nd R) of Lithuania drives the ball during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)
Rokas Jokubaitis (R) of Lithuania goes for a lay-up during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)
Bogdan Bogdanovic (2nd R) of Serbia shoots during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)
Jonas Valanciunas (R) of Lithuania reacts during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)
Bogdan Bogdanovic (R) of Serbia goes for a lay-up during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)
Stefan Jovic (L) of Serbia goes for a lay-up during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)
Aleksa Avramovic (C) of Serbia celebrates with teammates during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
Aleksa Avramovic (L) of Serbia reacts as he defends Vaidas Kariniauskas of Lithuania during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)
Lithuania's Ignas Brazdeikis (C) competes during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
Bogdan Bogdanovic (L, C) of Serbia guards Margiris Normantas (L, front) of Lithuania during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)
Players of Serbia celebrate after winning the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)
Nikola Milutinov (L) of Serbia shoots during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)
Bogdan Bogdanovic (L) of Serbia goes for a lay-up during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)
Bogdan Bogdanovic (R) of Serbia breaks through during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
Bogdan Bogdanovic (C) of Serbia breaks through during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
Bogdan Bogdanovic (R) of Serbia goes for a basket during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
Bogdan Bogdanovic (L) of Serbia goes for a lay-up during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)
Aleksa Avramovic (L) of Serbia passes the ball during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)
Bogdan Bogdanovic (R) of Serbia vies for a rebound during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
Vanja Marinkovic (C) of Serbia goes for a basket during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
Dejan Davidovac (C) of Serbia vies for the ball during the quarterfinal between Lithuania and Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)
