MANILA, Philippines – Blink and you’ll miss it.

That is the fate that awaited four 2023 FIBA World Cup quarterfinal teams as they saw their once-promising run go up in smoke in a single game thanks to four other squads simply more prepared to compete.

Fans, however, will have a handful more chances to see these still-elite teams as the classification games continue at the Mall of Asia Arena before the knockout semifinals begin.

Lithuania vs Slovenia

Lithuania advanced to the battle for fifth place after ripping Luka Doncic and Slovenia, 100-84, in the classification phase.

Jonas Valanciunas posted a huge double-double of 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Lithuanians, who slayed the all-NBA USA in the group phase before seeing their perfect run come to an end against Serbia in the quarterfinals. 

Doncic powered Slovenia anew with a game-high 29 points on top of 5 rebounds and 2 assists.

FIBA | FINAL:

Resurgent Lithuania sends Slovenia to its third straight loss in blowout fashion, 100-84, after a 4-0 #FIBAWorldCup2023 start.

Lithuania faces Latvia in the battle for fifth.#FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/xEarA1e7HH

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 7, 2023

FIBA | 4Q:

Margiris Normantas adds on to Lithuania's revived momentum from three-point distance.

Jonas Valanciunas adds two more inside for his 20th point.

Timeout Slovenia as Lithuania leads by 18, 83-65, with 8:22 left.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 7, 2023

FIBA | END OF 3Q:

Mindaugas Kuzminskas drains a fading three in the third quarter's final seconds as Lithuania mounts a 12-point lead over Slovenia, 75-63.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 7, 2023

FIBA | 3Q:

Unsuccessful Lithuania challenge on what looked like a Ziga Dimec elbow on the back of Margiris Normantas' head.

Slovenia keeps possession as Lithuania keeps a 66-55 lead.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 7, 2023

FIBA | 3Q:

Luka Doncic goes 2/2 from the line as Slovenia inches closer.

Ignas Brazdeikis, however, sinks a quick three to put Lithuania ahead by 5, 60-55.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 7, 2023

FIBA | 3Q:

Aleksej Nikolic and Mike Tobey sink consecutive threes.

Timeout Lithuania with 7:42 left as it hangs on to a 55-51 lead over Slovenia.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 7, 2023

FIBA | STATS:

Jonas Valanciunas leads Lithuania's balanced charge with 10 points and 6 rebounds.

Meanwhile, Slovenia heavily leans anew on superstar Luka Doncic, who has 19 points, 5 rebounds, and just 1 assist.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/pd6BKMpApC

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 7, 2023

FIBA | HALFTIME:

Lithuania keeps distance over streaking Slovenia, 53-43.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 7, 2023

FIBA | 2Q:

Former NBA players Ignas Brazdeikis and Zoran Dragic trade threes. Dragic races back for another long bomb!

Lithuania leads Slovenia, 47-43, with 1:30 left.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 7, 2023

FIBA | 2Q:

Luka Doncic sinks back-to-back threes!

Lithuania, however, still leads Slovenia, 38-27.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 7, 2023

FIBA | END OF 1Q:

Luka Doncic seemingly hurts his left thigh on a drive attempt as Deividas Sirvydis sinks an easy layup on the other end.

Lithuania pulls away from Slovenia, 33-21.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 7, 2023

FIBA | 1Q:

Former NBA player Mindaugas Kuzminskas sinks his second three in just two minutes off the bench so far.

Lithuania leads Slovenia, 24-20, with 1:39 left in the opener.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 7, 2023

FIBA | 1Q:

With no shortage of confidence, Luka Doncic sinks his first three several steps behind the line.

Slovenia leads Lithuania, 10-9.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 7, 2023

Preview

The Luka Doncic-led Slovenia will have no chance to heal to its wounds nor temper its emotions from its Canada encounter, as a quick turnaround awaits at 8:30 pm against fellow European powerhouse Lithuania, which recently got stunned out of the tournament by in-form Serbia.

Despite its World Cup dream ending in its first game in Manila, Slovenia showed that it is much more than just a Doncic show, as the likes of sixth man Klemen Prepelic and former NBA player Zoran Dragic showed they can hang with the best.

Lithuania, humbled after its high point of beating USA in the second round, will try to get its pride back with more strong performances from its NBA-caliber stars like Jonas Valanciunas and Mindaugas Kuzminskas.

Italy vs Latvia

Fresh from a quarterfinal loss to Germany that ended its Cinderella run, Latvia survived another nip-and-tuck game this time to advance to the playoff for fifth place with an 87-82 triumph over Italy in the classification phase.

FIBA | FINAL:

Latvia outguns Italy in a battle of undermanned teams, 87-82, in the resumption of the #FIBAWorldCup2023 classification phase.#FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/y0TderaeV5

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 7, 2023

FIBA | 4Q:

Marco Spissu sinks a clutch three for Italy!

Timeout Latvia as it now hangs on to an 84-82 lead with 41.1 seconds left.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 7, 2023

FIBA | END OF 3Q:

Sharpshooting Latvia records its 11th three of the evening as time winds down to create a 67-60 cushion over Italy.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 7, 2023

FIBA | 3Q:

Mouhamet Diouf has checked in for Italy, making top scorer Simone Fontecchio the only inactive player left in the classification game against Latvia.

The Utah Jazz forward has likely taken the day off, as Italy still has one game left on Saturday, Sept. 9.#FIBAWC

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 7, 2023

FIBA | 3Q:

Latvia now leads Italy, 58-44, off a 48-21 burst since trailing in the first quarter by 13, 10-23.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 7, 2023

FIBA | STATS:

Andrejs Grazulis and former NBA player Luigi Datome each score 15 first-half points as Latvia surges past Italy, 46-42.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/oZf2z2RVVm

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 7, 2023

FIBA | HALFTIME:

Comeback king Latvia erases a 13-point deficit, storms ahead of Italy, 46-42.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 7, 2023

FIBA | 2Q:

Latvia gets ahead of Italy for the first time, 43-42, off a Rodions Kurucs layup at the 1:02 mark.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 7, 2023

FIBA | 2Q:

Latvia's Arturs Strautins sinks a three as Italy clings to a 38-36 lead with 3:33 left in the half.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 7, 2023

FIBA | END OF 1Q:

Roland Smits sinks a buzzer-beating three for Latvia as red-hot Italy still leads, 26-18.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 7, 2023

FIBA | 1Q:

Italy captain Luigi Datome is on fire in his spot start, already with 11 points as his team goes up on Latvia, 20-10, with 3:37 left in the opener.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 7, 2023

Preview

A mere 24 hours after its Cinderella run ended by a mere two-point margin against Germany, Latvia returns to play its consolation game at 4:45 pm against Italy, the latest victim of mighty USA.

NBA player Davis Bertans, after missing the potential game-winner against the Germans, will try to pick himself up with a bounce-back outing against the likes of fellow NBA role players Simone Fontecchio and Nicolo Melli.

Please refresh this page for live updates. – Rappler.com