The basketball players of Bosnia and Herzegovina played their third match at the Eurobasket today against Slovenia and made a big sensation and celebrated with 97:93!
We opened the Eurobasket with a victory over Hungary, but a defeat followed against favored Germany in the 2nd round, although we were much better than the hosts in the first half and had an advantage.
In the third game, against Slovenia, the current champion of Europe, we were huge outsiders, but we again showed that we are worth it in the basketball framework. Quite a good game by the Dragons, who in a great way matched the great NBA star Luka Dončić and the rest of the Slovenian “machinery”, and after a huge fight, achieved a victory that will be talked about…
We opened the game in an incredible way – 8:0 series, but the Slovenians quickly come back and take the lead. At the end of the first quarter, Slovenia led 32:26.
We were tied during the second quarter, although Slovenia managed to go +8 at the end of that period of play. However, we come back and go to the break with only three points behind.
At the beginning of the third quarter, Roberson gave us the advantage with threes and it was evident that we would fight with the big favorite until the end, even though they gave us little chances before the start of the match itself.
By the end of the third quarter, there was a big fight on the floor, the teams changed their lead several times. At the very end of the penultimate section, the Slovenians took advantage of our fatigue and decline, so they made the difference and went to +6. However, Vrabac hits a three-pointer with the sound of the siren and brings us back to just one point behind. At the end of the third quarter, it was 73:72 for Slovenia.
With a three-pointer from Gegić, we open the last quarter and take a new lead. We were up 80-77 with 6:30 to go. We played quite well in both directions, and this time the performance of the players from the second plan came to the fore.
Three-pointer by Musa for 83:79, but Dragić retaliates with a three-pointer and we enter the last five minutes of drama almost tied.
The Slovenians took the lead again, and then another triple by Roberson for 86:64.
Roberson took the Dragons to plus 5 with another three at 2:55! Until the end, we managed to maintain the advantage and achieve a great victory, perhaps worthy of further placement. In a crazy drama, the Slovenians had minus 2 and an attack, but we defended ourselves, and then ended the job with Atić’s points, although in the last 30 seconds or so there was also a drama in which the Slovenians tried to save themselves, but failed.
Roberson was our most effective player with 23 points, Musa scored 22, and Halilović scored 13. Nurkić scored 12 points with 9 rebounds, Atić had 12 points and six rebounds. Čančar was the best in Slovenia with 22, while Dragić scored 20 and Dončić 18 points with eight rebounds and eight assists.
We emphasize again that Bosnia and Herzegovina had good support in Cologne and that the match was watched by around 15,000 spectators, which is a really good number considering that the home team did not play.
On Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. we play against France, and a day later at the same time against Lithuania, perhaps a decisive game. In case the Hungarians pull off a miracle and beat Lithuania, we pass on, Sportsport writes.
