SUMMARY
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MANILA, Philippines – As quarterfinal spots are being grabbed by bulk in the second round of the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Olympic berths are also being fought over in the classification stages, with games on Saturday, September 2, having massive implications over the Asian and African contingents.
Host nation Philippines, meanwhile, will gun for a winning end to an otherwise disappointing campaign, and at the very least, improve from its dead-last 32nd-place finish in 2019.
ARANETA COLISEUM
Angola vs South Sudan
Once-unheralded basketball nation South Sudan is now the frontrunner for Africa’s outright Olympic berth after a 101-78 thrashing of continental rival Angola.
NBA G League MVP Carlik Jones once again showed why he belongs in the NBA and the world stage, carrying the winning offense with 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting, a World Cup record 15 assists, and 7 rebounds, while fellow NBA player Marial Shayok dropped 18 points on a 6-of-10 clip.
Childe Dundao paced the losing cause that did not feature NBA center Bruno Fernando with 21 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists.
FIBA | FINAL:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 2, 2023
Small nation, big dreams.
World No. 62 South Sudan is now the frontrunner for Africa's outright Olympic berth after a 101-78 blowout of Angola.
Egypt currently trails New Zealand and needs to win by more than 22 to steal South Sudan's spot.#FIBAWorldCup2023 pic.twitter.com/DkoYe8fESt
FIBA | END OF Q3:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 2, 2023
South Sudan just 10 minutes away from the win, and a likely Olympic berth!
They lead Angola, 73-57.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | STATS:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 2, 2023
South Sudan's Carlik Jones becomes the first player ever to dish out 10+ assists in three different World Cup games.
Jones currently has 11 assists, along with 18 points and 5 rebounds.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | STATS:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 2, 2023
South Sudan's Carlik Jones has a masterful first-half performance against Angola with 15 points and 8 assists.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/tyCqQbLGa3
FIBA | HALFTIME:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 2, 2023
South Sudan ahead against Angola by 14, 53-39.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | Q2:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 2, 2023
Carlik Jones with the razzle dazzle before making a tough layup! He now has 15 pts, 4 rebs and 6 assts.
SSD leading Angola, 50-37, 1:50.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | Q2:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 2, 2023
Nuni Omot completes a three-point play. South Sudan on top by 16 against Angola, 38-22, 6:50.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | END OF Q1:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 2, 2023
South Sudan ends the opening chapter with a 30-16 lead over Angola. #FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | Q1:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 2, 2023
Carlik Jones laces one from downtown! South Sudan slowly pulling away vs Angola, 24-10, 3:20.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
Preview
Only five African countries have an express pass for a shot at an Olympic berth, and two of them will clash in an all-important 4 pm showdown at the Araneta Coliseum.
South Sudan – ranked No. 62 in the world but expected to rise exponentially – is just one win away from prime Olympic qualification position thanks to the efforts of NBA-caliber players Carlik Jones, Marial Shayok, and Wenyen Gabriel.
Angola, however, looks to stifle the South Sudanese rally with NBA player Bruno Fernando at the helm and give itself a mathematical shot at qualification in the event of multiple standings ties.
Philippines vs China
Jordan Clarkson saved the best for last as the Philippines avoided another winless FIBA World Cup run, salvaging its rather forgettable campaign with a 96-75 win over China.
Preview
In a bid for nothing else but national pride, Gilas Pilipinas aims to complicate China’s Olympic entry with a breakthrough World Cup win at 8 pm.
Still led by NBA star Jordan Clarkson – perhaps for the last time in a Gilas uniform – the World Cup final phase host will look to correct its long-running woe of failing to finish strong, as fellow NBA standout Kyle Anderson shoots to keep his new home country in the Olympic running with Japan.
MALL OF ASIA ARENA
New Zealand vs Egypt
New Zealand survived Egypt’s comeback attempt to seal an 88-86 escape in its final World Cup game.
Top Kiwi scorers Izaya Le’afa and Finn Delaney each scored a game-high 27 to snap a two-game skid, while Ehab Amin and Amr El Gendy chipped in 19 points apiece in the losing effort that officially ended Egypt’s pursuit of an outright Olympic berth.
FIBA | FINAL:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 2, 2023
New Zealand overcomes Egypt’s gutsy fourth-quarter fightback for a thrilling 88-86 win!
With Egypt’s loss, South Sudan officially punches its ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics. #FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | END OF 3Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 2, 2023
Egypt cuts the deficit back to single digits, but New Zealand still holds a 68-61 advantage. #FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | HALFTIME:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 2, 2023
New Zealand comes alive and opens the second quarter on a fiery 13-0 blast to steal the lead from Egypt, 47-35.
Izayah Le’afa has a team-high 16 points on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting for the Tall Blacks. #FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | END OF 1Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 2, 2023
Egypt sets the tone with a 25-22 lead against New Zealand. #FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
Preview
Already out of Olympic contention, Oceania’s New Zealand will look to play the spoiler role at the Mall of Asia Arena as it faces Africa’s Egypt at 4:45 pm.
While the Kiwis look to just get a plain win, the Egyptians are set to play chess matches on and off the court, for they are trailing contender South Sudan by just one in point differential in the event of a standings tie – meaning they have to win by as many points as possible to create a comfortable cushion.
Jordan vs Mexico
After opening the tournament with three consecutive losses, Mexico ended its 2023 FIBA World Cup campaign on a high note as it outlasted Jordan for its second straight win, 93-80.
Gabriel Giron propelled the Mexicans to the victory with a team-best 21 points, while Paul Stoll had an all-around performance of 19 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals.
On the other side, naturalized player Rondae Hollis-Jefferson wrapped up his first World Cup stint with the winless Jordanians with a near triple-double of 26 markers, 8 boards, and 10 dimes.
FIBA | FINAL:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 2, 2023
Mexico dominates the fourth quarter to close out its #FIBAWorldCup2023 campaign with a 93-80 win against Jordan!
The Mexicans finish the World Cup with a 2-3 slate, while the Jordanians end the tournament with a 0-5 record. #FIBAWC
FIBA | END OF 3Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 2, 2023
Mexico takes a 68-65 lead over Jordan in a back-and-forth battle. #FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | HALFTIME:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 2, 2023
Mexico and Jordan are still knotted after two quarters, 43-all.
Gabriel Giron leads the way for the Mexicans with 13 points, while Rondae Hollis-Jefferson has 11 markers for the Jordanians. #FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | END OF 1Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 2, 2023
Ahmad Hamarsheh converts on a layup at the buzzer as Jordan ties up Mexico, 24-all. #FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
Preview
Far away from the complicated battles of numbers and tiebreakers, ousted nations Jordan and Mexico are set for a pure battle for pride at 8:30 pm
With Jordan winless at 0-4, World Cup No. 4 scorer Rondae Hollis-Jefferson now just seeks win No. 1 for his new home country, while Pako Cruz and the rest of the Mexican stalwarts aim for a momentum-boosting two-game winning streak they can carry back home for their program.
OTHER RESULTS
OKINAWA
Finland def. Venezuela, 90-75. (Lauri Markkanen – 32 points, 9/13 FG, 9 rebounds)
JAKARTA
France def. Ivory Coast, 87-77. (Rudy Gobert – 17 points, 7/8 FG, 8 rebounds, 21 minutes)
Please refresh this page for live updates. – Rappler.com
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