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IT hasn't happened since the 2016 Rio Olympics that Australia's men's and women's teams both needed to push past Serbia to make it to the medal podium but here we are in Paris and that's exactly what it will take, both the Boomers and Opals lining up for KO quarter-finals against their past nemesis. 

In Rio, back when the Games' intrapool combat of two groups of six still made common sense, the Boomers flogged Serbia 95-80 in their group, Matthew Dellavedova dishing 13 assists, Andrew Bogut hauling 12 boards and Patty Mills leading the offence with 26 points. 

The Boomers finished second in the group with a 4-1 record, behind the USA on 5-0, Serbia finishing fourth on a 2-3 mark and lucky to squeeze into the quarter-finals with wins over Venezuela and China only.

Serbia eked past arch rival Croatia by three to make it into the semi finals while Australia sent Lithuania packing by 26 to arrive in that semi full of confidence.

But as can happen so easily in such tournaments, in their semi final, Serbia sensed and seized its moment, shut down the Boomers' mainstays and led from start-to-finish, winning 87-61, Brock Motum and Mills scoring 13, Aron Baynes 8 boards and Ryan Broekhoff 4 assists.

It was devastating, Serbia ultimately claiming a silver medal and Australia suffering the heartbreak of a one-point loss to Spain in the bronze medal playoff.

Maybe this time around though, with a clunky 1-2 record, it was the Boomers lucky to progress, so why not a history revisit and on this occasion, Australia senses and seizes it moment at Serbia's cost?

SIMILARLY in Rio, the Opals dominated their group while in the rival pool, Serbia slunk into the quarter-finals on a 2-3 record, barely scraping past China and Senegal for the chance to advance.

Tournament play can be cruel and so it proved again as Serbia eliminated Australia 73-71, once again cashing in on a longshot opportunity.

The Opals went home and Serbia continued on to collect the bronze medal.

At these Paris Olympics, Australia lost to the African champion for the first time in history as Nigeria threw the Opals' entire Games campaign into jeopardy.

Australia needed a minor miracle to advance and created it at the expense of the unbeaten host nation, the crowd support for France of 27,193 the largest crowd ever for a women's basketball match in Europe, according to FIBA.

Maybe this time around, the Opals can be looked upon favourably by the "basketball gods" and Serbia can be left to wonder where it all went wrong.

Nigeria also knocking out Canada in intrapool play means the African champs took out the two teams which contested the bronze medal at the 2022 FIBA World Cup, a monumental achievement in itself.

Jumping to a 12-2 start, weathering the best Canada had to offer, then producing a mind-boggling 23-5 third quarter was a glorious sight, as was the team's unbridled joy at "going to Paris" after that 79-70 victory. Next up? The USA. It was great while it lasted. 

MEN'S INTRAGROUP RESULTS

Group A: Australia 92 d Spain 80, Canada 86 d Greece 79; Spain 84 d Greece 77, Canada 93 d Australia 83; Greece 77 d Australia 71, Canada 88 d Spain 85. Canada 3-0 (+20), Australia 1-2 (-4), Spain 1-2 (-8), Greece 1-2 (-8). Tied Teams Table: Australia 1-1 +6, Greece 1-1 -1, Spain 1-1 -5. Final Order: 1 Canada, 2 Australia, 3 Greece, 4 Spain.

Group B: Germany 97 d Japan 77, France 78 d Brazil 66; France 94 d Japan 90, Germany 86 d Brazil 73; Brazil 102 d Japan 84, Germany 85 d France 71. Germany 3-0 (+47), France 2-1 (+2), Brazil 1-2 (-7), Japan 0-3 (-42). Final Order: 1 Germany, 2 France, 3 Brazil, 4 Japan.

Group C: South Sudan 90 d Puerto Rico 79, USA 110 d Serbia 84; Serbia 107 d Puerto Rico 66, USA 103 d South Sudan 86; USA 104 d Puerto Rico 83; Serbia 96 d South Sudan 85. USA 3-0 (+64), Serbia 2-1 (+26), South Sudan 1-2 (-17), Puerto Rico 0-3 (-73). Final Order: 1 USA, 2 Serbia, 3 South Sudan, 4 Puerto Rico.

WOMEN'S INTRAGROUP RESULTS

Group A: Spain 90 d China 89, Serbia 58 d Puerto Rico 55; Spain 63 d Puerto Rico 62, Serbia 81 d China 59; China 80 d Puerto Rico 58, Spain 70 d Serbia 62. Spain 3-0 (+10), Serbia 2-1 (+17), China 1-2 (-1), Puerto Rico 0-3 (-26). Final Order: 1 Spain, 2 Serbia, 3 China, 4 Puerto Rico.

Group B: Nigeria 75 d Australia 62, France 75 d Canada 54; Australia 70 d Canada 65, France 75 d Nigeria 54; Nigeria 79 d Canada 70, Australia 79 d France 72. France 2-1 (+35), Nigeria 2-1 (+1), Australia 2-1 (-1), Canada 0-4 (-35). Tied Teams Table: France 1-1 +14, Australia 1-1 -6, Nigeria 1-1 -8. Final Order: 1 France, 2 Australia, 3 Nigeria, 4 Canada 

Group C: Germany 83 d Belgium 69, USA 102 d Japan 76; Germany 75 d Japan 64, USA 87 d Belgium 74; Belgium 85 d Japan 58, USA 87 d Germany 68. USA 3-0 (+58), Germany 2-1 (+6), Belgium 1-2 (0), Japan 0-3 (-64). Final Order: 1 USA, 2 Germany, 3 Belgium, 4 Japan

MEN'S QUARTER-FINAL: Australia v Serbia, 10.30pm AEST Tuesday.

WOMEN'S QUARTER-FINAL: Australia v Serbia, 7pm AEST Wednesday.