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Posts tagged as “Basketball”

Suns defeats Warriors behind Durant and Booker (123 – 115)

November 23, 2023

After winning their last game, Warriors got another loss from the Phoenix Suns lead by Kevin Durant, who scored a game high of 32 points with 8 rebs and 2 assists.

Warriors initially finished the 1 qtr with a 5 point lead but the Suns practically ended the game with a 37 – 16 run in the 2nd quarter. The Suns biggest lead was 23 points with just 7 mins remaining in the qtr. On the last 23 seconds of the 2nd qtr, Warriors received a total of 3 consecutive technical fouls from referee Scott Foster; a quick 2 by Chris Paul, after arguing about a foul he committed on Durant, this got Paul ejected from the game, then another technical foul on Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr for shouting at Foster after Paul’s ejection.

The Warriors tried to make a run in the 3rd qtr but ended up where they were in the 1st half, trailing by 16 points.

In the 4th Qtr, Warriors starter made another run but it made little to no difference, since all of the Warriors starters had a negative impact on the game. This is when things got interesting, with just 6 mins left in the game, Steve Kerr removed all his starters then put the Warriors’ bench; Saric, Kuminga, T. Jackson, C. Joseph and Brandin Podziemski. Warriors’ bench went on a 14 to 4 run, cutting the lead to a single digit on a Cory Joseph 8-foot pullup jump shot.

Golden State were able to cut the lead to just 6 points with enough time to steal the game but the Suns was able to hold on to their lead even after a Podziemski 3-point play that cut their lead to just 4 points. Steve Kerr later explained why he left the bench team remained and finished the game;

Aside from Durant, Booker had a double-double game with his 25 pts and 10 assists. Eric Gordon chipped-in 13 pts, 4 assists and 3 steals.

For the Warriors, this was Klay Thompson’s second game scoring a team high of 23 points but a liability no defence, while Curry who have been the bright spot for the Warriors was a non-factor in this game even though he had 16 points, he was 1-of-8 from the 3-point line and just 6-of-15 from the field.

The only Warriors take away from this game is that if needed their bench team can be a big help, specially when (and if) they reach the play-offs.

Warriors next game will be against the San Antonio Spurs, while the Suns will face the Memphis Grizzlies both games will be this Saturday, Nov. 25th.

Golden State Warriors Ends Losing Skid with a Win Over Rockets (121 – 116)

November 21, 2023
Golden State Warriors Ends Losing Skid with a Win Over Rockets (121 – 116)

The Golden State Warriors finally got their much needed win and stopped their 6-game losing streak with a hard-fought 121-116 victory over the Houston Rockets on Monday night at Chase Center. Stephen Curry, the league’s all-time leading 3-point shooter, led the Warriors with 32 points and five 3-pointers, extending his remarkable streak of making at least four 3-pointers in each of his first 13 games this season.

Klay Thompson, also finally broke out of his shoot slumped and had a big night for the Warriors, scoring 20 points on 5-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc and 7-16 from the field. Aside from Thompson, the Warriors got a lot of help specially from their starters, Andrew Wiggins scoring 12 pts and 7 rebs, then Chris Paul with his 15 points and 12 assists and add the 18 points of Dario Saric. The starter’s performance, particular that of Thompson was a welcome sight for the team, who have been relying on Curry to carry the scoring load.

The Rockets were led by Center Alperen Sengun, who scored 30 points. However, even if all the starters scored 10 or more points, their efforts were not enough to overcome the Warriors’ balanced attack and 48.8% shooting from beyond the arc.

The Warriors led by as many as 14 points in the second half, but the Rockets fought back to make it a close game in the fourth quarter. Curry, however, hit a clutch 3-pointer with 2:09 remaining to give the Warriors a 13-point cushion to secure the win.

The Houston Rockets will the struggling Grizzlies at home this Wednesday, while the Warriors will visit the Kevin Durant and the Suns on the 22nd of Nov.

Warriors loss to Thunder even after Curry returns, 130-123 in OT

November 19, 2023

OKC gave the Warriors their 6th straight loss, even though the Golden State Warriors got the services of Steph Curry back after missing two games because of a right knee sprain. Curry got the much needed help with Wiggins scoring 31 pts.

It was a close game in the 1st half then in the 2nd half, the Warriors played their signature 3rd qtr game, leading as much as 18 points, then the Thunder ended the qtr with a 24-8 run, cutting the Warriors lead to just 2 points.

It was then a close game in the 4th qtr until Andrew Wiggins made 24-foot three point jumper to give the Warriors a 3-point lead and with just 3 secs left in the game. Then to tie the game rookie Chet Holmgren beat the clock with his 25-foot three point shot, that setup by Josh Giddey.

In the overtime, the Warrior only managed to score 6 points, while the Thunder made 10 points, all by Shai Gilgeous Alexander, who lead OKC by scoring 40 points, 7 rebs and 6 assists. Aside from SGA, Four OKC players also scored double-digits points, Chet Holmgren scored 36 pts, 10 rebs, 5 assts with 2 steal and 2 blocks, followed by Jalen Williams contributing 22 pts, 6 rebs and 3 assists.

Warriors will host the red hot Rockets this Monday, while the OKC will visit the Trailblazers this on Sunday evening.

Timberwolves defeat Warriors two in a row after 3 players got ejected early in the game

November 15, 2023

Warriors guard Klay Thompson and Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels both got 2 technical fouls after getting into a shoving match, resulting in Thompson’s jersey being ripped. While Warriors’s Draymond Green got ejected after head locking Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert, from the same incident.

Warriors leading scorer, Steph Curry did not play after experiencing right knee soreness and still waiting for the MRI results.

Even though the Warriors was playing without their 3 veterans, they still dominate the game leading as much as 12 points in the 3rd quarter and Timberwolves only took control of the game in the last 6 mins of the 4th quarter, where Warriors committed crucial turner and a 33 points, 11 rebs and 2 assists game from Karl Anthony Towns, scoring 11 points in the 4th qtr, including the 3-points at 1:09, to give Minnesota the lead and the win.

Golden State Warriors leading scorer is rookie Brandin Podziemski with 23 pts, 7 rebs and 5 assits. Dario Saric helped with 21 pts, 4 assists and 4 rebs.

Together with KAT, Timberwolves got plenty of help from Anthony Edwards with his 2 pts, 4 rebs, 4 assists and 3 steals, and 13 pts and 8 assists from Mike Conley.

This will be the last game between the Warriors and the Timberwolves this year and the next time they face will be on March 25th, by then we already have a clear picture of the playoffs matchups.

Timberwolves will be going to Phoenix on Thursday, while the Warriors will be facing OKC for a back-to-back game this Friday (Nov 17th) and on Sunday (Nov. 19th).

NBA announces that San Francisco Bay Area will host the 74th NBA All-Star 2025

November 8, 2023

Good news to all basketball fans in the Bay Area, since NBA has officially announced that the 74th NBA All-Star 2025 will be in San Francisco Bay Area at Chase Center, home of the Golden State Warriors. This will be the first time that the NBA All Star will be held at Chase Center, which opened in 2019.

NBA All-Star on-court events will tip off on Friday, Feb. 14 at Chase Center with NBA Rising Stars, an annual showcase for top rookies and second-year NBA players. On Feb. 15, the fourth NBA HBCU Classic Presented by AT&T will feature men’s basketball programs from two historically Black colleges and universities followed by State Farm All-Star Saturday Night which will feature the Kia Skills Challenge, the STARRY 3-Point Contest and AT&T Slam Dunk. NBA All-Star 2025 will culminate with the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 16.

You can watch the video below as NBA Commissioner Adam Silver make the announcement.

The 73th NBA All-Star 2025 will be in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Bucks Star Giannis Antetokounmpo signs 3-years extension worth $186M

October 24, 2023

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has agreed on a three-year, $186 million contract extension with the team, announced on his social media accounts. The extension includes a player option for the 2027-2028 season. The deal will run through the duration of guard Damian Lillard’s contract and ends the possibility of him entering free agency in 2025. Bucks acquired Damian Lillard in a 3-team blockbuster trade this summer.

In a recent interview published on NY Times, Giannis said that we won’t sign any extension until he knows that the Bucks can continue to contend for a championship. This may have prompted the team to trade for Damian Lillard. Bucks as in a similar situation in 2020, where he signed a five-year, $228 million supermax extension, after the Bucks acquired Jrue Holiday from Pelicans. That same season, the Bucks became the NBA Champion, Giannis was named Finals MVP, after being awarded the regular season MVP and the Defensive Player of the Year award. Only two other player have ever won all 3 awards in the same season; Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon.

SBP and PBA release statement on the championship won by the Gilas Pilipinas Men’s Basketball Team at the 19th Asian Games

October 18, 2023

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) just released a joint statement regarding the gold medal that the Gilas Pilipinas Men’s Basketball Team won at the 19th Asian Games.

The statement is also a recognizes the work that Gilas Team Manager Alfrancis Chua and Gilas Deputy Team Manager Willie Marcial did to support the team while in tournament in Hangzhou, China. It also cite the “all-out support” of SBP Chairman Emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan and SMC President and CEO Ramon S. Ang, to the team, which resulted in bagging the GOLD medal for the nation and Filipino basketball fans after more than six (6) decades.

The statement appears to been release due to the controversies that Gilas Pilipinas Men’s Basketball Team have been experience after winning the Gold medal earlier this month. First, it was disclosed that a player as ‘Asking for the moon’ in order to join Gilas and then Justin Brownlee, testing positive for a substance linked to cannabis use.

PBA release the full schedule of 48th Season PBA Commissioner’s Cup

October 18, 2023

If you want to watch your favorite PBA team and/or stars, then you may want to checkout the full schedule of 48th Season PBA Commissioner’s Cup. The league just release the full schedule of the regular season with the venue.

You can checkout the full schedule from the embedded tweet by @PBAConnect;

Aside from the games in Metro Manila, there will also be provincial games like in Antipolo, Batangas, Quezon Province, Cagayan De Oro City and in Iloilo City. There will also be Christmas games which will be between SMB vs Phoenix LPG, for the first game, then Brgy Ginebra vs TNT for the second game.

NBA releases statement on Israel-Palestine conflict

October 10, 2023

In a very short message, NBA and NBPA issued a statement in support of Israel regarding its conflict with Palestine.

The NBA and NBPA mourn the horrific loss of life in Israel and condemn these acts of terrorism. We stand with the people of Israel and pray for peace for the entire region.

Israel declared war after “Gunmen from the Palestinian group Hamas rampaged through Israeli towns on Saturday, October 7, killing at least 250 Israelis and escaping with dozens of hostages in by far the deadliest day of violence in Israel since the Yom Kippur war 50 years ago.”

To know the history of the Israel-Palestine conflict you can checkout the sources below;

Joel Embiid to play for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics

October 8, 2023

Philadelphia 76ers and the NBA’s reigning MVP, Joel Embiid announced that he will play for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The announcement comes after talking to both Team USA executive director Grant Hill and the representatives from the French national team.

Joel Embiid who was born in Cameroon and holds both French and American citizenship, to which team he will be playing have been the talk/debate, since Team USA failed to bring home a medal in the last FIBA World Cup and the coming 2024 Paris Olympics. Embiid joins other NBA superstars like LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant who have expressed interest in playing for Team USA at the next year’s Olympics.

Gilas Pilipinas Stuns China to Advance to 19th Asian Games Finals (77 – 76)

October 5, 2023

Gilas Pilipinas stunned host China with a thrilling 77-76 come-from-behind victory in the semifinals of the 19th Asian Games men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China.

Gilas Pilipinas trailed by as many as 20 points in the third quarter, but they rallied back in spectacular fashion to steal the game. Justin Brownlee scored 17 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter to lead Gilas Pilipinas to victory.

China got off to a hot start, leading by as many as 12 points in the first quarter. Gilas Pilipinas kept pace in the second quarter, but China was able to build an 18 point lead at halftime.

China extended their lead to 20 points, 52-32, in the third quarter with 08:24 remaining, but Gilas Pilipinas refused to give up. They cut the lead to just 12 points entering the 4th. China responded by exchanging basket with Gilas but Justin Brownlee was just starting to heat up.

Gilas Pilipinas tighten their defense and limited China to just 14 pts in the qtr, while Gilas made 27 points, with Brownlee scoring 17 pts of those 27. China had a chance to win the game in the final seconds, but ZHANG Zhenlin missed his jumper before the time expires.

Brownlee was the hero for Gilas Pilipinas in this game, scoring 33 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, and dished out 4 assists. He was also perfect from beyond the arc, making all 5 of this three-pointers.

Scottie Thompson also had a big game for Gilas Pilipinas. He finished with 13 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. Junmar Fajardo and Jaymar Perez both added 8 points with 4 and 5 rebounds, respectively.

Rui Zhao led the scoring for China with 18 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists.

With the win, Gilas Pilipinas advances to the final of the Asian Games for the first time since 1990. They will face Jordan in the final on Friday, October 6, 2023.

The Scores

  • Philippines 77 – J. Brownlee 33, S. Thompson 13, J. Fajardo 8, J. Perez 8, L. Alas 5, C. Newsome 4, C. Oftana 4, A. Kouame 2, C. Ross 0, M. Lassiter 0, J. Aguilar 0.
  • China 76 – Zhao R. 18, Hu M. 10, Zhu 10, Wang 10, Zhao J. 9, Hu J. 8, Du 6, Zhang 4, Cui 1, Cheng 0.

Quarters: 17-19, 30-48, 50-62, 77-76.

Gilas Pilipinas advances to semifinals of the 19th Asian Games by beating Iran (84 – 83)

October 3, 2023

Gilas Pilipinas advance to semifinals of the 19th Asian Games after a thrilling game against Iran (84-83) in the quarterfinals of the 19th Asian Games men’s basketball tournament on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at the Zhegiang University Zijingang Stadium in Hangzhou, China.

The last time that Philippines qualified for the semifinals of the Asian Games was in 2002, that’s 21 years ago. This was during the 2002 Busan Asian Games, the Men’s Philippine team are just a few seconds away from clinching the game and for a Finals berth at the Asian Games,, Olsen Racela missed two freethrows, that could have sealed the game but South Korea’s Lee Sang-min won the game for S.Korean with his buzzer-beating three (69-68).

Justin Brownlee led the scoring for Gilas Pilipinas with 36 points, 8 rebs and 4 assists. Brownless also got a much needed rest in their game against Qatar. Junmar Fajardo is the second leading scorer for Gilas making 18 pts, 8 rebs and 4 assists. Scottie Thompson added 11 points and 6 rebounds.

Iran on the other hand was lead by Mohammadsina Vahedi with his 24 pts, then followed by Navid Rezaeifar who chipped in 14 pts, 2 rebs and 7 assists.

Gilas Pilipinas got off to a strong start, leading as many as 9 points in the opener and ending the quarter with a 6 pts lead (28-22). Gilas ended the first half on a strong note by limiting the Iranians to just 14 2nd-qtr points and ending the first half with a 12 point cushion. In the second half, Gilas lead by as many as 21 points in the third quarter, 62-41, with 5:39 remaining the 3rd, and by 17 at the start of the fourth qtr, 71-54.

But in the final period, the Iranian almost made the comeback of the tournament by cutting the lead to just 3 pts, 72-75, with 5:18 left in the game and took the lead, 81-80, with 1:33 remaining in the game. But Junmar Fajardo grabbed a offensive rebound after Calvin Oftana missed a three-point shot, then making a 2 pts put back, to give the Philippine team a 1 point lead, 82-81. Navid Rezaeifar quickly regain the lead back with his 2 pts drive to the basket (82-83), with 01:02 remaining in the game. This is when Brownlee made his clutch jumper with 44 secs remaining that eventually sealed the game for the Philippine team (84-83).

The win will land Gilas in the final 4 of the 19th Asian Games and they will face China in the semifinals for a shot at a medal at 8 pm on Wednesday, October 4th.

The Scores;

  • Philippines 84 – Brownlee 36, Fajardo 18, Thompson 11, Oftana 7, Perez 6, Kouame 4, Newsome 2, Alas 0, Tolentino 0, Aguilar 0.
  • Iran 83 – Vahedi 24, Rezaeifar 14, Mirzaeitalarposhti 12, Aghajanpour 11, Girgoorian 8, Mashayekhi 6, Kazemi 6, Pazirofteh 2, Shahrian Nasl 0, Gholizadeh Tousarani 0, Torabi 0.

Quarters: 28-22, 48-36, 71-54, 84-83.

Gilas Pilipinas cruises to 19th Asian Games Quarterfinals with its 39-points win over Qatar (80-41)

October 2, 2023

Gilas Pilipinas defeated Qatar 85-70 in the qualification round of the 19th Asian Games men’s basketball tournament on October 2, 2023 at the Zhegiang University Zijingang Stadium in Hangzhou, China.

With the win, Gilas Pilipinas advances to the quarterfinals of the 19th Asian Games, where they will face Iran this Tuesday, 3rd of October at the Zhejiang University Zijingang Gymnasium.

Junemar fajardo and Jaymar Perez lead the balance attack of Gilas with 12 points apiece with 3 rebs and 4 rebs, respectively. Perez also dished out 3 assists and 3 steals. Calvin Oftana also helped with his 11 points and 2 steals, while Justin Brownless and Japeth Aguilar both contributed 9 points and a total of 8 rebs.

Nedim Muslic was the lone brightspot for Qatar making 12 points, 7 rebs and 2 assists. No other Qatar players scored more 7 points the whole game.

Gilas Pilipinas got off to a hot start, leading by as many as 19 points in the first qtr and then limiting the opposing team to just 9 points in the 2nd qtr to build a 34 point lead by the end of 1st half. Qatar tried to make a run but scoring only 7 points in the 3rd qtr did helped and Gilas lead ballooned to 43 points, that technically ended the game.

The Scores;

  • Philippines 80 – Fajardo 12, Perez 12, Oftana 11, Brownlee 9, Aguilar 9, Kouame 8, Alas 8, Tolentino 6, Thompson 3, Newsome 2, Ross 0, Lassiter 0.
  • Qatar 41 – Muslic 12, Ndoye 7, Ndao 5, Mousa 5, Lashin 4, Haracic 3, Advic 2, Dieng 2, Darwish 1, Talla 0, Hajar 0, Abdelbaset 0.

Quarters: 33-14, 57-23, 73-30, 80-41.

Jrue Holiday traded to Boston Celtics

October 2, 2023

All-Star guard and NBA Champion Jrue Holiday has been traded to the Boston Celtics. The trade took place just less than a week after the Bucks sent Holiday to Portland that got them Daim Lillard.

In the trade, Portland TrailBlazers will receive Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams, 2024 1st-round pick (via Warriors) and an 2029 unprotected 1st-round pick (via Celtics), while the Celtics will get Jrue Holiday.

The trade signals that the Blazers are indeed in rebuilding phase with a mix of youth and veteran, which will accelerate the development of the Blazer’s young core headed by Scoot Henderson, the third overall pick in this year’s draft.

Jrue Holiday on the Celtics will make the team a contender in the East, together with teh Bucks, he’e perfect with Brown and Tatum, since he is a two-way guard that can facilitate, create his own shot and can play off ball, and also his championship experience which will surely be a big help for the Boston Celtics in the Playoffs.

The projected starting lineup of the Boston Celtics will be;

  • Guard: Derrick White
  • Guard: Jrue Holiday
  • Forward: Jason Tatum
  • Forward: Jalen Brown
  • Center: Kristap Pozingis/Al Horford

Jordan hands Gilas Pilipinas first loss in the 19th Asian Games Men’s Basketball (62 – 87)

October 1, 2023

Gilas Pilipinas suffered a disappointing 87-62 loss to Jordan in their final group stage match of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China on September 30, 2023.

Jordan had already qualified for the quarterfinals before the game, but they still came out strong and took a 29-42 lead at halftime. Gilas Pilipinas tried to mount a comeback in the third quarter, but Jordan outscored them 28-10 in the final period to seal the victory.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led Jordan with 24 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. Fadi Mustafa also helped with 17 pts and 5 assists. Justin Brownlee was the leading scorer for Gilas Pilipinas with 24 points, 3 assists and 1 steal. Aside from Scottie Thompson who made 11 pts and 11 rebounds, no other Gilas players scored more than 10 points in the game.

The loss to Jordan means that Gilas Pilipinas will have to go through the qualification round to reach the quarterfinals. They will face Qatar in the qualification match on October 2, 2023.

The Scores:

  • Gilas Pilipinas (62) – Brownlee 24, Thompson 11, Aguilar 8, Fajardo 8, Perez 5, Kouame 4, Lassiter 2, Newsome 0, Oftana 0, Ross 0, Tolentino 0.
  • Jordan (87) – Hollis-Jefferson 24, Mustafa 17, Bzai 12, Al Dwairi 10, Bohannon 10, Hussein 7, Al Hamarsheh 5, Al Hendi 2, Al Hammouri Abbaas 0, Qarmash 0.

Quarter scores: 16-13, 42-29, 59-52, 87-62

Damian Lillard traded to Milwaukee Bucks as part of a 3-team deal

September 28, 2023

After months of waiting, we finally know where “Former Blazer” is headed, since the Portland Trailblazer traded Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks, as part of a 3-team trade also involving Phoenix and Portland. Bucks already release an official statement regarding the trade.

In the trade,
Bucks will received;

  • Damian Lillard

Trail Blazers will received;

  • Jrue Holiday
  • Deandre Ayton
  • Toumani Camara
  • 2029 unprotected 1st round pick (from MIL)
  • Unprotected MIL swap rights in 2028 and 2030

Suns will received;

  • Jusuf Nurkic
  • Grayson Allen
  • Nassir Little
  • Keon Johnson

The trade will surely make Bucks the favorite to win it all this year and will give Giannis Antetokounmpo that much needed help in the Playoffs, it also give Deandre Ayton a new home after being unhappy with the Suns for the past couple of years. As for the Suns, it will give them the much needed body and supporting cast for Durant and Booker to contend in the West.

Source: NBA

Gilas Pilipinas Overpowers Thailand in 19th Asian Games Men’s Basketball, Now up 2-0 in the Standings (87 – 72)

September 28, 2023

The Philippine men’s national basketball team, Gilas Pilipinas, defeated Thailand 87-72 in their second group stage match of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China on September 28, 2023.

Thailand had a good start leading as much as 10 pts with just 1:12 remaining in the period but Gilas went on a run to cut the lead to just 2 pts by the end of first quarter. They continued to dominate in the second quarter, specially in the defense, outscoring Thailand 21 to 13 to extend their lead to 41-35 at halftime.

Gilas Pilipinas continued their onslaught to build a 18 points lead in the third quarter, and despite the late run by Thailand, Gilas cruised to an easy victory in the end.

Justin Brownlee once again lead the team with 19 pts, 11 rebs with 3 assists and 4 steals. He was also 4-of-9 shooting from behind the arc. CJ Perez added 16 points, 7 rebs, 4 assist and 3 steals. Junmar Fajardo chipped in 9 pts, 6 rebs, with 2 assists and 1 block.

Thailand was led by Tyler Lamb and Frederick Lee Jones List, scoring 29 pts and 22 pts, respectively. No other Thailand player scored more than 6 pts, and the team only played 7 players.

This was Gilas Pilipinas’ second win in the Asian Games group stage and will look to finish the group stage undefeated when they face Jordan, who is also undefeated for an outright quarterfinal berth. The game against Jordan will on Saturday, Sept. 30th at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium.

The Scores:

  • Philippines 87 – Brownlee 22, Perez 16, Fajardo 9, Oftana 8, Thompson 7, Aguilar 6, Kouame 5, Newsome 5, Alas 3, Tolentino 3, Lassiter 3, Ross 0.
  • Thailand 72 – Lamb 29, Lish 22, Muangboon 6, Morgan 5, Jakrawan 4, Klahan 4, Klaewnarong 2, Towaroj 0, Boonserm 0, Jaisanuk 0.

Quarters: 20-22, 41-35, 68-50, 87-72.

Gilas Pilipinas routs Defeats Bahrain to Start Asian Games Campaign (89 – 61)

September 26, 2023

The Gilas Pilipinas got their Asian Games 2023 campaign off to a winning start, beating Bahrain 89-61 in their first Preliminary Round Group C match. Angelo Kouame and CJ Perez had 15 points each as the Gilas Pilipinas launched their 19th Asian Games tournament with a convincing victory over Round Group C rivals, Bahrain, at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium.

The Philippines started the game strong, taking a 10-6 lead in the first few minutes. Bahrain fought back to tie the game at 13-13, but the Philippines responded to take a 22-18 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Philippines continued to dominate in the second quarter, extending their lead to 32-22 with still 07:19 remaining. The Philippines led by as many as 28 points in the third quarter, and they cruised to an easy victory in the end.

Justin Brownlee lead the Philippines with 20 points, 9 rebs and 3 assists. Brownlee got a lot of help from Kouame and Perez who both contributed 15 points, and Calvin Oftana, also chipped in 10 points, 3 rebs and 3 assists.

Bahrain was led by Maitham Jameel A. Mahdi Almoathin, who had 14 points, and Mustafa Husain Ali Ahmed Rashed, who had 13 points.

As a team, Gilas grabbed 52 rebs against Bahrain’s 38 rebounds, and Gilas are 33.33% in the three-point line, while Bahrain are 31.5%. Bahrain was also hurt in field goal column making only 19 of 64, while Gilas is 30 of 65, which 46% FG.

The Philippines’ victory over Bahrain is a good start to their Asian Games campaign. They will now look to build on this momentum when they face Thailand this 28th of Sept. at the Zhejiang University Zijingang Gymnasium.

The Scores:

  • Philippines (89) – Brownlee 20, Perez 15, Kouame 15, Oftana 10, Fajardo 8, Lassiter 8, Thompson 5, Newsome 3, Alas 2, Aguilar 2, Ross 1, Tolentino 0.
  • Bahrain (61) – Almoathin14, Rashed M. 13, Rashed A. 12, Buallay 8, Melad 6, Chism 5, Hamoda 3, Alhaddad 0, Alhassan 0, Kadhem 0, Hasan 0.

Quarter scores: 22-18, 51-33, 72-47, 89-61.

Adidas unveil first signature shoes of Anthony Edwards, the AE1

September 25, 2023

After unveiling the logo, Adidas just introduced the first signature shoes of Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards called the AE1. Anthony “Ant-Man” Edwards, is one of the rising star in the NBA, and fresh off the FIBA World Cup 2023, the European Sports sportswear company has unveil Ant’s first signature shoes, which they aptly calling AE1. The shoe was unveiled on September 23, 2023, in Atlanta, Edwards’ hometown.

The AE1 is a performance basketball shoe that is designed to match Edwards’ playing style. The shoe features a lightweight and breathable knit upper with TPU overlays for added support. The AE1 is equipped with a BOOST cushioning system and directional herringbone blades throughout the tread to provide optimal performance on the court. The outsole features a herringbone traction pattern for optimal grip on the court.

The shoe itself boasts a unique grate-type/honeycomb design and will be available in Timberwolves-themed colorways, including a “Georgia Peach” colorway that pays homage to Edwards’ home state. The shoe also features Edwards’ signature logo, which is a combination of the letters “A” and “E” in a forward and backward motion.

The AE1 is scheduled to be released in December 2023. It is a highly anticipated shoe among basketball fans and sneakerheads alike, as Edwards is one of the most exciting young players in the NBA. AE1 will retail for $120.

LA Tenorio now Cancer Free and hints for a basketball comeback

September 20, 2023

Lewis Alfred “LA” Vasquez Tenorio, the veteran point guard for the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), announced on Wednesday that he is cancer free.

Tenorio, who was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in March 2023, underwent surgery and chemotherapy. He missed the remainder of the 2022-23 PBA season, including the Gin Kings’ run to the Governors’ Cup finals, where they lost to TNT.

In a statement, Tenorio thanked his family, friends, teammates, coaches, and fans for their support during his battle with cancer.

Sept. 19, 2023, as I step out of my doctor’s clinic with my wife, and as my nurse pulls out my chemo line plugged into my heart for 6 months, I am writing this message to everyone.

For those who were my prayer warriors, for those who showed me so much love and support…Know that, I am forever grateful to all of you.

My scan and last test results show no trace of cancer and that the treatment was effective. I now in remission. Praise God!

Tenorio is a 17-year veteran of the PBA. He has won eight championships with Ginebra, including three Governors’ Cups. He is also a four-time Finals MVP. In the same statement, Tenorio said that he will have a basketball comeback.

Now I am returning to basketball for my love of the game. This time with a higher purpose. Not as the old LA, but hopefully with the new and better version of myself. I hope I can help inspire people through the game of basketball – that life, winning battles, winning championships are all more meaningful not because of the end goal but because of the journey.

Its unclear if LA will be suiting up for Ginebra as a player or part of the coaching staff and when, but regardless of the position, LA Tenorio’s return will be a major boost for Ginebra, which is looking to win its third consecutive Governors’ Cup title in 2023-24.

Full list of 48th PBA Draft

September 19, 2023

Missed the 48th PBA Draft last Sunday in Market Market, below is the full list of 2023 PBA Rookie Draft where 79 players have been drafted and 45 to go undrafted. As great as crop of players in this year’s draft, it missed some of the popular players who are playing in overseas like Kai Sotto, Kobe Paras and Rhenz Abando.

Nonetheless, here’s the list in order;

First round

  1. Stephen Holt – Terrafirma
  2. Christian David – Blackwater
  3. Luis Villegas – Rain or Shine
  4. Keith Datu – Rain or Shine
  5. Zavier Lucero – NorthPort
  6. Kenneth Tuffin – Phoenix
  7. Richard Rodger- NLEX
  8. Brandon Bates – Meralco
  9. Schonny Winston – Converge
  10. BJ Andrade – Converge
  11. Cade Flores – NorthPort
  12. Taylor James Miller – Terrafirma

Second round

  1. Kemark Cariño – Terrafirma
  2. Bryan Santos – Converge
  3. Henry Galinato – Rain or Shine
  4. Raffy Verano – Phoenix
  5. Ricci Rivero – Phoenix
  6. Enoch Valdez – NLEX
  7. John Louisse delos Santos – Converge
  8. James Kwukuteye – Blackwater
  9. JM Nermal – NLEX
  10. Louie Sangalang – Terrafirma
  11. Ralph Cu – Barangay Ginebra
  12. Adrian Nocum – Rain or Shine

Third round

  1. JB Bahio – Terrafirma
  2. Clifford Jopia – Blackwater
  3. Sherwin Concepcion – Rain or Shine
  4. Matthew Daves – Phoenix
  5. Brent Paraiso – Northport
  6. Dominick Fajardo – NLEX
  7. Inand Val Fornilos – Converge
  8. Jolo Mendoza – Meralco
  9. Pass – TNT
  10. Patrick Maagdenberg – Magnolia
  11. Kim Aurin – Barangay Ginebra
  12. John Toy Mallillin – San Miguel Beer

Fourth round

  1. Tommy Olivario – Terrafirma
  2. Archie Concepcion – Blackwater
  3. JC Cullar – Rain or Shine
  4. John Lloyd Clemente – Phoenix
  5. Fran Yu – Northport
  6. Francis Guissani – NLEX
  7. King Caralipio – Converge
  8. Zach Huang – Meralco
  9. Pass – TNT
  10. Rey Anthony Peralta – Magnolia
  11. Franz Abuda – Barangay Ginebra
  12. Jayson Apolonio – San Miguel Beer

Fifth round

  1. Damie Cuntapay – Terrafirma
  2. Dariel Bayla – Blackwater
  3. Larry Arpia Jr. – Rain or Shine
  4. Daniel Atienza – Phoenix
  5. John Amores – Northport
  6. Lorenzo Navarro – NLEX
  7. Rhinwil Yambing – Converge
  8. Jessie Sumoda Jr. – Meralco
  9. Pass – TNT
  10. Warren Bonifacio – Magnolia
  11. Brandrey Bienes – Barangay Ginebra
  12. Ichie Altamirano – San Miguel Beer

Sixth round

  1. Kenneth Villapando – Terrafirma
  2. Pass – Blackwater
  3. Pass – Rain or Shine
  4. Joe Gomez de Liaño – Phoenix
  5. Jan Sobrevega – Northport
  6. Pass – NLEX
  7. Kamron Vigan-Fleming – Converge
  8. Shean Jackson – Meralco
  9. Pass- TNT
  10. Christian Buñag – Magnolia
  11. Pass – Barangay Ginebra
  12. John Gob – San Miguel Beer

Seventh round

  1. Jeric Pido – Terrafirma
  2. Pass – Blackwater
  3. Pass – Rain or Shine
  4. Theo Flores – Phoenix
  5. Ian Herrera – Northport
  6. Pass – NLEX
  7. Raymond Vinuya – Converge
  8. Pass – Meralco
  9. Pass – TNT
  10. Pass – Magnolia
  11. Pass – Barangay Ginebra
  12. Jayvee dela Cruz – San Miguel Beer

Eighth round

  1. Enrique Caunan – Terrafirma
  2. Pass – Blackwater
  3. Pass – Rain or Shine
  4. Pass – Phoenix
  5. Junel Bauzon – Northport
  6. Pass – NLEX
  7. Jeffrey Garcia – Converge
  8. Pass – Meralco
  9. Pass – TNT
  10. Pass – Magnolia
  11. Pass – Barangay Ginebra
  12. Jamel Ramos – San Miguel Beer

Nineth round

  1. Pass – Terrafirma
  2. Pass – Blackwater
  3. Pass – Rain or Shine
  4. Pass – Phoenix
  5. Joemari Lacastesantos – Northport
  6. Pass – NLEX
  7. Andree Flores – Converge
  8. Pass – Meralco
  9. Pass – TNT
  10. Pass – Magnolia
  11. Pass – Barangay Ginebra
  12. Kyt Jimenez – San Miguel Beer

Tenth round

  1. Pass – Terrafirma
  2. Pass – Blackwater
  3. Pass – Rain or Shine
  4. Pass – Phoenix
  5. Nikko Paranada – Northport
  6. Pass – NLEX
  7. Jonathan del Rosario – Converge
  8. Pass – Meralco
  9. Pass – TNT
  10. Pass – Magnolia
  11. Pass – Barangay Ginebra
  12. Pass – San Miguel Beer

Eleventh round

  1. Pass – Terrafirma
  2. Pass – Blackwater
  3. Pass – Rain or Shine
  4. Pass – Phoenix
  5. Regie Boy Basibas – Northport
  6. Pass – NLEX
  7. Pass – Converge
  8. Pass – Meralco
  9. Pass – TNT
  10. Pass – Magnolia
  11. Pass – Barangay Ginebra
  12. Pass – San Miguel Beer

12th round – All teams passed in this round

Source: @pbaofficial

Philippines now in the 38th place in latest FIBA World Ranking Men

September 17, 2023

The Philippines (Gilas Pilipinas) moved up two places to number 38 in the latest FIBA World Ranking Men, which was released on September 10th, 2023. This despite a disappointing campaign in the recently concluded 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Gilas Pilipinas finished the World Cup with a 1-4 record, defeating only China in their final game. However, their win was enough to push them up two spots in the rankings and earn a spot in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) or the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

The Philippines is now the eighth-best ranked team in the Asia-Pacific region, behind Australia (4th), New Zealand (21th), Japan (26th), Iran (27th), Lebanon (28th), and China (29th).

You can checkout the full rankings here. To know how the ranking is determine, you can checkout the HOW IT WORKS.

The improvement in the rankings is a sign that Gilas Pilipinas is on the right track. The team has a young and talented core, and they are gaining experience in major international competitions. With the 2024 Paris Olympics just around the corner, Gilas Pilipinas will be looking to continue their improvement and qualify for the Games for the first time since 1972.

Official List of Applicants for the 48th Season PBA Draft

September 17, 2023

Today is the big day for all PBA hopefuls, the 48th Season PBA Draft is considered as one of the deepest draft pool with 124 applicants locally and internationally.

Terrafirma, Blackwater, Rain or Shine and Northport are the teams that will be choose the top 5 picks.

Below are the official list of applicants for the 48th Season PBA Draft;

The 48th Season PBA Draft will be at the Market! Market! in Taguig at 4 pm on Sunday, September 17th.

The 13-man Roster of Gilas Pilipinas for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China

September 11, 2023
The 13-man Roster of Gilas Pilipinas for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China

These are the 13-man Roster of Gilas Pilipinas who will compete for the Men’s Basketball of the 19th Asian Games;

  1. Calvin Abueva
  2. Terrence Romeo
  3. June Mar Fajardo
  4. Scottie Thompson
  5. Roger Pogoy
  6. Japeth Aguilar
  7. Justin Brownlee
  8. Ange Kouame
  9. Stanley Pringle
  10. Chris Newsome
  11. Calvin Oftana
  12. Jason Perkins
  13. Mo Tautuaa

Gilas is included in Group C with Jordan, Bahrain and Thailand.

Gilas Pilipinas new Head Coach will be Tim Cone, with Richard del Rosario, Jong Uichico, LA Tenorio, and Josh Reyes as his assistant coaches.

The 5×5 basketball of the 19th Asian Games will be held in Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium, Zhejiang University Zijingang Gymnasium and Shaoxing Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium from September 26 to October 6, and the final in Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium, where the athletes will compete for 2 gold medals.

Final Standings of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023

September 11, 2023

After 16 days and 92 games, below are the final standings of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023;

  1. Germany (qualified for Paris 2024 as the best-ranked team from Europe, FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Champions)
  2. Serbia (qualified for Paris 2024 as one of the top two ranked teams from Europe)
  3. Canada (qualified for Paris 2024 as the best-ranked team from Americas)
  4. USA (qualified for Paris 2024 as one of the top two ranked teams from Americas)
  5. Latvia (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  6. Lithuania (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  7. Slovenia(qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  8. Italy (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  9. Spain (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  10. Australia (qualified for Paris 2024 as the best-ranked team from Oceania)
  11. Montenegro (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  12. Puerto Rico (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  13. Brazil (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  14. Dominican Republic (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  15. Greece (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  16. Georgia (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  17. South Sudan (qualified for Paris 2024 as the best-ranked team from Africa)
  18. France (qualified for Paris 2024 as hosts)
  19. Japan (qualified for Paris 2024 as the best-ranked team from Asia)
  20. Egypt (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  21. Finland (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  22. New Zealand (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  23. Lebanon (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  24. Philippines (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  25. Mexico (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  26. Angola (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  27. Cote d’Ivoire (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  28. Cape Verde
  29. China
  30. Venezuela
  31. Iran
  32. Jordan

Gilas will still have a chance to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics but it will a much harder path than winning in the FIBA Basketball World Cup. Germany defeated Serbia 83-77 in the final to win their first-ever FIBA Basketball World Cup title. Canada defeated the United States 127-118 in overtime to win the bronze medal.

With democratization of Basketball, it appears that United States is no longer the basketball powerhouse it used to be, the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 tournament proved that and Noah Lyles’s statement regarding being the “World Champion” may have been justified.

The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 was a thrilling tournament, with many memorable moments. Germany’s victory was a major upset, but they played a near-perfect game and deserved to win. Congratulations to Germany on their first-ever FIBA Basketball World Cup title!

Germany Makes History, Wins First-Ever FIBA World Cup 2023 Title

September 11, 2023

Germany made history on Sunday, September 10, 2023, by defeating Serbia 83-77 to win the FIBA World Cup 2023 in Manila, Philippines. It was Germany’s first-ever title in the tournament, and it came after a thrilling and hard-fought game against an undermanned but tough Serbian team.

The game was close throughout, with neither team able to pull away until mid-3rd qtr. Germany led by as many as five points early in the third quarter, but Serbia tied the game at 51 with 6:52 to play in the quarter. The two teams traded baskets down the stretch but the Germans started pull away and eventually built a 12-pts lead with a 13-2 run in the third quarter in front of 12,022 fans at the Mall of Asia Arena.

That’s when Dennis Schroder and Franz Wagner took over for Germany. The duo scored 47 of Germany’s 83 points, including the final two free-throw of Schroder that basically sealed the game for the team. Schroder finished with 28 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal, while Franz Wagner scored 19 points, 7 rebs, 2 assist and 4 steals.

Germany’s victory was a major upset, as Serbia was the defending champion and had been the top-ranked team in the world for most of the year. However, Germany played a near-perfect game, shooting 49.1% from the field and 31.8% from three-point range. The Germans also outrebounded Serbia 35-29 and outscored Serbia’s bench 46-15.

The victory is a major step forward for German basketball. The team has been steadily improving in recent years, and this victory is a sign that they are a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.

The victory also caps a remarkable year for Germany. After placing 3rd place in the 2022 EuroBasket, and they are now the reigning world champions. Germany is quickly becoming one of the top basketball teams in the world, and they will be a force to be reckoned with in future tournaments.

Team USA falls to Canada for the 3rd Place of the FIBA World Cup 2023

September 10, 2023

Canada made history at the FIBA World Cup 2023 by winning its first-ever medal at the tournament, defeating USA 127-118 in overtime in the third-place game on Sunday in Manila, Philippines.

As expected between two NBA laden team, it was a roller coaster game that had 14 lead changes, 12-0 scoring run by the Americans and 8-0 by the Canadians, and it was punctuated by Mikal Bridges at the end of the 4th qtr; he missed 2nd free-throw on purpose, got the rebound, then hits corner 3 with 0.6 seconds left to extend the game to over time. In the OT, the Canadians had other plans, since they outscored Team USA, 16 to 7 to secure the bronze medal.

The Canadians, who had never finished higher than sixth in the World Cup, protected a 2-point lead at the start of OT and outscored the Americans 7-16.

Dillon Brooks was the hero for Canada, scoring a game-high 39 points on 12-of-18 shooting, including 7-of-8 from the 3-point line. He also added four rebounds, five assists, a steals and a couple of blocks in a stellar performance.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was equally impressive, adding 31 points, twelve assists and six rebounds. He scored nine of Canada’s 16 points in overtime, including an assist to RJ Barrett for a a clutch 3-pointer that gave them a 115 – 124 lead with 0:23 secs left.

Canada also got contributions from Kelly Olynyk (11 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists), Luguentz Dort (11 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists) and Dwight Powell (4 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists).

Team Highlights

USA, meanwhile, will go home without a medal for the FIBA World Cup 2023. Team USA has not won a medal in the World Cup since 2014, that featured a roster lead by Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Derrick Rose, Kyrie Irving, James Harden and Anthony Davis.

Six players of Team USA had double digits points; Mikal Bridges with 19 pts, 9 rebs, 2 steals and 4 assists, Anthony Edwards led the team with 24 pts and 5 rebs, then there’s Austin Reaves who contributed 23 pts, 5 rebs, an assists and a steal, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Bobby Portis Jr. also made big contributions scoring 13 pts, 10 pts and 14 pts respectively.

Despite the loss, Team USA, already qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in France and we can expect that the team will have totally different roster.

FIBA World Cup 2023 Finals Bracket is Set

September 9, 2023

With Germany’s win, this is the Finals Bracket for the FIBA World Cup 2023;

Finals will be between Germany and Serbia, while the battle for 3rd will be between USA and Canada. Serbia defeated Canada (95 – 86), Bogdan Bogdanavic is the best player in the game with 23 pts, 4 rebs, 3 assists and 3 steals. For Canada, it was RJ Barrett with 23 pts and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 15 pts and 9 assists.

As for the USA – Germany team (113 – 111), Anthony is the U.S. top scorer with 23 points and 8 rebounds, followed by Austin Reaves with 21 pts. For the Germans, Franz Wagner added 22 points for Germany, and Andreas Obst led all scorers with 24 points.

Both USA and Canada are the favorites to face in the finals but it looks like their European counterpart have other plans.

FIBA World Cup 2023 Finals will on Sunday, Sept. 10th at the MOA Arena.

Finals
Serbia vs Germany – 16:30 local time

3rd Place game
USA vs Canada – 20:40 local time.

Germany upsets Team USA in FIBA World Cup 2023 Semifinal (113 – 111)

September 9, 2023

The United States men’s basketball team was stunned by Germany in the semifinals of the FIBA World Cup on Friday night, losing 113-111. The loss is a major upset, as the US was the overwhelming favorite to win the tournament.

The US got off to a slow start, trailing by as many as 10 points in the first half. However, they rallied to take a 60-59 lead into halftime. Germany came out strong in the third quarter, outscoring the US 35-24 to take a 94-84 lead. The US made a late comeback attempt, but they could not get any closer than 106 -108.

Anthony Edwards led the way for the US with 23 points and 8 rebounds, followed by Austin Reaves with 21 pts. For the Germans, Franz Wagner added 22 points for Germany, and Andreas Obst led all scorers with 24 points. Dennis Schroder, who have been best player in the roster, chipped-in 17 pts and 9 assists.

The loss is a major disappointment for the US, who have won the World Cup four times in the past five tournaments. It is also a setback for the development of the US men’s basketball program, which has been struggling in recent years.

The US will now play Canada in the bronze medal game on Sunday. Germany will play Serbia in the championship game.

Here’s the latest bracket for the Semis of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023

September 7, 2023
Here’s the latest bracket for the Semis of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023

Now that Quarter-Finals (QF) is done and we have now have a clear picture on who will compete for the semifinals of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 and which is worth watching.

Team USA versus the Germans
The game will be this Friday, 8th of Sept at the MOA arena. Team USA advanced to the Semis after defeating ITALY in the most convincing manner (100 – 63). The Americans needed a strong win against the Italians after being handed by their only loss in the tournament by Lithuania. On the other side, Germany barely escape Latvia in the QF but remain to the one of the few undefeated team in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.

Dennis Schroder and Franz Wagner, who are both NBA veterans, are the top performers of the team on points, rebounds and assists.

For Team USA, their top performers are Anthony Edwards, Mikal Bridges and Tyrese Haliburton and we cannot disregard the fact anyone in the team can explode and carry team to the finals, just like what Mikal Bridges did against Italy in the QF, where in scored a team high of 24 points and 6 rebounds.

Serbia versus Canada
The game will this Friday, 8th of Sept 16:45 local time at the MOA Arena. Serbia took care of the business by eliminating Lithuania and bringing them back down from cloud 9, after defeating USA in the last game of the second round.

Bogdan Bogdanovic and Nikola Milutinov are the top performer of Serbia. Bogdanovic is the top scorer in their game against Lithuania, chipping-in 21 pts with 4 rebs, while Nikola Milutinov is the towering presence in the middle and top rounder of the team.

For team Canada, we may very well call this Team B of NBA in FIBA, since 7 of the 12 players in the roster are playing in the NBA. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the best player, leading in all stats; 25 pts/game, 7.2 rebs/game and 5 assists per game.

The winners for each game will face in the finals, while the two losing team will play for the 3rd place. Finals of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 is scheduled on Saturday, Sept 10th at the MOA Arena.