MADRID, 29 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Canadian team closed its participation in the first phase of Mundobasket 2023 on Tuesday, which is taking place in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia, with a comfortable victory (101-75) against the other team that arrived undefeated in Group H, Latvia, while Germany also defeated Finland with authority (101-75) in Group E, confirming itself as one of the strongest teams in the tournament.
Jordi Fernández’s team came out doubtful against a Latvia with nothing to lose that ended the first quarter with a 10-point lead. But the American team woke up in the second set, adjusting in defense and with a more fluid attack, which allowed them to go to the locker room with only one point on the mattress.
In the second half, the distance grew as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander unleashed with an excellent performance (27 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists) that collapsed the Latvians. The point guard continues to establish himself as the most decisive player so far in the World Cup, with the support of RJ Barrett, who scored 22 points.
On the other hand, Germany closed its immaculate first phase with an overwhelming victory against a Finland that, after being the revelation of the last Eurobasket, leaves the World Cup without knowing victory. Again without their star Franz Wagner, the Germans showed a very choral game, with 10 players over 10 points, highlighting Isaac Bonga and Dennis Schroder, both with 15.
GROUP A: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC REMAINS UNDEFEATED AND ITALY RECOVERS
The Dominican Republic is confirmed as one of the surprises of the championship and ends the first phase with a full of victories, after beating the Angolan team with some trouble (75-67). Once again, the most outstanding player was Joventut point guard Andrés Feliz who, after his performance against Italy, scored 17 points against the Africans.
After the controversial defeat against the Dominican Republic, the Italians needed a victory against the Philippines to certify their advance and they achieved it, but with more suffering than expected (90-83). A good Simone Fontecchio commanded a transalpine team in which up to six players had double-digit scoring, disabling the accurate performance of Jordan Clarkson (23 points and 7 rebounds) against the hosts.
The Dominicans and Italians will face each other in the second round against Group B, where Serbia is classified and, with one game remaining, Puerto Rico has to beat China and hope that the Serbs do the same against South Sudan.
GROUP D: LITHUANIA DOMINATES THE UNDEFEATED DUEL and EGYPT SAYS GOODBYE CRUSHING
In the confrontation between undefeated teams, the Lithuanians were far superior (91-71) to a faded Montenegro that was not able to show the success of its two previous appearances. In the Balkans, the Chicago Bulls player Nikola Vucevic, with 19 points, was the only one who put the Lithuanian defense in trouble, a team that used an inspired Rokas Jokubaitis who led the ship with 19 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists, to certify the first position.
The Egyptian team was stronger in the duel against Mexico (100-72), two teams that did not know victory. The Africans overwhelmed the South American team, led by Ehab Amin Saleh (22 points, 10 assists and 6 rebounds). In the Mexicans, Francisco Cruz and Joshu Ibarra left until they were 21, but it was not enough to avoid being the red lantern of the group.
The Montenegrins and Lithuanians now have to fight against the great favourite, the United States, which, with one game remaining, has already secured its place as first, while Greece and New Zealand will play against each other for the last place.
GROUP E: AUSTRALIA DEVANS JAPAN AND STILL ALIVE
In an eliminatory duel, the Oceanicians had no problems beating the Japanese team (109-89), in an excellent offensive performance led by NBA players Josh Giddey (26 points) and Xavier Cooks (24 and 16 rebounds), who put the game from the start and allowed Brian Goorjian to rest his stars. In Japan, Josh Hawkinson was the best with 33 points, but it did not serve to bring his team closer to the ‘boomers’.
In the second phase, the Germans, now with Wagner back, and the Australians, will come across Group F, in which Slovenia is already classified and Georgia has to beat Venezuela to secure its place and fight to advance to the quarterfinals. final.
GROUP H: FRANCE SUFFERS TO ACHIEVE THE VICTORY OF HONOR LEBANON
After the surprising defeat against Latvia, which left them out of the tournament, the French team had the option of saving their honor against the weak Lebanon, but Vicent Collet’s team suffered much more than expected to achieve their first and only victory in this World Cup (85-79).
The Europeans fell by one point before the last period, largely thanks to the performance of the Lebanese point guard Wael Arakji (29 points), but in the last quarter the figure of Real Madrid player Guerschon Yabusele emerged. He used his physique and his intensity to go up to 18 points and put his team ahead until closing the match with a six-point lead.
Canada and Latvia now cross the path of Spain, which after securing its pass with the victory against Brazil, has to overcome Iran this Wednesday to face this second phase with a cushion, in which the Brazilians will play against Costa de Ivory complete the group.