Basketball On The Internet.

SERBIA qualified today for the 2022 FIBA Women's World Cup in Sydney from September 22 when it surfed home on the back of a roaring home crowd in Belgrade to punch its ticket 78-71 over Australia, the Opals' cause set back by the unexpected loss of starter Steph Talbot to a notorious disqualifying foul.

The Polish referee deemed a backcourt fend off by Talbot where her elbow clipped an over-zealous Serbian defender's face, was not only deliberate but worthy of disqualification.

With 2:13 left in the second quarter and Australia ahead 37-32, it was a hugely significant decision, given the Serbian also was issued with the foul which led to Talbot's fend.

Not suggesting for a millisecond there was considerable acting involved because there WAS contact. There were other instances where no contact was involved, one stand-out involving a Serbian player clutching her face as she rolled on the floor, replay vision revealing no contact whatsoever. (Even Deng Deng found it embarrassing.)

For the Polish ref to determine Talbot was aiming to inflict wilful damage to her opponent was an absurd over-reaction, as anyone who knows the dual-Olympian and reigning WNBL MVP, could attest.

C'est la vie. The game was in Belgrade and the fans were rowdy. 

Serbia was in mid-rally after Australia broke a 28-28 deadlock with a 9-0 run, its best of the match.

Courtesy of the free throws and additional possession, the margin steadily closed to 36-37 before the Opals nursed a 40-38 lead into the main break.

Trailing 20-24 after one and with no-one capable of containing naturalised Serbian star Yvonne Anderson (30 points), the Opals' defensive pressure and again slick ball movement opened opportunities for players such as Bec Allen, Sami Whitcomb, Tess Madgen, Darcee Garbin and Sara Blicavs to find open looks.

Cayla George and Marianna Tolo picked up wayward fouls early, belying their experience at this level. The second foul by both were rookie-type errors way beneath them, though neither was punished as much as Tokyo Olympics bench spectator Alanna Smith for one similar indiscretion.

One. It seemed Smith went straight back into Sandy Brondello's dog-house and for some truly inexplicable reason, appears to be on the team's shortest possible leash.

Considering her upside, her treatment is appalling. What it did do was present Garbin and Blicavs with more minutes, Madgen also called on to do more in Talbot's absence.

Taking a 56-53 lead into the final quarter, the Opals were still ahead by five heading into the game's home stretch but emboldened by the crowd and playing some great harassing defence, Serbia created turnovers on which they thrived.

Following 20 turnovers in the win over Brazil, the Aussies had 19 in this one and once Serbia hit the front, it was not going to be caught.

Sami Whitcomb showed her leadership qualities, hitting a huge late 3-pointer only minutes after rolling her ankle, but choosing to play through the pain

A big corner three from Allen brought the deficit to 71-75 but when she stepped over the baseline harassing Serbia's inbounds pass, she copped a T and with only 18 seconds left, Serbia sealed it from the stripe.

It was a quality game and again useful in helping the Opals assess how they are moving forward ahead of Sydney 2022. 

SERBIA 78 (Anderson 30, Crvendakic 12; Krajisnik 11; Krajisnik 7 rebs; Skoric, Crvendakic 4 assts) d AUSTRALIA OPALS 71 (Whitcomb 18, Allen 15, Tolo 8; Allen 8 rebs; Allen, Whitcomb 6 assts). KOREA 76 d BRAZIL 74

*AS host nation for the 2022 FIBA World Cup, Australia is an automatic qualifier. These games are only relevant as international match practice and possibly a better tournament seeding. Australia's next match is against Korea tomorrow.