By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Ahmad Al Dwairi, known to the basketball world mostly by his Turkish name which is Ahmet Duverioglu, had his best game ever.
With 34 points and ten rebounds, Al Dwairi was more than impressive. But ultimately his performance was not enough as the Dominican Republic survived and got the 80-76 win in Group G.
“We made easy mistakes in defense, gave them some offensive rebounds,” admitted Al Dwairi. “We played a bad first quarter and that ultimately cost us”.
Jordan’ coach Joseph Stiebing added on the game of his center: “We wanted to pass his the ball early. His role for the national team is different compared to Fenerbahce, we need him to score and that was a great effort. In the fourth quarter, he was tired and the Dominicans adjusted to him putting two or three guys on him. I wanted to sub him, but with the game being so close I couldn’t”.
The Dominican Republic controlled the first half and built a 46-37 lead, but things changed in the second half with Jordan tying the score at 64 with six minutes left.
The Dominicans’ answer was a layup by Victor Liz and a dunk Gelvis Solano (68-64), but with less than two minutes left, Al Dwairi gave Jordan a 74-73 lead. Liz gave the lead back to his team with two free throws (75-74) and Luis Montero with a tip-in made the score 77-74 with 28 seconds left.
Naturalized guard Dar Tucker cut the lead to one (77-76) from the free throws line, Liz also made his pair (79-76). Jordan Al-Dasuqi tried to tie the game with a quick three, he missed and Luis Montero with two more free throws sealed the deal (80-76).
Liz with 15 points was the top scorer of the Dominicans who got also 12 by Eloy Vargas.
Photo credit: FIBA.basketball