MIES (Switzerland) - On this day, July 22, 2007, future stars of the USA and Serbia traded blows in a riveting FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup Final in Novi Sad.

For the hosts, it was an exhilarating time, one that ended with a title following a battle between great hoops nations. Many of the players that tasted victory that day not long after embarked on successful professional careers that included triumphant moments with the national team.

For the Americans, it was a bittersweet experience in Novi Sad. To play with the letters USA on their chest was the ultimate honor. The 74-69 defeat was painful, yet the ensuing years were much better, particularly for Stephen Curry and DeAndre Jordan.

History will in fact judge Curry as the biggest name in that Final. A Davidson College player at the time, Curry went on to win three NBA titles with Golden State and two-time league MVP awards, as well as world titles with the USA in 2010 and 2014.

A shooting guard in that 2007 USA team, Curry was the fifth leading scorer at 9.4 points per game yet was showing signs of becoming the special player that he is today.

Serbia's Markovic won in Novi Sad but USA's Curry achieved glory after their 2014 World Cup battle 

His USA teammate, DeAndre Jordan, was just scratching the surface of his potential in 2007, averaging a mere five minutes per game. But nine years later, Jordan stood on the top of the Olympic podium after a dominating display in the low post in Rio de Janeiro. He has been among the most menacing centers in the NBA for more than a decade.

Patrick Beverley, the USA point guard, launched his professional career in Europe and later arrived in the NBA where he has been for seven seasons.

Beverley led that American side in Novi Sad at 13 points per game and a tournament-leading 31 steals (3.4 steals per game) while  Michael Beasley, the USA's second leading scorer at 12.8 per contest, made headlines the next summer as the second overall pick in the NBA Draft, by Miami.

Jordan (left) and Beasley played for the USA at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2007 in Novi Sad

The Serbia team in that U19 Final ended up with more players to have pivotal senior team roles in the years to come. In addition to Miroslav Raduljica and Boban Marjanovic, a couple of centers on the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 squad, there were Stefan Markovic, Milan Macvan, Stefan Stojacic, and Marko Keselj.

The event in 2007, while giving everyone a glimpse of the future, is best remembered for the Final that was played in a raucous SPC Vojvodina arena.

The USA had won three of the first four U19 World Cups, beginning in 1979 in Brazil, but had not captured the title since. They entered the 2007 Final on the back of seven straight victories, including an 82-78 win over Serbia eight days before.

Macvan had 19 points and 10 rebounds in the Final and was named MVP of the event

The hosts went on a 9-0 run in the first quarter to lead 11-2 and kept their noses in front the rest of the way. Markovic, whose defense would later come to the fore on numerous occasions for the senior team, had a game-high five steals while Macvan finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds and was named as the tournament's MVP. The USA were woeful at the free-three line, missing 13 of their 24 attempts (45 percent). 

If Olympic Games, FIBA Basketball World Cups and various continental championships deservedly receive the lion’s share of attention when it comes to national team basketball, the FIBA U19 World Cup 13 years ago is an example of how many of the sport's best players introduce themselves to far less fanfare on the international scene, where they gain invaluable experience.

FIBA