YUGOSLAVIA - Australia 71-78 (44-37)

Predrag Danilovic (Yugoslavia)

Hong Kong, September 6th - Yugoslav men's basketball national team won the second place at the Diamond Ball Tournament, since it was defeated, in the finals, by Australia 71-78 (44-37).

Yugoslav basketball players were much better in the first than in the second half-time. The main reason of the defeat is bad shot percentage, especially of the three-point shot (1/11).

After the match, the coach of the Yugoslav national team, Zeljko Obradovic, fulfilled his promise and announced the names of the two players who will not be traveling to Sydney. Milan Gurovic and Nikola Loncar will not be a part of the Yugoslav team at the Olympic Games, thus the following 12 players are on the final list:

4. Dejan Bodiroga, 5. Predrag Danilovic (captain), 6. Sasa Obradovic, 7. Igor Rakocevic, 8. Predrag Stojakovic, 9. Vlado Scepanovic, 10. Dragan Lukovski, 11. Zeljko Rebraca, 12. Predrag Drobnjak, 13. Dragan Tarlac, 14. Dejan Tomasevic and 15. Nikola Jestratijevic.

FIBA Diamond Ball Tournament for Men 2000 - FINAL

YUGOSLAVIA - Australia 71-78 (44-37)

YUGOSLAVIA: Bodiroga 11 (five assists), Danilovic 7, Obradovic 7, Rakocevic -, Stojakovic 4, Scepanovic 2, Lukovski 4, Rebraca 9, Tarlac 7, Drobnjak 7, Tomasevic 13 (six rebounds) and Jestratijevic.

AUSTRALIA: Smith -, Maher 2, Mackinnon 13, Cattalini -, Grace 16, Gaze 7 (9 assists), Heal -, Bradtke 11, Longley 15 (seven rebounds), Vlahov 2 and Rogers 12.

Third place match: Italy - Canada 82-74.
Fifth place match: People's Republic of China - Angola 69-61.

Final Standings: 1. Australia, 2. YUGOSLAVIA, 3. Italy, 4. Canada, 5. People's Republic of China and 6. Angola.