FIBA Basketball World Cup Memorable Moments: Magical Milos

MADRID (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Incredible doesn't begin to describe one of the most famous shots ever taken at a FIBA World Championship.

It happened in 2010.

In front of a packed Sinan Erdem Dome crowd in Istanbul, Serbia's Milos Teodosic buried a game-winning three-ball that capped a frenetic game against defending champions Spain.

If one looks back at the spectacular event in Turkey, a young Serbia side was emotionally charged up and determined to avenge their heavy defeat to the Spaniards in the EuroBasket 2009 Final in Poland.

Dusan Ivkovic's team was talented, yet not many pundits had expected it to be real contenders at the World Championship.

Serbia were determined, though.

The team had settled for the silver medal in 2009 and not celebrated.

The all-tournament selection for Teodosic was scant consolation for him.

In Istanbul, Spain, even without Pau Gasol, had plenty of experience and seemed to be on course for spot in the Semi-Finals yet they came up just short.

The Quarter-Final was a classic, 40 minutes of non-stop theater that had fans on the edges of their seats.

Marko Keselj was spectacular for Serbia, nailing five of six shots from the arc and Nemanja Bjelica was a perfect of three of three.

Ivkovic's team had been exceptional from long range in that contest, connecting on 14 of 29 attempts before Teodosic's game-winner.

The only player who seemed to be struggling from three-point land that day, in fact, was Teodosic.

Serbia had the final possession and Ivkovic, well aware of Teodosic's penchant for making the big play, decided to put the game in his hands.

Having hit just one of his first seven shots from long range, Teodosic caught the inbounds pass and dribbled the final seconds off the clock, one after the other.

Spain made a decision to have the tall Jorge Garbajosa defend on the perimeter, thus making it more difficult for a Serbia shooter to get a good look.

Teodosic found a way to get the ball over Garbajosa.

It sailed through the air and fell through the hoop for a 92-89 triumph, leading to celebrations for the Serbia fans and the players, while Spain's fans put their hands on their heads and looked to the heavens in disbelief.

Their title defense was over, while Serbia marched on to the last four.

There were only stunned looks on the faces of Spain's players, and their coach, Sergio Scariolo.

"The shot by Teodosic was really from downtown," Scariolo said.

As for Serbia, Ivkovic couldn't help but remind everyone of 2009.

"We faced Spain last year and we were blown out," he said.

"But this time, we played more aggressive basketball with better shooting."

Teodosic tried to turn the page as quickly as possible so he and his teammates could focus on their Semi-Final against Turkey.

Unfortunately for the Serbians, joy was short-lived.

Turkey edged them in a thriller and Serbia then lost to Lithuania in the Bronze Medal Game.

FIBA