Milos Teodosic was 1 of 7 from long range going into the final 10 seconds, but that didn’t shake the Serb guard’s nerves of steel as he buried a long three pointer with 3.1 seconds remaining to give Serbia a 92-89 victory over reigning champions Spain to reach the semi-finals of the 2010 FIBA World Championship.
Teodosic finished with 12 points, but none bigger than his three-ball, which was launched about four feet beyond an NBA three-point line from the top of the key.
“I didn’t really even think about the last shot. When I think about it now I am kind of scared,” said the Olympiacos star after the game.
The victory avenged Serbia’s defeat at the hands of Spain in the final of the 2009 EuroBasket in Poland. And it puts the Serbs back into the semis for the first time since winning the world title as Yugoslavia in 2002.
The Serbs led the entire first half, using a 10-0 run to grab a 23-13 run. The game was back and forth in the third period with 10 lead changes after Spain scored the first 10 points of the second half for a 51-49 advantage.
Serbia in the fourth quarter re-established an eight point gap with seven minutes to play but could not hold it and watched Spain come back.
Marko Keselj and Kosta Perovic paced Serbia with 17 points each while Dusko Savanovic had 15, Nemanja Bjelica scored 14 and Nenad Krstic chipped in 13 points and nine rebounds.
Juan Carlos Navarro scored a game-high 27 points in the loss for the world and European champs. Jorge Garbajosa scored 18 points while Rudy Fernandez hit for 15 and Marc Gasol had 13 points. Ricky Rubio was held to three points in 27 minutes of action.
Serbia will play the winner of the second quarterfinal Wednesday between hosts Turkey and Slovenia.
Spain star Pau Gasol, who is not playing at the tournament, was spotted in the media catacombs after the game, consoling his Spanish compatriots, including giving Navarro a kiss on the head.