By MARK REY MONTEJO

Team USA head coach Steve Kerr knows the importance of bouncing back with a more competitive energy in the crucial phase of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Nursing a stinging 110-104 loss to Lithuania over the weekend, the fancied Americans regained their fangs by mauling Italy, 100-63, to barge into the semifinals last Tuesday, Sept. 5, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

“We lost the last game and you want to respond to the loss with competitive effort, that joy and competitiveness go hand in hand when you compete,” said Kerr.

So merciless were the Americans that three players turned in double-digit figures with Mikal Bridges pacing with 24 points, and Tyrese Haliburton and Austin Reaves chipping in 18 and 12 points, respectively.

“Play with that kind of force and energy, you get the ball moving like Tyrese was making things happen like Edwards also moving the ball early on,” the multiple NBA champion coach said.

““And it just becomes infectious and it becomes fun. It doesn't matter who scores or who gets the stats. It just becomes about the team and that's when the game is at its peak and when it's the most fun,” he added.

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, meanwhile, said they learned from their defensive lapses against Lithuania.

“We took a tough loss in the last game, felt like we didn’t play up to our standards on the defensive end, so we just want to come out and make a statement on defense and if we do that, it’s gonna propel our offense,” said Banchero, who registered eight points and five rebounds.

The United States inches closer to reclaiming lost glory when they face the winner between Germany and Latvia in the semis.

Its last title came in 2014, where it beat Serbia, 129-92.