Giannis Antetokounmpo might be Bogdan Bogdanovic and Nikola Jokic’s biggest fan right now.
Bogdanovic drained timely buckets while Jokic recorded a double-double as Serbia pulled away in the fourth to deny South Sudan, 96-85, to claim the second spot in Group C in the men’s 5-on-5 basketball on Sunday, August 4.
This means Antetokoumpo’s Greece is also marching to the playoffs as Group A’s third best team.
Bogdanovic was on fire all-game long, logging a team-high 30 points built on six triples and eight dimes in a scintillating display of outside marksmanship in 28 minutes. Jokic added 22 points, 13 rebounds. and four dimes in 27 minutes.
South Sudan opened the final frame with back-to-back buckets, capped off by a Wenyen Gabriel’s slam to cut Serbia’s lead to one at 71-72.
But Aleksa Avramovic and Bogdanovic led a 7-0 run to add to the Eagles’ lead to seven points at 78-71 before a Filip Petrusev lay made it 83-74 with 5:46 seconds left.
All of a sudden, Serbia’s lead ballooned to 15 points, 89-74, with 3:47 seconds left.
But South Sudan would not give up and came to as close as seven points in the final 32 seconds before Serbia iced the game with clutch free throws late.
Meanwhile, Carlik Jones led the way for South Sudan with 17 points, 10 assists and five rebounds while Nuni Amot and Marial Shayok chipped 14 markers apiece.
After a tight opening half, South Sudan kept within striking distance with the reigning FIBA World Cup silver medalist as Wenyen Gabriel’s back-to-back baskets made it a single possession game at 58-59.
But Bogdanovic buried two triples in a span of 31 seconds to pad Serbia’s advantage to seven points, 65-58, with 4:14 left.
Jones then scored a buzzer-beating floater off-the-glass as the African nation keep things interesting heading to the fourth.
Serbia, the 2023 FIBA World Cup silver medalists, stay in Olympic medal contention. Meanwhile, South Sudan will leave an impression as a new African basketball powerhouse.
