Serbia arrives in Manila for the Fiba World Cup.-MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Serbia was also among the teams that arrived in Manila on Tuesday for the 2023 Fiba World Cup.
Atlanta Hawks gunner Bogdan Bogdanovic headlines the Serbs, who are without two-time NBA MVP and newly-minted NBA champion Nikola Jokic.
Despite the absence of Jokic, Serbia still flaunts a formidable squad with former NBA player Nemanja Nedovic and Philadelphia 76er Felip Petrusev.
Also part of the team are shooters Aleksa Avramovic, Marko Guduric, Stefan Jovic, Ognjen Jaramaz, Uros Trifunovic, Nikola Milutinov, and Dusan Ristic.
Serbia arrives in Manila for the Fiba World Cup. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Bogdanovic, however, is the team’s unquestioned star.
The 31-year-old shooting guard is looking to continue his dominance on the world stage after lighting up the 2019 edition of the global showcase.
Bogdanovic was the top scorer in 2019, where he averaged 22.9 points per game as the Serbians wound up in fifth place.
Serbia’s fellow Group B qualifier Puerto Rico also arrived in the country on the same day at Naia Terminal 1 with former NBA player Tremont Waters.
Other countries in Group B South Sudan and China are set to arrive in Manila on Wednesday.
Group B teams will play all their games at Araneta Coliseum. Serbia clashes with China on Saturday to open its World Cup bid.