SUMMARY
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MANILA, Philippines – The dust has settled for many sections of the 2023 FIBA World Cup group phase, with most teams already preparing for the second round or eyeing salvageable assignments in the classification phase like hosts Gilas Pilipinas and Japan.
The preliminaries, however, are still expected to end with a bang as USA Basketball still has one more no-bearing game on the docket for fans to simply enjoy.
MALL OF ASIA ARENA
USA vs Jordan
To the surprise of no one, mighty USA rolled over Jordan in a no-bearing Group C cruise, 110-62, to solidify its momentum heading to the second round.
NBA All-Star Anthony Edwards started strong for the American rally and finished with 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists in just 18 minutes, while Jordan’s “Kobe” Rondae Hollis-Jefferson tallied 20 points, 7 boards, 3 dimes, and 3 steals.
FIBA | WATCH:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 30, 2023
“We’ve got our hands full.”
USA starting point guard Jalen Brunson braces for tougher second round matches against “proven” teams Montenegro and Lithuania. #FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/8iMFD4pv5j
FIBA | FINAL:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 30, 2023
As expected, USA dominates Jordan from start to finish to complete the 3-0 sweep of Group C, 110-62.
Anthony Edwards finishes with his tournament-high 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists in just 18 minutes.
📸 FIBA#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/ITsJZvStjG
FIBA | END OF 3Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 30, 2023
USA continues its onslaught of Jordan with an 87-49 lead. #FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | HALFTIME:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 30, 2023
USA keeps its huge distance from Jordan, 62-33.
Anthony Edwards now has 18 points and 8 rebounds for the Americans, while Rondae Hollis-Jefferson leads the Jordanians with 16 markers and 7 boards. #FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | END OF 1Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 30, 2023
USA jumps out to an early 31-12 lead over Jordan.
Anthony Edwards outscores the Jordanians with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting. #FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
Preview
The Mall of Asia Arena will open its doors to a blockbuster affair at 4:40 pm as USA Basketball takes on Jordan in a no-frills fight for pride.
Fans will likely get to see bigger cuts of action for the American bench still loaded with young stars like Josh Hart, Cam Johnson, and Walker Kessler, while Jordan defaults on another Kobe Bryant-esque carry job from its own “Mamba,” World Cup No. 2 scorer Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
Greece vs New Zealand
Greece leaned on a fiery second-half surge to complete an 83-74 come-from-behind win against New Zealand and punch its ticket to the second round.
Ioannis Papapetrou went off for 27 points built on four treys, while Giannoulis Larentzakis added 20 markers for the Greeks, who trailed by as many as 15 points in the game.
FIBA | FINAL:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 30, 2023
Greece punches its ticket to the second round after completing a gutsy 83-74 come-from-behind win against New Zealand.
📸 FIBA#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/4R5dsIOUhL
FIBA | END OF 3Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 30, 2023
New Zealand hangs on to a slim 54-50 edge over the surging Greece. #FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | HALFTIME:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 30, 2023
New Zealand now enjoys a 43-32 advantage against Greece.
Reuben Te Rangi leads the Tall Blacks with 15 points on 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc. #FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | END OF 1Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 30, 2023
New Zealand sets the tone with a 20-15 lead over Greece.
The winner of this match will advance to the second round of the #FIBAWorldCup2023. #FIBAWC
Conversely to the USA-Jordan match, the 8:40 pm MOA main event will have all the stakes in play as Greece takes on New Zealand for the final Group C second-round berth.
Giorgios Papagiannis, Kostas Papanikolaou, and Thomas Walkup are expected to lead a Greek balanced attack similar to the way the Kiwis do it, with the likes of Izaya Le’afa and Finn Delaney pacing the gritty charge.
SMART ARANETA COLISEUM
South Sudan vs Serbia
World No. 6 Serbia showed off its elite pedigree with a sound beatdown of No. 62 South Sudan, 115-83.
NBA prospect Nikola Jovic dropped a game-high 25 points on a perfect 9-of-9 clip and 5-of-5 from three, while veteran Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 23 with 9 assists. Dut Jok Kacuol paced the loss with 21 points as World Cup No. 3 scorer Carlik Jones was held to just 3 points in 21 minutes.
WATCH | Kai Sotto’s close friend and former Adelaide 36ers teammate Sunday Dech says he is excited for a possible matchup against the Philippines on Thursday. #FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/eD6iaDR5JG
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 30, 2023
FIBA | FINAL:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 30, 2023
Serbia moves on the #FIBAWorldCup2023 second round without a hitch after a 115-83 rout of rising South Sudan.#FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/lofGmBdNRe
FIBA | END OF 3Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 30, 2023
Serbia continues its beatdown of South Sudan, 83-65.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | HALFTIME:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 30, 2023
Despite South Sudan's best efforts, mighty Serbia methodically pulls away, 56-39.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | END OF 1Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 30, 2023
World No. 6 Serbia gets an early jump on dangerous No. 62 South Sudan, 30-20.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
Preview
One of the World Cup’s most lopsided matches on paper may just offer the most surprises at 4 pm as world No. 6 Serbia takes on No. 62 South Sudan.
Unreflective of its world rank, the Carlik Jones-led South Sudanese bring the pain to any foe in the way of its World Cup debut stint, which may very well spell unexpected trouble for Bogdan Bogdanovic, Nikola Jovic, and the rest of the battle-tested Serbians still looking to formally clinch entry to the next round.
China vs Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico marched to the Round of 16 after easily dispatching China, 107-89, at the end of its first-round campaign in Group B.
Tremont Waters unloaded 22 points and dished out 6 assists, while Ismael Romero dropped a double-double of 18 points and 10 boards.
China wound up winless as naturalized NBA player Kyle Anderson finished with just 9 points.
FIBA | FINAL:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 30, 2023
Puerto Rico wraps up Group B play with a 107-89 rout of China to clinch a second-round spot.
With the Puerto Rico win, South Sudan drops to the classification round to first face Gilas Pilipinas on Thursday, August 31, 8 pm.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/rklzqlDlpr
FIBA | END OF 3Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 30, 2023
Puerto Rico hangs on to a 78-69 lead over rallying China, which dropped 32 points in the third.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | HALFTIME:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 30, 2023
China falls behind on offense anew as Puerto Rico soars to a 52-37 lead.
Kyle Anderson only has 2 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist in a team-high 14 minutes.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | END OF 1Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 30, 2023
Puerto Rico leads China, 23-16.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | UPDATE:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 30, 2023
China elects to have Kyle Anderson come off the bench in a crucial match against second-round-seeking Puerto Rico.
To date, Japan is the only Asian team with a win in the race for the lone 2024 Olympics berth.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
Preview
Puerto Rico seeks a simple entry to the second round at 8 pm against struggling China, a team in turn feverishly calculating the massive score margin needed to even stave off elimination.
For the Puerto Ricans, a win is all that’s needed by the Tremont Waters-led crew to formally boot a once-promising Chinese squad bannered by naturalized NBA player Kyle Anderson.
Please refresh this page for live updates. – Rappler.com
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