Kusturica Leads Serbia to Dominant Victory
Nikola Kusturica delivered a masterful performance to steer Serbia to a resounding 84-53 victory over Venezuela at the FIBA U17 World Cup.
Serbia seized control early, building a commanding 26-point lead by halftime, a dominance that surged in the second quarter with a decisive 25-4 run that shattered Venezuela's hopes.
Entering the final period with a comfortable 27-point cushion, the Serbians maintained their momentum, their defence suffocating Venezuela, who shot a dismal 26% from the field (18/68) and a mere 15% from beyond the arc (5/33).
Kusturica spearheaded Serbia's attack with 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals, complemented by Ognjen Simjanovski's 14 points and 5 rebounds. Serbia's bench also made a significant impact, contributing 30 points. For Venezuela, Carlos Perez fought hard with 14 points, but the team struggled to find consistent offensive rhythm.
This commanding display sends a strong message from Serbia in the tournament, underlining their title aspirations with a convincing all-around performance.