HISTORIC WIN. South Sudan players do a group hug in celebration of their first FIBA World Cup win against China at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Monday (Aug. 28, 2023). South Sudan can advance to the next round if they beat Serbia on Wednesday night. (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)
MANILA – South Sudan finally notched a win in the FIBA World Cup, romping China, 89-69, on Monday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
South Sudan's hot streak from three-point range outweighed Kyle Anderson's bounce-back game for China as the African team kept its hopes of making the Round of 16 alive.
South Sudan surged ahead with a 22-14 lead at the end of the first quarter and eventually continued to pound China with its superb long-range shooting, finishing with 15 triples.
Carlik Jones led South Sudan with 21 points, two rebounds, and six assists, while Kuany Ngor added 16 points, one rebound, four assists, and two steals.
South Sudan can advance to the next round if they beat Serbia on Wednesday night.
Anderson, recovering from his scoreless debut against Serbia, led China with 22 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block.
New Zealand escapes despite Hollis-Jefferson's explosion
Over at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson's heroics were not enough to lift Jordan past New Zealand as the latter escaped in overtime, 95-87.
The former TNT Tropang Giga import fired 39 points including a crucial four-point play that sent the game to overtime.
However, New Zealand's hot three-point shooting, in which the team shot 13-of-25 from 22 feet out, was still enough to hold on against Jordan.
Izayah Le'Afa led New Zealand with 23 points, five rebounds, five assists, and three steals, while Shea Ili added 15 points, 10 assists, and two steals.
Hollis-Jefferson also tallied nine rebounds, four assists, and two steals for Jordan, while Freddy Ibrahim put up 22 points, nine assists, five rebounds, and three steals, and Ahmad Dwairi put up 19 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks. (PNA)
