SUMMARY
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MANILA, Philippines – The 2023 FIBA World Cup stage just got a lot less crowded as eight teams remain in contention for one of basketball’s top championships starting this Wednesday, September 5, now only at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
While games now lack in quantity, there will certainly be a lot more quality as all eight contenders have legitimate shots at the gold, with no single team – not even all-NBA USA – being an overwhelming favorite.
Italy vs USA
USA made sure to bounce back big.
Just a couple of days after absorbing a shock first loss to Lithuania, USA wrecked Italy, 100-63, to clinch a semifinal spot in the FIBA World Cup.
Mikal Bridges erupted for 24 points, half coming from three-point range, as the Americans cruised early, building a 46-24 cushion at the half of the knockout quarterfinals.
Tyrese Haliburton also sizzled, knocking down all of his 18 points from beyond the arc, while fan favorite Austin Reaves added 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists for the all-NBA USA crew.
Simone Fontecchio paced the Italians with 18 points.
FIBA | FINAL:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 5, 2023
No shockers this time around.
USA completely shuts down Italy for an easy #FIBAWorldCup2023 semifinal berth, 100-63.#FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/5SehzCYmAg
FIBA | 4Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 5, 2023
USA is more than likely on the way to an easy semifinal berth as it still leads Italy, 94-58, with less than 3 minutes left in regulation.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | STATS:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 5, 2023
Italy is just 26% from the field through three quarters – on pace for its worst-ever shooting performance in FIBA World Cup history since the federation started tracking field goal data.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | END OF 3Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 5, 2023
Tyrese Haliburton ends the quarter with a between-the-legs alley-oop pass to Paolo Banchero for the jam!
USA's cruise over Italy continues with a 39-point gap, 83-44.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | 3Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 5, 2023
Italy star center Nicolo Melli goes down after a mid-air collision with USA's Brandon Ingram.
Replays show Ingram raked Melli's face with his left hand during a dunk attempt.
Referees call an unsportsmanlike foul on Ingram after the replay.#FIBAWC
FIBA | 3Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 5, 2023
USA's destruction of Italy breaks the 30-point barrier, 68-36, with 4:42 left in the third.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | 3Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 5, 2023
Mikal Bridges keeps going, drains a contested corner three and does his signature gun taunt to the Italian bench.
He gets a quick tech, but USA still leads big, 55-29.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | STATS:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 5, 2023
Mikal Bridges leads USA's hot start over Italy with 14 points, offsetting top scorer Anthony Edwards' scoreless first half.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/BOWca2bhrG
FIBA | HALFTIME:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 5, 2023
USA pulls away from Italy with a 22-10 second quarter for the 46-24 lead.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | 2Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 5, 2023
Austin Reaves comes soaring in for the putback jam and MOA Arena comes alive again!
USA leads Italy, 46-22.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | 2Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 5, 2023
USA doubles up on Italy off a Mikal Bridges pull-up three, 36-18, with 3:33 left in the half.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | END OF 1Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 5, 2023
USA creates a quick double-digit cushion over Italy, 24-14.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | 1Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 5, 2023
As usual, Filipino fans give the loudest cheers to Austin Reaves as the Los Angeles Lakers rising star sank his first field goal from downtown.
Timeout Italy as USA leads, 20-11, with 2:04 left.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | 1Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 5, 2023
Jaren Jackson, Jr. gets 2 early fouls, prompting Paolo Banchero to check in.
Banchero – who decided to play for USA in the World Cup instead of Italy – is heavily booed by Italian fans in attendance.
Italy leads USA, 6-4.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
Preview
USA returns to the MOA Arena as a team of wounded warriors after absorbing a stunning first defeat against Lithuania, and underdog Italy will try to pounce on its foe’s moment of weakness and stage a tournament-changing ouster at 8:40 pm.
Italy’s lone current NBA player Simone Fontecchio will try to get his offense going early and lead the upset charge of the world No. 10 program, while No. 2 USA seeks more productivity from its other extremely-capable stars like Brandon Ingram and Jaren Jackson, Jr.
Lithuania vs Serbia
Serbia booked the first semifinal seat after an 87-68 crushing of Lithuania at the start of the knockout quarterfinals.
NBA shooting guard Bogdan Bogdanovic fueled the Serbians’ hot start, firing 18 of his game-high 21 points in the first half on top of 4 rebounds and 3 assists.
The Serbians pulled away by as many as 25 points, 82-57, after back-to-back Filip Petrusev threes with 6:06 minutes to go.
Lithuania – which highlighted its group-phase sweep by dealing the all-NBA USA team a shock first loss – bowed out with four players in double-digits led by Tadas Sedekerskis’ 14 points.
Even giant-slayers are too small for Bogdan Bogdanovic!
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 5, 2023
In-form Serbia eliminates USA tormentor Lithuania in a stunning 87-68 blowout to move on to the semifinals.
Once undefeated, Lithuania now moves down to the classification phase.#FIBAWorldCup2023 https://t.co/CRl774z6ir pic.twitter.com/Is8ybRtTHR
FIBA | FINAL:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 5, 2023
Even giant-slayers are too small for Bogdan Bogdanovic!
In-form Serbia eliminates USA tormentor Lithuania in a stunning 87-68 blowout to move on to the semifinals.
Once undefeated, Lithuania now moves down to the classification phase.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/JFsr4T5TZi
FIBA | 4Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 5, 2023
Filip Petrusev drains back-to-back threes to push Serbia even further away from stunned Lithuania, 82-57, with 6:06 left to play.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | END OF 3Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 5, 2023
Serbia continues its thrashing of Lithuania, 73-55.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | 3Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 5, 2023
Serbia balloons its lead over Lithuania, 62-48.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | STATS:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 5, 2023
Serbia's Bogdan Bogdanovic is scorching hot with 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting and 2-of-3 from three in just 16 minutes against Lithuania.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/WuKL260OI5
FIBA | HALFTIME:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 5, 2023
Red-hot Serbia pushes undefeated Lithuania against the ropes at intermission, 49-38.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | END OF 1Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 5, 2023
Lithuania leads Serbia in a nip-and-tuck affair, 25-24.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
Preview
Kicking off the World Cup quarterfinals is a 4:45 pm showdown between Serbia – the best of the Balkans – and Lithuania – the beasts of the Baltic.
With both teams excelling in virtually all bases like scoring, defense, and international experience, this opening match will likely be an entertaining slugfest from buzzer to buzzer.
Thus, star power must be on full display in this now-or-never knockout affair, with world No 6 Serbia’s Bogdan Bogdanovic and No. 8 Lithuania’s Jonas Valanciunas expected to lead the way.
Please refresh this page for live updates. – Rappler.com
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