Montenegro center Nikola Vucevic (4) drives o U.S. forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) during the second half of a Basketball World Cup second round match in Manila, Philippines Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. United States defeated Montenegro 85-73. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
MANILA, Philippines – Nikola Vucevic takes pride in Montenegro’s strong performance against the United States in the Fiba World Cup, giving them a tough challenge before being eliminated from quarterfinal contention.
Montenegro lost 85-73 on Friday at Mall of Asia Arena, but their deliberate playstyle and utilization of their size posed a threat to the American team, who had dominated the first round by a combined winning margin of 103 points.
“It demonstrates our competitiveness and our willingness to fight no matter the circumstances,” said Nikola Vucevic, the center for the Chicago Bulls, who finished with 18 points and 16 rebounds.
Vucevic was not the only player responsible for Montenegro’s determined effort, with other big men such as Dino Radoncic, Nemanja Radovic, and Boban Dubljevic making it difficult for their American counterparts Jaren Jackson Jr. and Paolo Banchero, who are known for their versatility rather than being traditional centers.
Guards Kendrick Perry and Nikola Ivanovic also performed well in support of Montenegro, who had a one-point lead at halftime.
However, Team USA managed to find their rhythm, with Anthony Edwards and Austin Reaves making crucial shots in the fourth quarter to secure their place in the quarterfinals.
“I think we played a really good game. I’m extremely proud of my teammates. We were right there for 36 minutes,” said Vucevic.
“In the end, I believe their skill prevailed a bit. They made some great shots, and we had some turnovers and missed opportunities that we could have converted. Still, I’m very proud of our performance. We are considered underdogs, and they are the favorites, but we put up a great fight and I’m proud of my teammates.”
Montenegro’s final game in the tournament will be against Greece, who also failed to advance after losing to Lithuania. Both teams have identical 2-2 records and will aim for the best finish possible before concluding their World Cup campaign.
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