By Eurohoops Team/info@eurohoops.net
Poland defeated Ivory Coast to finish the first stage of the World Cup with a 3-0 record and win first place in Group A. in the country’s its first appearance in the tournament after 52 years.
Adam Waczynski scored 16 points and dished out six assists for Poland while Damian Kulig added 14 points and seven rebounds. Mateusz Ponitka posted 12 points and four rebounds.
“This is such a team to root for because of the personalities and characters involved. They are selfless, they give up so much for each other. These guys are demonstrating what a team should be. I can’t wait for the next challenges ahead against Russia and Argentina,” Poland coach Mike Taylor said in the post-game presser.
Charles Abouo dropped a game-high 23 points plus six boards and Deon Thompson contributed 18 points and eight rebounds to Ivory Coast. Their team completed this round of the tournament with a winless track.
“We had a lapse in the third quarter when we didn’t have the intensity and Poland took the game from us. We didn’t sustain the intensity required to compete in this level,” Abouo said.
Poland was the dominant team down the stretch by keeping its opponents to just four points in the first five minutes of the final quarter. This defensive effort helped Mike Taylor’s players to get a decisive 12-point lead, 53 – 65 in the mid of the period.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL