Serbia get revenge against Turkey, set up Semi-Final clash with Belarus

BUDAPEST (EuroBasket Women 2015) - Head coach Marina Maljkovic has not exactly been full of praise for her players at EuroBasket Women 2015 but that all changed on Wednesday when Serbia reached the Semi Finals where they will meet Belarus.

The play-caller watched on with glee as Serbia secured successive appearances in the last four of the competition - having reached the same stage of the tournament two years ago in France.

Serbia extracted some seriously sweet revenge on Turkey with a 75-63 Quarter-Final success which helped erase their memory of last year's Quarter Final loss at the FIBA Women’s World Championship and their opponents having also denied them a place on the Final Round podium in 2013.

"I want to congratulate my team with all my heart,” said Maljkovic on the first night of action in Budapest.

"Despite some bad losses and poor quality basketball in a couple of games, they really showed today that they always play with heart - just like the heart which is the logo of this tournament.

"We have accomplished our first goal by winning this game [and making the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament]. We really played as a team and so there is no reason for us to stop playing in this kind of way.

"We saw what the rebounds can offer us with 19 offensive boards and we also only had 13 turnovers which is acceptable."

Ana Dabovic fired a sensational 31 points to lead the way for Serbia as their athletic and up-tempo approach left Turkey wanting - with head coach Ekrem Memnun and his side now out of medal contention and focusing only on trying to clinch the last precious FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT) berth.

Belarus reached the Semi-Finals for the first time in six years, but almost pressed the self-destruct button as they crawled into the last four via a 68-66 success against Lithuania.

Belarus had led by as many as 19 points, but with their perimeter game deserting them completely, it set up a nerve-shredding conclusion.

A turnover with less than two seconds remaining handed the chance for Lithuania to clinch yet another dramatic victory, but Belarus survived - much to the relief of Katsiaryna Snytsina who had thrown the ball away.

"It was a really long game and we knew the Lithuanian team would play more aggressive during the second half as they have won lots of games like this," she said.

"I am happy and proud of my team - even with a terrible three-point percentage as we fought until the very end.

"I am so proud we have reached the last four, but we can't play like this against Serbia as they play even more aggressive in defense.

"We will have to think about it and try to understand how we will play as it will be a huge fight.

"For sure we will have to play smarter and more aggressive offensively."

In Thursday's two remaining Quarter-Finals, reigning champions Spain take on Montenegro before France face Russia.

Go to EuroBasketWomen2015.com for full coverage of EuroBasket Women 2015.

FIBA