2023-09-01 15:02:00
Puerto Rico won (102-97) following a huge battle this followingnoon once morest the Dominican Republic. Despite an XXL performance from Karl-Anthony Towns (39 points, 10 rebounds), the Puerto Ricans managed to resist to win in the money-time thanks to Tremont Waters, who released the match of his life (37 points, 11 assists and 7 rebounds).
While a lot of peepers were riveted on the duel between the Slovenians and the Australians, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic offered us a hell of a banger this followingnoon.
The match started very strong with a shot from bay C row 7 place 84 of the Manila Araneta Coliseum of Mr. Karl-Anthony Towns. The big cat was launched to lay a mixtape.
KAT from all the way across ocean ☄️#FIBAWC x #WinForDominicana ???????? pic.twitter.com/B0psT5NI1R
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 ???? (@FIBAWC) September 1, 2023
But the start of the game is totally to Puerto Rico’s advantage. Very solid defensively and applied in their offensive systems, the Puerto Ricans are slowly starting to take control of the game. Better, they even have up to 16 points ahead in the second quarter thanks to an incandescent Tremont Waters (14 points at halftime).
The Dominican coach – an unofficial voice-over of Trevor Phillips in GTA V – sends a big shout during a time-out. Visibly frightened by this soufflon, the Dominican Republic puts forward the march under the impetus of a big defense and a totally different physical investment. It’s 45-45 at the break, a small miracle for KAT and his friends.
The drive ????
The dunk ????#FIBAWC x #WinForDominicana ???????? pic.twitter.com/PIRLXhfuY4
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 ???? (@FIBAWC) September 1, 2023
The second half is a real duel between Karl-Anthony Towns (39 points) and Tremont Waters (37 points). The two men respond to each other as the match progresses. The Dominicans, rather skilful from the parking lot (11/28 on the meeting), take a small lead. We then say to ourselves that Puerto Rico, following having led by 16 points, will pick up to gently bow. WHAT SLAB. The guys arch their backs, tear each other off on all the balls and give the keys to the truck to Waters who keeps putting in it. Opposite, the big cat thinks that this damn Puerto Rican mouse is impossible to catch.
Then comes the money-time. 95-95, 40 seconds left to play, the ball is in Dominican hands. We play without KAT which has fixed two players, so we find a free space, but George Conditt (also excellent today with 18 points) sends a block of space on Victor Liz. In transition, John Holland sends a killer 3-point shot that makes the diff.
JOHN HOLLAND HITS THE CLUTCH THREE ????️#FIBAWC x #WinForPuertoRico ???????? pic.twitter.com/fPFgcgI20U
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 ???? (@FIBAWC) September 1, 2023
KAT has one last chance on a 3-point step-back but it won’t fall into it. What a good match from Puerto Rico who – following leading, being overtaken and martyred by Karl-Anthony Towns – found the resources to get a huge win. Tremendous feat.
In the balance sheet, the counters are reset to 0 in this pool I since everyone has three wins and one defeat. There will therefore be a 1/8th final on Sunday for each of the four teams (Serbia, Italy, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico):
Puerto Rico – Italy Serbia – Dominican Republic
The suspense is TOTAL.
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#Tremont #Waters #Puerto #Rico #crucify #Rep #Dominican