” We didn't give up, that's something we can be proud of. » Of course Bogdan Bogdanovic and the Serbs can show their pride in having made the Americans doubt so much during this memorable Olympic semi-final. And in having come so close to qualifying for the final by pushing back the self-proclaimed “Avengers”.
” We played the best we could. We could have made a few more shots and saved a few more possessions at the end, but that's basketball. “, Serbia's crazy shooter puts into perspective (20 points), his face very marked at the end of the match.
This is where a journalist directs him towards a question on which he does not seem to want to dwell: arbitration. I'm not one to talk about referees, you know. “, says the Hawks player, adding however: ” I even wanted to win against the referees. Respect to us for keeping calm throughout the game and not talking to them. Talking about it doesn't do us any good now. »
Not many more throws to the Americans
His main complaint against the officials? That they didn't deign to say a word to them, the losers, once the match was over. In the end, they left, they didn't even say, 'OK, good job, blah, blah, blah.' They just left. »
His coach's remonstrances aimed at the refereeing body do not stop at this final scene. I am angry because we were not respected by the referees. You know that in Serbia, they say that the one who loses has the right to be angry. I am angry because we were not respected. I have to say it because the best player in the world shot 4 free throws in 37 minutes “, Svetislav Pesic laments.
He talks here about Nikola Jokic, before moving on to the subject of Bogdanovic: ” If our best scorer (editor's note: Jokic and Bogdanovic both finished with 18.8 points on average) plays 32 minutes and only shoots one shot, that means strange things happened. »
It can't be said that their opponents were any better off in this regard. In the heart of a very physical game, where more than half of the shots were attempted behind the arc, Team USA only obtained two more free throws than the Serbians (9/14 against 10/12).
Quickly forget to play bronze
” I don't downplay their victory, I wish them good luck. But tonight, strange things happened. We were not respected, not as a basketball nation, but as a team. “, insists the Serbian coach.
He reports that he always told his players to stay calm in order to get the whistles. And that ” If you fight and take the hits, the referees will reward you. We didn't have that tonight. That's how we end a great game. »
A magnificent and oh so frustrating match for them, but one to quickly forget because a bronze medal match awaits them on Saturday against Germany. The referees will be there too, so I don't want to think like a loser, even though I think some things could have been whistled differently. We have to recover and play the best game possible. », Claims Bogdan Bogdanovic.
Photo FIBA.com
