Puerto Rico succumbed to Serbia on Saturday in the semi-final of the Olympic Repechage.
The men’s basketball team, led by Eddie Casiano, fell to the host of the tournament 102-84. For Puerto Rico: Piñeiro 23 points, Conditt 20 points, Gian Clavell 17, Browne 12, 5 rebounds and 10 assists.
Tomorrow, Serbia will face Italy, who won the semi-final against the Dominican Republic.
“Since I’ve been a coach, I’ve played five times (against them). So we know the way they play, but they also know the way we play, ”Casiano said after Thursday’s painful defeat against Italy.
In the last five recorded challenges, Serbia have won all their matches.
The last was a friendly match held a few weeks ago in Greece, where Puerto Rico went on to win three of the four sets. However, in the second quarter they ran out of aim and the defense cracked just as it did against Italy.
The other challenges were in 2016, also in an Olympic qualifying tournament heading to Rio, in which Serbia won twice, 87-81 and 108-77, in the final. In the 2019 World Cup in China they faced each other again and the Serbs overwhelmed 90-47.
Casiano just hopes that this time his players will be more patient and more focused on the small details of the game.
“It is going to be a good game. We know who we are up against. We have to minimize mistakes, be focused and play in the correct way, even when they pressure us and they run their offense, ”said the veteran coach.
“We have to be patient. Basketball at this level is patience. It is knowing how to read the game. It’s a 12-player effort. We will give everything we have during the 40 minutes, “said Casiano.
Puerto Rico needed to beat Serbia to advance to the final and fight for the only available ticket in Belgrade to go to the Olympics.
For 17 years, Puerto Ricans have not gone to an Olympic fair, the last time in Athens 2004.