Serbia's head coach, Svetislav Pesic, stressed that their defeat to Team USA does not change their goal of advancing to the Paris Olympics quarterfinals. The focus now shifts to upcoming games against Puerto Rico and South Sudan.
Following Serbia's defeat to Team USA, head coach Svetislav Pesic emphasized that the result does not alter their main Paris 2024 Olympics objective of reaching the quarterfinals.
The 74-year-old highlighted the importance of adhering to their game plan and focusing on the remaining group stage matches against Puerto Rico and South Sudan.
"We expected a game like this," Pesic said after the 84-110 loss. "The Americans have great individual quality and motivation. Our defense was not up to par. As long as we followed our systems, we were good. Once we deviated, we took premature shots, and our outside shooting was not typical for us.
"For the first twenty minutes or more, we were in control, especially when we executed our offensive schemes. It's difficult to execute everything as planned, especially against a strong team. They played exceptional on-ball defense and were physical."
He reiterated that the outcome against the USA, whether a win or a loss, was not key.
"Neither a win nor a loss against the Americans would change anything," Pesic noted. "We still have two group games to play to qualify for the quarterfinals. This will not be easy, as you've seen how Puerto Rico and South Sudan played. We must focus on our game and prepare accordingly."
Looking ahead, Pesic downplayed the significance of potentially facing Team USA again.
"We are not thinking about the Americans at all; our focus is on winning the next game. Every opponent will have extra motivation. We must take control, fix the things we didn't do well today, and move forward," Pesic stressed.
Serbia now turns its attention to the crucial games against Puerto Rico and South Sudan, aiming to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
Game highlights:
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