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FIBAWC Day #4, Euroleague watch: USA rolling, Luka simply "magic" and impressive #LaFamilia

alberto marzagalia /

FIBAWC Day #4, our daily recap with a special watch on Euroleague players. Fabulous basketball by USA and Spain. Then it's all about Luka...

Day #3 in the #FIBAWC was somehow resounding, while Day #4 was all about great teams and great players.

CHINA - SOUTH SUDAN 69-89 (gr. B)

Great night for the africans that grabbed an important win keeping second round hopes alive after the controversial loss to Puertorico in the first game.

The africans led for 37'21" in the game dominating till the end.

Another great performance by Carlik Jones (21 and 6) was as decisive as the 34-28 in the rebound contention.

The future of South Sudan now depends more on China's game versus Puertorico more than on an unpredictable and almost impossible win facing Serbia.

VENEZUELA v CAPO VERDE 75-81 (gr. F)

Capo Verde made history through a great comeback from 13 down at halftime and placed the first ever W in the first trip to a World Cup.

Winning the boards battle (46-36) was crucial and the contribution of Walter Tavares was huge with 14 rebounds grabbed. The Real Madrid centre struggled once again from the field: after 2/7 in the opening game, he went 1/4 versus Venezuela.

MVP was Betinho Gomes with 22 points. The player we could see fighting for Trento from 2016 to 2019, actually 38, had a great performance from the arc shooting 4/7.

NEW ZEALAND - JORDAN 95-87 OT (gr. C)

A 39 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists "Kobe-like" performance was not enough for Jordan since the "Tall Blacks" prevailed in OT.

A 3+1 by the Pennsylvania native with 6 years of NBA experience sent the game to OT but New Zealand was more solid with 5 players in double digits led by Izaya Le'afa 23 points.

While Jordan is eliminated, facing USA on wednesday, NZ will play a "win or go home" game versus Greece.

IVORY COAST v IRAN 71-69 (gr. G)

2 FT by Solo Diabate with 6" on the game clock secured the W to Ivory Coast in a tough game with 6 lead changes.

With really a few hopes left for both teams in a group where Spain and Brazil are far, far better, the africans took advantage of too many turnovers by Iran in the last quarter.

MVP was Nisre Zouzoua: 17 points and some clutch basket.

GEORGIA v SLOVENIA 67-88 (gr. F)

Another outstanding show by Luka Doncic gave Slovenia the second win in a row.

Luka "Magic" exploded in 34 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists to lead his team to the second phase waiting for the last game versus Capo Verde that will most probably not show any particular issue.

17-16 georgian after the first, then Slovenia took control of the game and finally extended the margin to over 20 points.

Toko Shengelia was not as effective as in the first game (9+4+4 anyway) while Mamukelashvili was the best on the court for his team with 21 points.

Klemen Prepelic was a factor for the slovenians, converting almost perfectly, while Mike Tobey kept on being positive but inaccurate in 3s (0/3).

PUERTORICO v SERBIA 77-94 (gr. B)

Game over after 10 minutes (27-15) and 30 points lead for Serbia at halftime.

Balanced effort by all the serbian players : talking about EL players, Dobric kept on unusually struggling from the arc (0/4 and 0/8 combined in 2 games), Marinkovic wasn't that inspired (5pts) as well as Davidovac (2pts), Guduric guaranteed the usual leadership, while Milutinov (12 + 15 boards) and Avramovic (15 pts) were basic part in the win.

Sure Pesic didn't like the 13 point loss in the second 20 minutes, but this team is improving its basketball still waiting for the best Bogdanovic. And this is not a great news for the future opponents.

Puertorico keeps his hopes alive: defeating China (not impossible...) on wednesday the second stage will be secured.

GREECE v USA 81-109 (gr. C)

USA was definitely too much for Greece.

After a balanced first quarter, the NBA players made some key play to extend their lead to 13 points (50-37) at halftime. Then they never looked back and closed the game with a large margin of 28 points.

In a bunch of EL players for Greece, the best things came from Papagiannis and Rogkavopoulos, who scored respectively 17 and 14 points.

US one was a real team effort, with all the players on the court in double digits minutes, except Kessler, used only for 5'46". The more they play the more they show efficiency and adaptability to FIBA basketball: bad news for any kind of opponent.

Greece will now face New Zealand on Wednesday in a must win game eyeing the second phase.

SPAIN v BRAZIL 96-78 (gr. G)

High quality basketball for both teams.

Spain emerged as the best with a great last quarter: the score was still closed after 30' with the defending champs up by 5.

It was an impressive performance by #LaFamilia, a real team where everybody brought positive things. The mix of veterans and youngsters look like a real show with high level ball on both sides of the court. Scariolo coaching at his best.

Juan Nunez was the MVP. The 2004 born scored 13 points, adding 7 rebounds and 5 assist. After two games he is averaging 8+6+6,5 in the first major event in his career. Santi Aldama, older but only 2001 born, was outstanding too.

As about EL players, Yago dos Santos was very good on Brazil's side, playing ball at a somehow unstoppable tempo. Great game by Caboclo too. In the spanish team almost all EL profiles did it well: Rudy and Sergi always leading the way, both Hernangomez a constant threat, Abrines and Claver with crucial stops on the defensive end. Only Joel Parra played just a few minutes.

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