Post-Game Review: The final Group C match was a thriller: newcomers South Sudan, having made history by reaching the Paris Olympics, faced Serbia, who dreamed of an Olympic podium return. With quarter-final stakes high, it was a winner-takes-all showdown.
Last Updated on
August 4, 2024
The final match in Group C hadall the hallmarks of a thriller. On one side were Olympic newcomers SouthSudan. They had made history by making it to the 'Summer Games.' On the otherhand, Serbia, dreaming of returning to the Olympic podium, came armed for ado-or-die matchup. The stakes were high, with a spot in the Quarter Finals on the line. All the ingredients were there for a winner-takes-all match.
This match was crucial in more ways than one. A defeat for South Sudan would see them finish third in Group C, putting them in direct competition with Greece for one of the two tickets allocated to the best third-placed teams. Serbia's margin of victory would have to be more than five points. In the end, at the end of a game where the African representatives gave their all, 11 points (96-85) separated the Serbs from the South Sudanese. South Sudan bared their teeth first, with a Wenyen Gabriel opener from behind the arc just seven seconds into the game.
Serbia responded immediately when Nikola Jokic scored from the top of the key. With the score at3-3, the game was off and running. Filip Petrusev slammed home a dunk before South Sudan responded through Bol Kuol, who put his team back in front (6-5). But the Europeans quickly regained the lead, going up by six (12-6) before Nuni Omot put the Bright Stars back in front (16-15). The first half saw several lead changes, with both teams tying at 20-20 with 36 seconds remaining.
The Serbs' success began in the second quarter. The South Sudanese led just once,25-23, before falling nine points behind (34-25). Although they came back from a three-point deficit(47-44) at the end of the second quarter, it seemed the die had already been cast. After the break, the European's advantage turned. The Bright Stars could not catch up with their opponents despite their fighting spirit. As a result, the Serbs went into the final period with a five-point lead.
The final quarter was the least productive for the Bright Stars, who scored 18 points. They came back within one point (72-71) but could do nothing about the Serbs' dominance.
Bogdan Bogdanovic and Nikola Jokic combined for 43 points in the opening period, and Serbia continued to pile on the pressure. A three-pointer from Vasilije Micic, a lay-up from Filip Petrusev and another from Micic stretched Serbia's lead to nine points(85-74) with just five minutes to play.
When Jokic's lay-up extended the Serbian lead to 11 points, Nuni Omot and Carlik Jones hit back-to-back three-pointers to make it 91-80. Peter Jok followed up with a lay-up to cut the lead down to ten points (92-82), and Marial Shayok tried to support his compatriot with a 3-pointer (92-85), but it was too little too late.
It was a disappointed Royal Ivey who ended up speaking in the mixed area.
"It hurts. It stings; it really does. I got a bunch of dogs in that locker room. They compete, they play hard, and they don't complain. They played through adversity the whole tournament and competed, from the Puerto Rico game to the USA game tonight. Every possession, on the floor, hustling, 50-50 balls, everything, offensive bounding, just playing hard. I'm very disappointed."
But those he coaches did not fail to impress. Carlik Jones (17 points, five rebounds, ten assists), Nuni Omot (14 points), Marial Shayok (17 points), and Bul Kuol (11 points) are testaments to that, amidst the world's powerhouses. South Sudan has been a beacon of hope for men's basketball in Africa. They win, learn from this loss, and go on to achieve great things.
This is just the beginning for South Sudan Basketball... Watch out!
[Photography Courtesy of The 2024 Paris Olympics]
