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FIBAWC Day #3, our daily recap with a special watch on Euroleague players. France eliminated while Italy is facing big troubles after a terrible loss.
Day #3 in the #FIBAWC with surprises and verdicts after a quiet Day #2.
ITALY v DOMINICAN REP. 82-87 (gr.A)
The second straight awful basketball game played by Italy is this time lethal.
The “azzurri” disaster started from the bench, with 3 big T in 17′ minutes and Coach Pozzecco sent back to the locker room.
No strategy and bad faces from Italy in front of a team that simply did what they had to do and well deserved the win, led by the usual KAT (24+11) and showing an impressive Andres Feliz (7/10 from downtown) alongside with another good game by Montero. The Badalona guard definitely deserves a Eurolegaue chance as he showed so many times during the season.
Italy started 12-0 with 7’08” in the first, then the dominican run was 77-48 until the 60-77 with 5’08” left in the game: frankly speaking a bit unbelievable for the italians to go down 29 points in 27’44”!
Italy 3 points shooting once again terrible: 12/60 in two games after today 7/29, when most of the baskets arrived when the game was over.
Nothing significant from EL players in italian squad, just some very rare positive moments.
Now Dominincan Republic just need to defeat Angola to win the group and advance to a second stage where a single win, probably versus China, Puertorico or South Sudan, could secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
AUSTRALIA v GERMANY 82-85 (gr. E)
A very good basketball game with a very bad and somehow unacceptable officiating, something that FIBA has to solve after the multiple disasters we could see in 2022 Eurobasket.
Outstanding winning effort by Dennis Schroeder (30 and 8 assists) to lead the Franz Wagner-less germans that now are strongly eyeing the first spot in the group.
Great performance by Maodo Lo, the Olimpia Milan newcomer, who scored 20 points with 4/4 in 2s and 4/8 in 3s, with a a fundamental (and lucky, yes…) basket from downtown hitting the board in the clutch.
Big hustle for Germany, with all EL players bringing something to the team, starting from Voigtmann, perfect from the field, dishing 4 assists and grabbing 6 rebounds.
Patty Mills (21+5+6) in the first part of the game and Josh Giddey (17 pts) in the last were not enough for the “aussies”.
Terrible calls by the refs in the crucial moments. Too many things unclear, useless calls and a possible bad mistake on the last possession. Too much for a World Cup.
Germany is qualified for the second round while Australia will face Japan in a decisive match on tuesday.
MONTENEGRO – EGYPT 89-74 (gr.D)
Easy win by the Balkan team that led wire to wire, except a couple of initial meaningless egyptian advantages, without any particular issue.
Another 5 point performance by Marko Simonovic, nothing special for the only EL players on the court.
LEBANON v CANADA 73-128 (gr.H)
A “no game” that does not show the best face os a World Cup. Developing basketball all over the world is a good program but these kind of teams cannot compete right now and this is something to correct.
61 point margin was the maximum lead by the north Americans who had 9 players in double digits and 2 with 9 and 6 points. Luguentz Dort didn’t play.
PHILIPINES v ANGOLA 70-80 (gr.A)
Better start from the “gilas” then Angola came back strong for a 36-33 lead.
Not exactly the game a basketball lover likes but it was a fight to survive for the possible second stage qualification.
Angola deserved the win controlling the game in the second half and imposing its physicality. As we knew, no EL players in the game.
All chance still open for the 4 teams in group A: tuesday will be decisive.
JAPAN v FINLAND 98-88 (gr.E)
First quarter was all about the japanese (22-15) but then Finland started to play its ball and exploded for a 31-14 second quarter, making it to the locker room with a 10 points lead.
Finnish advantage confirmed after 30′ (it was +18 with 2’46” in the third) then… impossible is nothing in basketball. A 35-15 last quarter granted the W to Japan, led by Hawkinson 28 and Kawamura 25, who score the 2+1 to overtake the rivals 79-78 with 4’35” to play.
27+12 for Markkanen who was left alone by his teammates. After a very good Eurobasket 22 we could expect something far better from this team.
LITHUANIA v MEXICO 96-66 (gr. D)
No problem for Lithuania that closed the first half up by 19 (53-34).
Great first half by Rokas Jokubaitis,: 12 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists, usual good contribution by Valanciunas (15+12).
Quiet and positive night for the other 3 EL guys Dimsa, Brazdeikis and Sederkeskis.
Second half was a simple practice towards the final +30 for Maksvytis team that will play Montenegro for the first spot in the group , with the two teams yet qualified for the second stage.
LATVIA v FRANCE 88-86 (gr.H)
It was a “do or die” for both teams: Latvia did it, France died.
The biggest surprise of the WC so far sees the Eurobasket 22 silver medal eliminated by a great squad perfectly coached by Luca Banchi.
No fear for the Porzingis-less baltics that wanted to stay in the game until the last 5 minutes and then play their cards: perfectly executed plan and a well deserved qualification to the second stage.
France had the opportunity to close the game so many times but “les bleus”are actually a team with a bad organization, based only on Fournier and definitely unable to involve Gobert (1 filed gol attempt tonight).
Yabusele started well then disappeared in the clutch, Tarpey was really positive but , as always, forgot on the bench by Collet, De Colo did a disaster (sent off) that is not expected with his experience, Francisco was good for some moments but he was not the guy supposed to take the most responsibilities, Fall in a few minutes could make a terrible defensive play (3+1), Lessort as confused as he was versus Canada, while Okobo, Cordinier and Ouattara were not any kind of factor.
On the winning side Roland Smits confirmed how he is definitely the most underrated great player in the actual EL: 8/10 from the field and perfect lectures in any moment of his 30’42” game. Zagars (2000 born) was wonderful too but Latvia simply showed what it means to be a team.
So France is eliminated while the latvian will play for the leadership of the group against Canada and will advance to the second phase where they will find most probably Brazil and Spain.
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