WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP YUGOSLAVIA 1970
After having beaten the USA and clinched the world title the Yugoslavian players and public
celebrated in style but the hangover took effect the next day when they were conclusively
defeated by the USSR (87-72). This victory gave them the bronze medal and demonstrated the
enormous talent of a team that so often performed below expectations.
This defeat was nothing in comparison to what was about to happen. Four days after the end of
the tournament, Trajko Rajkovic, the centre who had decided to retire from basketball with the
gold medal round his neck (who was preparing to take part in a tribute to the late Radivoj Korac
who had died the previous year) died of a heart attack.
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FUNDACIÓN PEDRO FERRÁNDIZ