MANILA, Philippines — The United States suffocated a very clumsy and then resigned Italy on Tuesday in Manila (100-63) to resume their march forward at the Basketball World Cup after their loss to Lithuania and reach the last square.
The days go by and are not alike for “Team USA”, which will face Germany or Latvia in the semi-finals on Friday.
Defeated for the first time in the tournament on Sunday (110-104) by the Lithuanians after a false start (12-31 after the first quarter, 37-54 at the break), the Americans this time made a thunderous start to the match , enough to pass the obstacle of the quarters on which they had stumbled at the 2019 World Cup (defeat against France).
They inflicted, first with their five major and then with the second unit entering the relay quite early, an impressive physical pressure in defense on the Italians, forcing them to take a multitude of forced shots.
Result: 24-14 at the end of the first quarter then 46-24 at the break, where the Nazionale, who had nevertheless finished at the top of their group in the second round, posted an unworthy percentage of success in shooting (9-in -37 including 2-in-19 at 3 pts), his star player Simone Fontecchio in the lead (1-in-6 at long distance).
The match was folded even before the second half and Anthony Edwards, the leader of the United States before the quarter-finals, did not even need to score (0 pt in the first half, 3 in total), leaving the spotlight to Mikal Bridges (14 pts before half-time including 2-in-3 long distance, 24 in the end).
« Bank Ero »
The second period looked like a long slump for the Italians, forced to try to simply soften the final addition a little against “Team USA”, a willing lodger.
He also did the show to warm up the atmosphere of the Mall of Asia Arena, which is three-quarters full and often quiet except for roaring over hoops from darling Austin Reaves. Or on this “alley-oop” offered, at the very end of the third quarter, by Tyrese Haliburton to Paolo Banchero.
Banchero, accused by the Italian federation of having promised him to join the Italian team before choosing the United States, was entitled to his word of welcome from the handful of Azzurri supporters present.
They thus unfurled a banner bearing “Bank Ero”, a play on words between the surname and the supposed lure of the strong winger from Orlando. His journey continues, however.
Bogdan BogdanovicEarlier, Serbia and its elegant leader Bogdan Bogdanovic martyred Lithuania (87-68) to reach the last four.
For its first international semi-final since 2017 (silver at the Euro), it will face Slovenia or Canada on Friday, opposed on Wednesday.
Winners of the Americans on Sunday (110-104), the Lithuanians were overwhelmed by the Serbian collective, who entertained a Mall of Asia Arena only half full.
Penetrations, passes inside or to shift at long distance: Serbia, however deprived before the competition of its two key pieces, the leader Vasilije Micic (Oklahoma City) and the pivot Nikola Jokic (NBA champion with Denver), developed the full panoply of his basketball school.
A game sitting on a serious defense and sublimated by Bogdanovic, whose winning shot shortly after the quarter of an hour of play created a first gap (41-33, 17th).
The Baltics were definitely stunned after a 7-0 conceded at the start of the third quarter (62-48, 35th), before Filip Petrusev, with two arrows released from long distance, gave the score the appearance of a correction (82 -57, 34th).
Philadelphia’s future interior finished with 100% three-point success (3-for-3 for 17 pts, plus 6 rebounds) while Bogdanovic (Atlanta) finished top scorer (21 pts at 9-for-13 on shots and 3 passes).
The Hawks point guard dedicated the victory to his teammate Borisa Simanic, who left the group after losing a kidney after colliding with a South Sudanese in the first round.
“I was a little nervous yesterday (Monday), partly because I often lost against Lithuania in the youth teams. (Simanic) told us in a message: “guys I’m fine, don’t worry and win for me tonight”. He welded us together. This guy is amazing. This victory is for him,” Bogdanovic said at a press conference.
2023-09-05 13:14:06
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