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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Serbian coach commends Gilas performance

Serbian coach commends Gilas performance

Published Jul 1, 2021 01:48 pm

Serbia coach Igor Kokoskov (FIBA photo)

Serbia coach Igor Kokoskov praised the way Gilas Pilipinas played during their FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament that ended with the host team eke out an 83-76 victory Thursday, July 1 Manila time in Belgrade.

Kokoskov had nothing but kind words for coach Tab Baldwin’s squad after Gilas came back from a 16-point deficit to even take the lead in the fourth before Serbia showed its might to secure a semifinals berth in Group A of the Belgrade OQT.

READ: Gilas fightback falls short as Serbia survives OQT scare

“I would like to congratulate the Philippine team on playing really good, playing together as a unit,” Kokoskov said in the post-match press conference.

“Coach Baldwin was doing a good job, a dear friend of mine. He’s done an awesome job and I’m proud of him. His team really played together and they were competing so,” added Kokoskov, who coached the Phoenix Suns during the 2018-19 NBA season.

The plaudits Gilas got from Serbia were a stark contrast from the comments made by then-coach Aleksandar Djordjevic from their previous meeting in the 2019 FIBA World Cup in Foshan, China.

Djordjevic said after Serbia, which had Nikola Jokic and Bogban Bogdanovic, won 126-67 over the all-PBA Gilas squad that the team was “missing quality” despite having the talent and quickness.

Boban Marjanovic, the 7-foot-3 center of the Dallas Mavericks, imposed his will on the Gilas frontline of Ange Kouame and Kai Sotto to finish with 25 points and 10 rebounds.

But it was his six straight points after Gilas took a 74-73 lead that allowed Serbia to break free and avoid a defeat that would likely cause an uproar among its fans, especially playing at home.

“Honestly from the beginning of the game we didn’t show a good game, we didn’t have any rhythm and that’s why we had a close game,” said Serbian cager Danilo Andjusic. “We should have been much better on defense and find a good rhythm on offense so we can play more easily. So, we need to find that flow and fight.

“But at the end of the day the most important thing is that we won the game. We know our goal is to win the tournament, to go to the Olympics and that’s what's most important,” he added.

Serbia earned the first semis berth in Group A of the Belgrade OQT which gives the winner a slot in Tokyo Olympics later this month.

The Serbians play either Italy or Puerto Rico from Group B in the semifinals slated Saturday, June 3 Manila time.

Related Tags

serbia Igor Kokoskov FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament gilas pilipinas Tab Baldwin
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