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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Nikola Vucevic says tune-up game vs Gilas helped Montenegro's preparations

Nikola Vucevic says tune-up game vs Gilas helped Montenegro's preparations

Published Aug 25, 2023 02:53 pm

At A Glance

  • Chicago Bulls star Nikola Vucevic credited Montenegro's strong preparations, which included a tune-up game against Gilas Pilipinas, for its winning start at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. 
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Chicago Bulls star Nikola Vucevic credited Montenegro’s strong preparations, which included a tune-up game against Gilas Pilipinas, for its winning start at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. 

image (37).jpg
 Nikola Vucevic (FIBA)

Montenegro opened its campaign with a dominant 91-71 rout of Mexico at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Friday, Aug. 25 and climbed early to the No. 2 spot behind Lithuania in Group D.

The Bulls center powered the Montenegrins with a double-double performance of 27 points and 10 rebounds as they pulled away for good in the second half. 

Likewise, Vucevic led Montenegro to a 102-87 victory over Gilas Pilipinas in a closed-door match that saw him drop 18 points and spoiled Jordan Clarkson’s 27-point explosion on a perfect 9-of-9 free throw shooting. 

“It’s always good to start with a win, it helps with confidence. First games, sometimes are the most important ones. The way our schedule is, playing Mexico and Egypt. You wanna be the favorite of the group, you know, the three of us, the rest are kind of trying to fight for the second spot. So, it’s important for us to start off with a win and it’s much easier moving forward. Mentally, to prepare when you know a win already instead of [dealing] with a loss,” said Vucevic. 

“You know, our last [tune-up] game against the Philippines helped us in preparing. But I just thought we had a really good month of practices and a lot of games, and everything. And that got us to this point and we are able to come here ready and play a very good first game,” he added. 

Not only was it Montenegro’s second World Cup stint as a nation, but also its maiden win at the tournament, only this time, it was determined to make it count. 

While Montenegro is basking in the historic win, the Philippines fell short in a separate clash against the Dominican Republic in front of a record home crowd of 38,115 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan to drop its opening pool play. 

The Filipinos absorbed their first loss while the Dominicans joined Italy atop the group A standings.

 

 

 

 

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gilas pilipinas 2023 FIBA World Cup
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