Aleksa Avramovic believes stamina and power in the end performed a significant position in Serbia’s slender loss to america within the semifinals of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Serbia led the Individuals by as many as 17 factors through the recreation and managed a lot of the competition earlier than the United States rallied in the fourth quarter to win 95-91. Wanting again on the sport, Avramovic pointed to the bodily toll of Serbia’s quarterfinal victory over Australia.
“Stamina in my view, stamina,” Avramovic mentioned on EURO INSIDERS when requested what value Serbia in opposition to the USA. “Power as a result of power degree was so excessive through the recreation.”
Serbia had entered the semifinal after a rare quarterfinal in opposition to Australia. The Serbians overcame a 24-point deficit to defeat Australia 95-90 in additional time, producing the most important comeback in Olympic basketball historical past.
Avramovic acknowledged how demanding that recreation had been, notably given Serbia’s defensive depth.
“We did unimaginable comeback from the most important in historical past of Olympic Video games in opposition to Australia and, for instance, me personally, I virtually died after that recreation,” Avramovic mentioned with fun. “Full press continuous.”
Regardless of the bodily toll, Avramovic mentioned Serbia by no means mentally accepted defeat in opposition to Australia, even when it trailed by 24 factors.
“Within the second, like 24 down, I by no means felt that we’re going to lose this recreation,” he mentioned. “All of the life you’re working so onerous and you aren’t going to let this down.”
That mentality carried Serbia into the semifinal, the place the group produced one in every of its strongest performances of the event for lengthy stretches.
“We performed nice recreation in opposition to USA,” Avramovic mentioned. “It was so shut recreation and within the moments, like for 10, for 20, 25 minutes, let’s say, we dominated the sport. We had been up 14, 17, I don’t know, one thing like that.”
Serbia finally noticed its lead disappear as america mounted its comeback behind its star gamers. Avramovic emphasised that Serbia had competed with confidence and believed in its system all through the event.
Avramovic additionally credited head coach Svetislav Pesic for placing Serbia in place to compete in opposition to america.
“The coach, I don’t need to skip him. He’s, in my view, among the best ever,” Avramovic mentioned. “He put us in the way in which he needs to see us on the court docket and to assist the group. And we did it nice.”
Serbia in the end completed the Olympics with a bronze medal after defeating Germany 93-83 in the bronze medal game. Avramovic averaged 10.5 factors, 3.2 assists and a couple of.5 rebounds in six Olympic appearances, capturing 53.3% from the sector and 36.8% from three-point vary.
