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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Eyes on Team USA

Eyes on Team USA

Published Aug 24, 2023 02:29 am

At A Glance

  • Team USA may be taking a much less experienced squad to the Philippines for its World Cup campaign this year, but all eyes remain on the five-time tournament champion favorites when it faces New Zealand in Pool C on Saturday, Aug. 26, at the MOA Arena. 
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Groups C and D are all set to excite Manila in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. 

 

The Mall of Asia in Pasay City is the eventual place to be for all 32 participating nations as it is where the Final Phase of the tournament, from the quarterfinals to the championship, will also be played. 

 

Team USA may be taking a much less experienced squad to the Philippines for its World Cup campaign this year, but all eyes remain on the five-time tournament champion favorites when it faces New Zealand in Pool C on Saturday, Aug. 26, at the MOA Arena. 

 

The last time the Americans saw action in the basketball showpiece in China 2019, they registered their worst finish in 18 of their previous international competitions with a full squad of NBA players which makes the choice of lineup interesting and experimental to some extent.

 

While some members of the roster had previous experience on the junior level and aren't necessarily the youngest US group to play in the quadrennial meet, none of the players have the caliber of the expected senior level including Orlando Magic's Paolo Banchero, who was last year's No. 1 pick in the Draft and the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year. 

 

Putting the next generation of roster together, US head coach Steve Kerr is hoping that the gamble on Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Brandon Ingram of the New Orleans Pelicans and Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies will pay off.  

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The Americans take on Greece next sans Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo on Monday, Aug. 28 before wrapping up the pool play against the underdogs Jordan two days later. 

 

The two-time MVP Antetokounmpo begged off from duty for his native Greece and took to social media to announce that he is not physically fit yet to play after recovering from knee injury. 
 

 

Taking over for the Greeks, though, is Thanis Antetokounmpo, Giannis' older brother and the only current NBA player in the roster. 

 

Interestingly, Greece is the one opening the hostilities in Group C against Jordan on Saturday, Aug. 26 just before the US and New Zealand tussle. 

 

But the pivotal game should take place when the Greeks face the Kiwis on Wednesday, Aug. 30 in a similar schedule they had in 2019. 

 

In China, it took a huge Antetokounmpo double-double in the Pool F to help Greece reach the Sweet 16 after forging a 103-97 victory over New Zealand when they arrived at the final group play with identical 1-1 records. 

 

Meanwhile, entering its third World Cup stint, Jordan is staring at an uphill climb in the preliminary phase with its combined 1-9 record from its 2010 and 2019 appearances. 

 

Though numbers are clearly not on their side, Jordan is steadily shaping up to be a tough challenge in the world stage. 

 

With 12 medals to its name, Team USA have got some company on the hunt for its 13th podium finish. 

 

In the Pool D action, Lithuania continues to be branded as the favorites and redemption begins for them against the group's underdogs Egypt on Friday, Aug. 25.

 

The Lithuanians failed to reach the quarterfinals of the 2019 edition and will be without Sacramento Kings star Domantas Sabonis in the 15-man lineup which Pelicans' big man Jonas Valanciunas will be leading to stage a big run and be among the top sixteen of the world. 

 

But standings in Lithuania's way are Mexico and Montenegro, which will be playing for the pivotal match for a spot in the second round. 

 

Both teams have taken huge strides in international competitions in recent years, with the Mexicans even beating the Americans three times over the last five years. 

 

In search of magic, it's been almost three decades for the Egyptians since they won their first World Cup game, and the drought has made them the underdogs of not just the group phase but the whole tournament.



 

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