In the second round of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, Serbia defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 72–74.
After an opening victory against Switzerland, Serbia recorded another hard-fought win. In the first round they had to erase a massive 20-point deficit against Switzerland, while tonight’s game unfolded a bit differently.
Throughout the entire game, we witnessed a tight, back-and-forth battle from both sides. In a fiery atmosphere with a very active home crowd, Bosnia and Herzegovina drew extra energy from the stands. The game was filled with tension, technical fouls, physical play, and plenty of free throws. The hosts led 39–35 at halftime.
The second half brought the same intensity and a very dramatic finish. For Serbia, three players delivered key performances in this victory. Nikola Tanaskovic played one of the most significant games of his career, posting 24 points and 8 rebounds. Ognjen Jaramaz added 15 points and 4 assists, while Stefan Momirov scored 11 points, including several crucial baskets in the final quarter. They were also the only three double-digit scorers for Serbia.
For Bosnia and Herzegovina, Xavier Castaneda led the way with 19 points, followed by Emir Sulejmanovic with 11.
Although both teams were weakened by the absence of some key players, Bosnia and Herzegovina was hunting for a home victory and will surely regret not making the most of their strong home court. They now stand at 0–2 to start the qualifiers. Serbia improved to 2–0, not in an easier fashion than expected, but this is a significant achievement and a strong start for new head coach Dusan Alimpijevic.
PURE CHAOS. 😳
Another one that went right down to the final shot.#FIBAWC | #StepItUp pic.twitter.com/iPzSu9dj1S
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 🏆 (@FIBAWC) November 30, 2025
