Italy, Montenegro, Australia open World Cup with lopsided wins

By Ivan Stewart Saldajeno

August 25, 2023, 8:30 pm

<div class="xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs x126k92a">
<div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><strong>FOR THE WIN.</strong> <span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto">President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. wishes Team Philippines good luck prior to the opening tip-off of the FIBA Basketball World Cup at Philippine Arena, in Bocaue, Bulacan on Friday (Aug. 25, 2023). The Philippines and Dominican Republic were playing as of posting time. <em>(PNA photo by Rey Baniquet)</em></span></div>
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FOR THE WIN. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. wishes Team Philippines good luck prior to the opening tip-off of the FIBA Basketball World Cup at Philippine Arena, in Bocaue, Bulacan on Friday (Aug. 25, 2023). The Philippines and Dominican Republic were playing as of posting time. (PNA photo by Rey Baniquet)

BOCAUE, Bulacan – Italy leaned on a strong final quarter to keep Angola at bay en route to a lopsided 81-67 win at the start of the Philippine leg of the FIBA World Cup on Friday night at the Philippine Arena here.

In front of 21,214 fans who arrived ahead of Gilas Pilipinas' home stand against the Karl-Anthony Towns-led Dominican Republic, the Italians pulled away in the final period behind National Basketball Association player Simone Fontecchio who scored 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting.

The Utah Jazz small forward also had five rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block.

Stefano Tonut added 18 points, one rebound, and two assists.

Childe Dundao paced Angola with 19 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals.

In other matches, Nikola Vucevic fired 27 points to power Montenegro past Mexico, 91-71, at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City; Josh Giddey debut in the World Cup with 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists to lead Australia against Finland, 98-72, at Japan’s Okinawa Arena; and Latvia beats Lebanon, 109-70, at the Indonesia Arena.

The 20-year-old Giddey became the first player in the 21st century to have more than 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in a first World Cup game since LeBron James in 2006. (PNA)

 

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