A huge sensation.
Serbia, one of the candidates to win the EuroBasket that has run over everything that has moved so far, was eliminated this evening (Sunday) from the tournament already in the round of 16.
The Serbs succumbed to Italy 94:86, who will meet France in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
One of the greatest players in the world, Nikola Jokic, and the best player in the Euroleague, Vasilija Micic, are going home in shame.
In the situation of 57:61 we saw one of the most exciting moments of the tournament, but also the turning point that led to the sensation of the tournament.
The Italian bench received a third technical foul which meant the expulsion of coach Gianmarco Potzko.
The emotional coach went player by player and kissed him before going down to the locker room crying.
It is important to note that Italy made it very difficult for the Serbs until that moment, but from here the Italian team came out like the muzzle of a cannon and ran to a 12 lead five minutes to the end.
From here the Serbs had no answer.
Italy had quite a few heroes in the rare evening.
Center Marco Spisso with 21 points and 6 three-pointers, Niccolo Meli with 22, Simona Pontacchio with 19 and above all a lot of heart and soul and a great defense that stopped Serbia at 35 points in the second half.
Jokic's 32 points and 13 rebounds did not help the stunned Serbs.
Posco goes down to the dressing room in tears,
Pollonara in a frenzy, this evening in Berlin, photo: AP
Pontacchio on his way to the basket, photo: Reuters
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