Red-hot Serbia torches Puerto Rico in Fiba World Cup

Serbia’s Bogdan Bogdanovic. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Practice makes perfect and Serbia proved just that after clobbering Puerto Rico, 94-77, in Group B of the 2023 Fiba World Cup at Araneta Coliseum on Monday.

The Serbians, who are coming off a 42-point beatdown of China two days ago, shot efficiently anew with a  52 percent shooting clip from the field that the Puerto Ricans just had no answer to.

When asked how they were able to shoot as well as they did, NBA veteran Bogdan Bogdanovic kept it simple with no secret formula needed.

“There’s no secret. We are just shooting everyday. We like to be here, we like to compete. Nothing else,” Bogdanovic said after finishing with 17 points, five rebounds and five assists.

“We are working hard and putting it together as a team, it’s a team effort, we are there for each other and I think it’s from the chemistry of the team.”

Serbia opened the game with a blistering 25-7 run and never let up until the final buzzer.

Serbia’s Nikola Jovic. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

The game seemed over quickly after the Serbians took a 57-27 advantage at the intermission.

But the Puerto Ricans mounted a comeback in the second half, though they were never able to break the 10-point barrier.

“It was okay, I think we can play better especially tonight’s physicality in the second half but it was a great test for us,” said Bogdanovic after Serbia allowed Puerto Rico chip away their big lead.

Bogdanovic and Serbia quickly restored order, stretching the led back to 18, 88-71, with 3:30 remaining.

Miami Heat swingman Nikola Jovic also dropped 17 points while Aleksa Avramovic added 15. Nikola Milutinov notched a double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds.

Isaian Pineiro paced the Puerto Rico with 14 while Jordan Howard talled 13.