Finch: we can beat Serbia

Great Britain coach Chris Finch believes his side can defeat Serbia on Wednesday evening and book a place in the second phase of basketball’s European Championships. Tuesday’s agonising 84-76 loss to Spain still leaves Finch’s men able to progress.


Should Slovenia defeat Spain, GB must win by 8 points to progress via the head to head. And Finch, who watched his team come from 16 points down to scare the world champions, is confident of pulling off a result.

“It comes down to one game and the ability to win that game, to move onto the next round,” the American said. “If you'd said to us in advance that we have the chance to win one game and move on, we'd have taken that deal. It's there for us to take.”

It will undoubtedly take another impressive game from GB’s guards who cast aside criticism of the status as the team’s weak link with an much-improved showing against the Spaniards.

“I'd gotten on them to be more aggressive,” Finch admitted. “We got better ball movement. We spread the floor and got them some good looks and they made some tough shots.”

Serbia, who folded under Slovenia’s persistency in an 80-69 loss on Tuesday, merely need to win to book their spot in the next phase in a group that could come down to a three-way mathematical play-off to determine who advances along side the unbeaten Slovenes.

And Finch admitted: “With our team we have so many different faces, It's not just about performance. We can play small or big, we can do different things. It's just how well we're able to do them, how quickly we adjust to the game. We know they're fast and they're physical. And those are the most important things to match.”

Andy Betts and Joel Freeland are both doubts to face the Serbs due to back injuries.