It's a Serbia weakened (Bogdan Bogdanovic and Ognjen Dobric absent) and who was perhaps already thinking about their duel the next day against Team USA who presented themselves against theAustralia in Abu Dhabi.
However, the Vasilije Micic – Nikola Jokic tandem managed to find gaps in the Australian defence, and the Serbian mopeds took advantage of the ball losses by Josh Giddey and company to play the counter-attack to the max.
Luckily for the Boomers, Patty Mills was in great form, just like in her FIBA best.
The will-o'-the-wisp thus carried his team's attack, while Filip Petrusev once again made a very good impression, well helped by Nikola Milutinov, who also caused a lot of damage to the opposing racket. A new counterattack by Aleksa Avramovic even put Serbia in the lead (40-39) at half-time.
In a match that was becoming increasingly tense, the Serbs then tried to tighten up the game, but the Australians, with their cuts and attacks from the circle, managed to make the difference in the fourth quarter.
Thanks to the contribution of Dante Exum and Nick Kay who finally managed to score a 3-pointer, Australia pulled away in the “money time”, Serbia having neither the legs nor the desire to attempt a hold-up (84-73).
