Montenegro, ranked 18th in the world, put up a resilient fight against the powerhouse Team USA but eventually ran out of steam in the endgame, losing by 12, 85-73, in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 second round on Friday.
The performance displayed by the Black Mountains, keeping the scoreline close until the final three minutes of the match, was something head coach Bosko Radovic was proud of.
“For a small country like Montenegro with only 600,000 people, we played tonight maybe one of the best games ever.
“We played against such a talented and athletic team like the United States, and we were in the game for 35 minutes,” said Radovic.
Montenegro was trailing by just four points, 68-72, when the Americans unleashed a finishing kick, with Austin Reaves, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Mikal Bridges making crucial shots to secure a 10-point lead with 1:29 left in the match.
Marko Simonovic, who had a three-year stint in the NBA with Chicago, gained confidence despite the loss, as they proved they belong and can compete with the world’s best. Team USA is ranked 2nd in the world.
“I’m really happy with how we opened the game and how we played against the United States,” said Simonovic, who scored nine points on a perfect shooting from two-point range, going 4-of-4.
“They are maybe the best team here in the World Cup, so I’m really proud of my teammates, the coaching staff, and everybody who is in the national team,” he continued.
“I think we showed today how we can play against maybe the best teams at this stage.”
Montenegro slipped to a 2-2 record and now hopes for a Greece win later today against Lithuania to keep their quarterfinals chances alive. Radovic pointed out that it was the individual talent of Team USA that allowed them to take control of the game late in the match.
“In the end, I think the individual quality of the US players was the key in the game. They made shots, we missed shots in the last four or five minutes, and that was the key to the game.”
