Title: Lithuania’s History Repeats Itself at FIBA World Cup Quarterfinals
Heading 1: Lithuania’s Failure to Medal Against the U.S.
In 1998, Lithuania stunned the basketball world when it defeated the United States at the world championships. However, despite their victory, Lithuania failed to secure a medal in the tournament. The story repeated itself at the 2004 Olympics, where Lithuania once again defeated the U.S. but fell short of claiming a medal.
Heading 2: Serbia Ends Lithuania’s Medal Hopes at World Cup Quarterfinals
In the quarterfinals of the FIBA World Cup, Serbia dealt Lithuania a fatal blow, securing an 87-68 victory. This result confirmed Lithuania’s inability to win a medal in Manila this weekend, leaving them with the highest possible finish of fifth place.
Heading 3: Lithuania’s Unfortunate Jinx Against the U.S.
Lithuania’s history with the United States at the senior men’s national level has been marred by disappointment. Despite recording three victories against the U.S., Lithuania has failed to convert these wins into any medals. Their recent triumph against the U.S. with a scoreline of 110-104 set the stage for their World Cup aspirations. However, playing less than 48 hours after their victory, Lithuania couldn’t maintain their momentum against Serbia.
Heading 4: Serbia Advances to Semifinals, Lithuania’s Journey Ends
Serbia, with a 5-1 record, secured their spot in the semifinals of the World Cup. Their opponents in the semifinals will be determined from the Canada-Slovenia quarterfinal matchup. Meanwhile, Lithuania (5-1) will have to settle for the consolation playoffs, where they will face the loser of the Canada-Slovenia game. Although Lithuania cannot secure a medal after their defeat in the quarterfinals, they will play two more games to determine their final position in the tournament standings.
Heading 5: Serbia’s Resilience Amidst Tragedy
Despite facing adversity, Serbia demonstrated their resilience during the World Cup quarterfinals. The team played with the jersey of forward Borisa Simanic draped over a chair on the bench. Simanic had suffered a serious injury, losing a kidney after being elbowed in a game against South Sudan. Despite this setback, Serbia showed strength and determination on the court.
Heading 6: Conclusion
Lithuania’s pursuit of a medal at the FIBA World Cup was once again thwarted by Serbia in the quarterfinals. Their unfortunate history against the United States and repeated failure to convert victories into medals remains a puzzling phenomenon. As the tournament progresses, Serbia’s performance and resilience stand as a testament to their determination and strength.
