By Utkan Şahin / info@eurohoops.net
The 2023 World Cup will begin on August 25th and will be a grand celebration for basketball fans all over the world.
The dull summer is over, the best international teams will face off in a few days and compete for the ultimate trophy. Following this basketball feast will be enjoyable yet challenging, as we will have multiple matches on the same day.
Eurohoops understanding the complexity of the mixed schedule and the difficulty of keeping up with every game has identified the top 10 crucial contests you shouldn’t miss in the first-round groups on your behalf.
Our focus was not only on the entertainment factor but also on the games that could potentially determine the fate of the groups and the tournament.
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If you’re ready, here are the ten matchups from the first-round groups that you shouldn’t miss
Dominican Republic – Philippines (Group A)
Match date and time: August 25th / 14:00 CET
In Group A, expecting Italy to lead the group is not an outrageous prediction, while Angola finishes at the bottom. Consequently, the battle for second place in the group will be between the Dominican Republic and the host country, the Philippines. Moreover, both teams will have an NBA star card in this fight.
While Karl-Anthony Towns returns to the national team after years, the Philippines will have their homegrown player, Jordan Clarkson, on the court. Watching the duel between these two on Friday will be truly enjoyable.
Frankly, Towns’ teammates have the upper hand. The players from the Dominican Republic have more experience and a higher level in the global basketball scene compared to their Filipino counterparts. Therefore, the favorite in the match is the Dominican Republic, but the Philippines is the host with passionate fans who truly love this sport. In a game where Clarkson is in form, the fiery supporters will undoubtedly give their full support for their team to win.
This is a critical match for the battle for second place… Towns or Clarkson? Which one will lead their country into the second-round group?
China – Puerto Rico (Group B)
Match date and time: August 30th / 14:00
In Group B, there’s a situation similar to Group A. Serbia is the clear favorite of the group. It would be surprising for many if they even face difficulty in any match within the group. South Sudan is an athletic team participating in the World Cup for the first time, but they lack experience at this level, making it hard to predict what they will do. As a result, the race for second place will probably be decided between Puerto Rico and China.
Under normal circumstances, Puerto Rico also seems to have the edge in this competition. Unfortunately, Jose Alvarado cannot join the tournament due to an injury, but the other players on their roster outweigh their Chinese counterparts. Moreover, despite losing to the United States significantly in preparation, they played good basketball until the last quarter.
In China, the preparation matches weren’t as impressive, but they are coming to this tournament with a significant addition of a naturalized player. Kyle Anderson, who has played in the NBA for years, was added to the roster as a naturalized player just before the World Cup. With the touch of Coach Aleksandar Djordjevic, can China pull off a surprise against Puerto Rico?
On August 30th, in the final match of the group, we will precisely see the answer to this question.
Greece – United States (Group C)
Match date and time: August 28th / 14:40
In Group C, we are anticipating a match between two major teams.
Greece and the United States may be unable to attend the tournament with their full squads, but both countries are significant contenders. No one expects these two nations to struggle against Jordan and New Zealand in the first-round groups. Therefore, the key match in this group will be the showdown between Greece and the United States.
This match will be a crucial test for both teams, especially after their prep game in Abu Dhabi and the second quarter in which Greece despite being shorthanded, was more than dangerous.
The United States hasn’t assembled a veteran team. Only two players from this year’s All-Star selections – Jaren Jackson and Anthony Edwards – are on the roster. None of the superstars have joined the team. Consequently, expectations for them are quite mixed. Many anticipate that, following their failure in 2019, the United States might again miss out on a medal in this tournament. Playing against a tough opponent like Greece, this match will be the first real test to show the United States and the world where they stand, whether they are contenders for a medal or not.
Greece, of course, comes with an unexpected roster. The country’s biggest star, Giannis Antetokounmpo, is absent. Additionally, Nick Calathes and Kostas Sloukas are also not joining the team. Despite these absences, we will get a glimpse in this match of whether they can manage to hold together at least in defense, and progress in the tournament. Regardless of the circumstances, Greece remains a savvy team. They will challenge the American team with their international basketball mentality.
Let’s see how the test for these two teams will unfold.