There's no such thing as a sure-bet in international hoops this summer as teams try to qualify for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Time and time again, national sides have sprung upsets. It's happened in Asia, Africa, the Americas and on Friday, another major surprise happened in Ljubljana, Slovenia, at EuroBasket 2013.
UKRAINE vs SERBIA Game Highlights.
Just 48 hours after being thrashed 85-51 by Latvia, Ukraine bounced back in Group E with an 82-75 triumph over Serbia.
Maxym Korniyenko and Pooh Jeter led a spirited Ukrainian effort with 21 and 20 points, respectively. Ukraine led by as many as 11 points and seized control in the third quarter when they outscored Serbia, 22-14.
Dusan Ivkovic's team, which entered the day top of the pool with three wins after carrying two victories over from Group B, twice cut the deficit to seven points in the last three minutes.
UKRAINE vs SERBIA GAME HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO
Jeter answered each time. He struck with a three-pointer with 2:38 remaining to stretch the advantage to 75-67. After Bogdan Bogdanovic replied immediately with a three-ball, Jeter struck again inside the arc to take the advantage back to 77-70.
Bogdanovic then added to a nightmare night for Serbia at the free-throw line, missing two, and Ukraine held on. Ivkovic's side was just 12 of 24 at the stripe on the night.
DUNK OF THE GAME: UKRAINE vs SERBIA
Ukraine will now go into their last Group E game against Lithuania with their confidence soaring.
LITHUANIA vs BELGIUM Game Highlights.
In the day's first game, Lithuania dominated Belgium inside en route to an 86-67 victory. Donatas Motiejunas had 13 points for Lithuania, including two when he dribbled the ball the length of the floor in the first half and dunked.
Jonas Valanciunas had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Lithuania, after beating France 76-62 in their Group E opener, improved to 3-1 and Belgium fell to 0-4.
LITHUANIA vs BELGIUM GAME HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO
FRANCE vs LATVIA Game Highlights. (watch France vs Latvia game highlights videos here)
Lithuania, France and Serbia now have 3-1 records while Ukraine are fourth at 2-2.
If Latvia, who are 1-3, win against Belgium on Sunday and Ukraine fall to Lithuania, the Latvians will claim fourth and the Ukrainians will end up in fifth and not advance.
On Saturday, Group F action resumes as Croatia facing Italy, Spain take on Finland and Slovenia go up against Greece.
Six places for the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain are up for grabs in Ljubljana.
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