24/08/2004
Day 6 Men: SCG 85 - ANG 62

Worst ever performance for Serbia & Montenegro 

ATHENS - Serbia & Montenegro has defeated Angola 85-62 to finish in 11th place in the Olympic Basketball Tournament, its worst ever Olympic Games performance.
 
Serbia & Montenegro won easily with its biggest victory of the Olympic Tournament to take 11th place with a win-loss record of 2-4.
 
The 2002 World Champions are not used to play early in the morning and to fight to avoid the bottom of the table, but tight Group losses to Spain, Argentina, China and New Zealand saw them playing off for the wooden spoon.
 
Serbia & Montenegro took the control of the game from the beginning and led after the first period 18-10.
 
Ten minutes later, the score was 34-21 in favour of Serbia & Montenegro.
 
Even with Angola's accuracy with its three pointers (11/29), Serbia & Montenegro didn't have problems and wrapped up the game easily.
 
Vlado SCEPANOVIC was the top scorer for Serbia and Montenegro with a total of 18 points (4/8 three pointers) while Milos VUJANIC scored 16 (4/7 three pointers). Nenad KRSTIC scored 15 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.
 
Angola's Valter MONTEIRO was the game's top points scorer with 26 (7/12 three pointers), but couldn't stop his team finishing the Olympic Basketball Tournament without a single victory as it exited with a win-loss record of 0-6.
 

Flash quotes:

Dejan BODIROGA (SCG), Captain
 
On his team's performance in the Olympic Tournament:
"We are not satisfied with ourselves.  You don't need to be a philosopher to see that we should have qualified with the players that we have in our team.  It is too early to come to any conclusions.  Everything will become clearer in the next few days."
 
Zelimir OBRADOVIC (SCG), Head Coach
 
On the organization of the Olympic Games:
"I would like to congratulate the Greek people on the organization of these Olympic Games.  The Olympic Village is the best one I have visited in the four Olympic Games that I have taken part in.  The volunteers are very polite.  Both the transportation and the venues are top level."
 
Zarko PASPALJ (SCG), Team Manager
 
On the team's performance in the Olympic Tournament:
"The days that have just gone past will remain forever in our memory as the worst basketball experience we have ever had.  It is a pity that my career as team manager had to start with such a big failure.  We need to start thinking on how we can improve this team's performance.  These are the players we have; we do not have any better ones.  We need to coach them and help them develop.  There is also the European Championships coming up in Belgrade.  That will be a very big sporting event for basket and our country."
 
On the rumors about his future with the team:
"Both myself and coach OBRADOVIC are with this team because we believe that we are part of something very important.  Every one of us that can help must do so.
 
On the organization of the Olympic Games:
"The Organization, the Olympic Village and the whole Olympic Tournament were absolutely perfect and congratulations to the Greeks for organizing such a successful Tournament.  They should be proud of themselves."

Game card...

Source: Athens news service