By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Brazil got the crucial 102-94 win over New Zealand in the first game of Group F and started the FIBA World Cup on the right foot.
Leandro Barbosa with 22 points led a balanced offensive effort in a match which was decided during a four-minute span.
A run in the third quarter was all Brazil needed to prevail over New Zealand. It was a close contest with the “Tall Blacks” having a 58-57 lead in the 26th minute of the game, but three consecutive threes by Marquinhos, Barbosa and Alex Garcia sparked an impressive 21-4 run (78-62).
New Zealand coach Paul Henare admitted: “They made some big shots, they are veterans and we lost the momentum. We couldn’t get back after that”.
Meanwhile, Alex Garcia was out for ten days and managed to be back on time on the court, as Brazil coach Alexander Petrovic revealed: “I am happy for him. He didn’t practice for ten days and it’s the first day he stepped on the court”.
The partial score of the third period ended up being 28-12 in favor of Brazil, and the game was over, despite a close first half with both teams tied at 50. New Zealand couldn’t get into a striking distance in the time left and that four minutes proved to be the key for the result.
To be exact New Zealand cut Brazil’s lead to six points with 30 seconds left (98-92) by stopping the clock with fouls, but didn’t get any closer.
Corey Webster with 19 points and Isaac Fotu with 17 did their best, but ultimately the experience and the depth of Brazil proved to be a great asset.
“We have to forget the game and focus on the other opponents of our group because they have a totally different style of game”, said Petrovic.
Photo credit: FIBA.basketball