By Semih Tuna/ info@eurohoops.net
Riga, Latvia – Serbia was the clear favorite in Round 2 of the 2025 EuroBasket group stage, but started the game on the wrong foot, with Portugal staying close for most of the match.
Led by three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, Serbia eventually found a way to a comfortable 80-69 victory, improving to 2-0 in Group A.
The match began dramatically, with Filip Petrusev ejected after just four and a half minutes for hitting Diogo Brito in the belly, who admitted in the press conference that he did “a hard blockout, but it was a basketball play and then I got hit, so it was up to the refs. I wish Petrusev wasn’t thrown out of the game”.
Portugal played with energy and kept making shots, keeping the game competitive.
Still, Jokic proved nearly unstoppable, and Serbia led through most of the contest. Portugal made a late push, narrowing the gap to 67-74, but Ognjen Dobric and Nikola Jovic each hit a three-pointer to seal the win for Serbia.
Jokic led the way with a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds, followed by Nikola Jovic with 18 points.
Captain Bogdan Bogdanovic suffered an injury in the final minutes of the second quarter and did not return to the court. All Serbian players scored except Vasilije Micic.
For Portugal, Diogo Brito had 22 points, Travante Williams added 15, and Diego Ventura contributed 11. Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta managed just six points and two rebounds.
As coach Mario Gomes said: “I am happy and I am sad. Happy because we competed against one of the top teams in the world and sad before we lost”.
Photo credit: FIBA