Latvia, Dominican Republic, Italy, Montenegro and Lithuania also started with victory
MADRID, 25 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Canada, Australia and Germany presented their credentials in the 2023 Basketball World Cup this Friday, after overwhelming France, Finland and Japan respectively, on the opening day of the competition that will be held until September 10 in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines .
In the second match of group H, the Canadian team, coached by the Spanish Jordi Fernández, faced France in the great match of the day, between two of the countries called to fight for the medals, and from the initial jump they he could appreciate the importance of mourning.
The French team started plugged in and scored the first seven match points. Although it didn’t take long for the Americans to enter the game, an excellent Evan Fournier, who scored 21 points, 19 of them in the first half, kept France in command. In the second quarter the forces were equalized, and the Canadians went three points up at halftime.
The third quarter was the blow to Canada’s game, which thanks to some defensive adjustments, implementing very intense all-court pressure and the success of a Shai Gilgeous Alexander at the MVP level (27 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists) left on the scoreboard, with a difference of more than twenty points that only increased in the last quarter until the final 95-65.
Meanwhile, Germany, another of the favorites to be in the final rounds, had no problems against one of the hosts in Group E. Orlando Magic center Mo Wagner was the most outstanding with 25 points and 9 rebounds in a game that began it was decided at the break, with the Europeans winning by 22 points, which allowed the German coach to rotate and save his best players.
Despite the fact that in the second half the level of the Asians rose and they were able to make up the result, the final 18 points of income showed the very good form of the German team.
AUSTRALIA ALSO WINS IN THE GROUP OF DEATH
The opening match faced Finland, one of the revelations of the past Eurobasket, and Australia, who after falling short of a medal in 2019, came to this edition with a similar block, but with important additions such as Josh Giddey.
The European team started better in the first quarter, with a successful Lauri Markkanen, who once again wants to show that he is one of the best players in FIBA basketball. The Finns finished the first quarter ahead, but halfway through the second they faded away. Australia connected to the game thanks to a very successful Patty Mills, which allowed them to go ahead at halftime.
In the third quarter the Australian dominance increased, Mills scored easily and they defended better and better, short-circuiting the Finnish attack, highly dependent on a Markkanen far from his best version. In the last quarter the lead increased and Australia finished with a 26-point lead, thanks to 25 from Mills and the young Josh Giddey, who was close to a triple double (14 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists).
After the great image shown in the preparation tournament in Granada, the Dominican Republic had the difficult task of starting their World Cup campaign against the host Philippines in Group A, and despite suffering more than expected, they were not surprised.
A great Karl Anthony Towns, with a ‘double double’ of 26 points and 10 rebounds, dominated both zones, and despite the fact that in the Philippines Jordan Clarkson put the team on his back with 28 points, it was not enough and the victory was to stop the Dominicans.
LITHUANIA FINDS NO RIVAL IN EGYPT
The always quarrelsome Lithuanian team was measured against one of the Cinderellas of the championship, Egypt, and made the forecasts good with a wide victory in Group D that shows that despite not having such a powerful team as in previous editions, they will continue to give what to talk
With Jonas Valanciunas dominating both sides of the court, with 15 points and 10 rebounds and the success of Margiris Normantas, who scored 18 points in just 18 minutes of play, the Europeans certified their first points in a group in which they are heavy favorites to go to the second phase and they will play with Montenegro for first place.
Meanwhile, the Italian team began its journey in Group A against the experienced Angolan team, always rocky in these events, as it showed from the beginning, with a physical defense and trying to play very fast, but the transalpines were not surprised and at with a good initial partial they finished ahead of the initial quarter.
In the second set, the Africans raised the level and guided by the success of the small point guard Childe Dundao, who finished with 19 points, cutting the lead, leaving it to just three points at halftime. After the return from the changing rooms, the Angolans continued to put up with the game of the Italians, led by Stefano Tonut, and with 10 minutes to go they only fell by four points.
In the last quarter, the figure of former Baskonia player Simone Fontecchio appeared, carrying his team on his back with his 19 points and extending the lead, leaving it at fourteen points with the end of the duel, more than the team deserved. Africans, who showed a very serious version.
MONTENEGRO BEATS MEXICO WITH SOLVENCY (91-71)
In the game that opened group D, Montenegro made good predictions against a weak Mexico in a duel that was only even in the first quarter. The Mexicans managed to stay even in the first quarter, but in the second the internal dominance of the Balkans, led by Nikola Vucevic tipped the balance.
The second part was the confirmation of the Montenegrin superiority, Vucevic couldn’t find anyone to stop him under the hoops, until he finished with 27 points and 10 rebounds, and with the help of Unicaja guard Kendrick Perry, who scored 16 goals, they confirmed the clear European victory, which will fight for the first place in the group against Lithuania.
In group H, Latvia, has managed to beat Lebanon, one of the weakest teams in the world, without excessive problems, in a match in which the Europeans went on the scoreboard from the start.
The performance of Real Betis guard Dairis Bertans, who scored 20 points, was crucial, the Lebanese couldn’t stop him and he only needed fifteen minutes to be the best in the game. In the Asian team Sergio El Darwich and Omari Spelmann was the only positive note, with 19 and 18 points respectively.
The Latvian dominance, a much more organized team against the weak rival defense was evident. Now the Europeans will look for a surprise against France and Canada to sneak into the second phase.