SUMMARY
This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
MANILA, Philippines – The 2023 FIBA World Cup is off to a rocking start as the co-host nations Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia get their respective debut game slates underway on Friday, August 25.
Fans witnessed dominant blowouts, unexpected close shaves, and everything else in between right out of the gate, and they can expect more of the same as the second day rolls on this Saturday, August 26, notably with the debut of mighty Team USA at the Mall of Asia Arena.
MALL OF ASIA ARENA
Jordan vs Greece
Greece showed its mettle even minus NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, whipping Jordan for a 92-71 decision in Group C action.
Giannoulis Larentzkis powered Greece with 19 points, while Jordan leaned on former PBA import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who unloaded a game-high 24 points.
READ: Jordan naturalized player Rondae Hollis-Jefferson relishes return to Manila for World Cup
FIBA | FINAL:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 26, 2023
Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Greece denies Jordan’s second-half comeback attempt for a dominant 92-71 victory in Group C at the Mall of Asia Arena.
📸 FIBA#FIBAWorldCup2023 pic.twitter.com/9sluKojgtC
FIBA | END OF 3Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 26, 2023
Jordan climbs back from as many as 14 points down as Greece hangs on to a 66-60 advantage. #FIBAWorldCup2023
FIBA | HALFTIME:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 26, 2023
Thomas Walkup waxes hot in the second quarter as Greece pushes its lead over Jordan to double-digits, 46-33.
Walkup has 13 points on 3-of-3 shooting from downtown. #FIBAWorldCup2023
FIBA | END OF 1Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 26, 2023
Greece sets the tone with a 19-14 lead over Jordan.
Thanasis Antetokounmpo, the older brother of Giannis, leads Greece with 4 points. #FIBAWorldCup2023
Preview
World Cup action resumes at the Mall of Asia Arena at 4:45 pm with an intriguing matchup between Jordan and Greece.
Although no longer bannered by two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Greeks are still loaded with NBA-level talent like Giannis’ older brother Thanasis, 7-foot-3 Giorgos Papagiannis, and 6-foot-8 Kostas Papanikolaou.
Jordan, meanwhile, parades faces very much familiar with Filipino audiences: lead guard Freddy Ibrahim and former PBA import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
USA vs New Zealand
Team USA showed off its all-NBA pedigree to kick off its 2023 FIBA World Cup campaign, pummeling New Zealand with a 27-point beatdown, 99-72.
Former No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic led the late breakaway, scoring 16 of his 21 points in the second half alone while Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards added 14 with 7 rebounds and 3 assists.
Reuben Te Rangi paced the loss with 15 points, leading three other Kiwis with double figure outings.
READ: Thanks to PBA cousin Chris, Paolo Banchero all set for World Cup stint in Manila
READ: From small-town boy to crowd darling: USA’s Austin Reaves feels ‘special’ in Manila
READ: USA’s Anthony Edwards excited for Greece matchup after rousing World Cup debut
FIBA | FINAL:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 26, 2023
All-NBA USA team lives up to its billing as it dominates New Zealand in its 2023 FIBA World Cup opener at the Mall of Asia Arena, 99-72.
Paolo Banchero paces the Americans with 21 points.
📸 FIBA#FIBAWorldCup2023 pic.twitter.com/HiZxXn9DFi
FIBA | END OF 3Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 26, 2023
Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero drops 12 points in the third quarter as USA breaks away from New Zealand, 76-58. #FIBAWorldCup2023
FIBA | HALFTIME:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 26, 2023
Team USA creates separation from New Zealand with a 45-36 advantage at the half.
Anthony Edwards and Austin Reaves lead Team USA with 10 and 8 points, respectively. #FIBAWorldCup2023
FIBA | END OF 1Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 26, 2023
After trailing by 10 points early in the first quarter, Team USA comes alive for a slim 19-18 lead over New Zealand. #FIBAWorldCup2023
FIBA | HAPPENING NOW:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 26, 2023
It’s go time.
Team USA opens its 2023 FIBA World Cup campaign at the Mall of Asia Arena against New Zealand. #FIBAWorldCup2023
Preview
After a promising tune-up streak, Team USA is now finally in real World Cup action as it takes on New Zealand at 8:40 pm.
Anthony Edwards, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and many other NBA standouts are expected to flex their dominance from the get-go against the gritty Tall Blacks, bannered by Flynn Cameron and Isaac Fotu, among other usual core pieces.
SMART ARANETA COLISEUM
South Sudan vs Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico completed an overtime comeback over South Sudan, 101-96, after failing to wrap it up in regulation.
After the Puerto Ricans rallied to tie the game against the World Cup debutants, 81- 81, they missed a chance to win it earlier as Ismael Romero missed two free throws with three-tenths of a second left in the fourth quarter.
READ: Nerves? Just poor free throw skills, admits Puerto Rico’s Romero
Stephen Thompson Jr. dropped 21 points and 13 rebounds to lead six Puerto Ricans in double figures in the Group B match.
Carlik Jones paced the Sudanese with a game-high 38 points on top of 11 assists and 6 boards.
FIBA | FINAL:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 26, 2023
Puerto Rico makes up for its fourth quarter free-throw blunder, completes a 101-96 comeback win in overtime over World Cup debutant South Sudan.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/2RAwxXDMCN
FIBA | END OF REGULATION:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 26, 2023
Puerto Rico's Ismael Romero succumbs to nerves in the clutch, badly missing two free-throws with 0.3 seconds left as South Sudan hangs on for an 81-all tie.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | END OF 3Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 26, 2023
Puerto Rico threatens midway through the third quarter, but South Sudan recreates distance heading to the fourth, 67-60.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | HALFTIME:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 26, 2023
World Cup debutant South Sudan continues to play inspired basketball, now leading Puerto Rico by 10, 52-42.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
Preview
The Big Dome opens its doors today to its first two-game slate after a booming opening night at the Philippine Arena, with underdogs South Sudan and Puerto Rico tussling at 4 pm.
Although this is South Sudan’s first-ever World Cup berth, the rising basketball nation already has no shortage of NBA pedigree, starting from its top stars Wenyen Gabriel and Marial Shayok, to its coaching staff of former players: Royal Ivey and ex-All Star Luol Deng.
Puerto Rico, meanwhile, is no slouch despite not having New Orleans Pelicans scrapper Jose Alvarado, as it still has NBA role players leading the way in Tremont Waters and John Holland.
Serbia vs China
Serbia walked all over China in a rousing 42-point World Cup debut win, 105-63.
Bogdan Bogdanovic led the balanced attack with 14 points in 22 minutes, while Kyle Anderson disappointed in a scoreless Chinese federation debut on 0-of-9 shooting.
FIBA | WATCH:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 26, 2023
Serbian all-around guard Bogdan Bogdanovic satisfied with his team’s overall performance against China. #FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/9LbhOOTVp5
FIBA | FINAL:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 26, 2023
Serbia wrecks China in a 42-point blowout, 105-63.
Bogdan Bogdanovic leads the balanced attack with 14 points in 22 minutes.
Kyle Anderson has a debut to forget for China, meanwhile, with 0 points on 0-of-9 shooting in 26 minutes.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/ki6tx2wEHM
FIBA | END OF 3Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 26, 2023
Serbia is in cruise control over struggling China, 77-47.
Expected Chinese leader Kyle Anderson is still scoreless with 0-of-8 shooting in 20 minutes.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | HALFTIME:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 26, 2023
Serbia continues its rout of China, 55-34.
No Serbian is in double-digit scoring yet in a thoroughly balanced offensive showing.
Naturalized Chinese Kyle Anderson is still scoreless in 16 minutes.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
FIBA | END OF 1Q:
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 26, 2023
Amid a massive Chinese crowd at the Araneta Coliseum, Serbia breaks away early from China, 25-14.#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC
Preview
Capping off the double-header is an interesting 8 pm slugfest between Serbia and China led by NBA starters Bogdan Bogdanovic and Kyle Anderson, respectively.
Apart from the aforementioned leaders, the Nikola Jokic-less Serbians will also lean on the likes of Miami Heat prospect Nikola Jovic, Marko Guduric, Filip Petrusev, and Nikola Milutinov, while China banks hope on towering Zhuo Qi and Wang Zhelin.
OTHER RESULTS
Okinawa (Group F)
Georgia def. Cape Verde, 85-60. (Tornike Shengelia – 16 points, Goga Bitadze – 15 points, Kenneti Mendes – 11 points)
Slovenia def. Venezuela, 100-85. (Luka Doncic – 37 points, Mike Tobey – 21 points, Garly Sojo – 16 points)
Jakarta (Group G)
Brazil def. Iran, 100-59. (Bruno Caboclo – 16 points, Matin Aghajanpour – 11 points)
Spain def. Ivory Coast, 94-64. (Willy Hernangomez – 22 points, Bazoumana Kone – 10 points)
Please refresh this page for live updates. – Rappler.com
Add a comment
How does this make you feel?
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.