LC
Years ago
World Champs: Day 1 Recap
The 2010 World Championships for men are now underway and already there have been some good games, close escapes and a massive upset.
The big upsets were both in Group D, where France up-ended Spain and Lebanon finished over the top of Canada. Australia nearly joined the list of teams being upset, only scraping past lowly Jordan.
Here is how day 1 panned out...
Group A
- Australia defeated Jordan, 76-75
AUS: Maric 23, Andersen 22, Mills 10
JOR: Abbaas 20, Wright 16, Adais 11
The Boomers use their 'get out of jail for free' card in overcoming a plucky Jordan team.
- Serbia defeated Angola, 94-44
SRB: Rasic 22, Savanovic 13, Macvan 11
ANG: Cipriano 10
Without Krstic and Teodosic through suspension, Serbia makes light work of Angola.
- Argentina defeated Germany, 78-74
ARG: Delfino 27, Scola 20, Oberto 11
GER: Greene 20, Pleib 12
Argentina held off a plucky German side, making the plays when needed to earn the win.
Group B
- Slovenia defeated Tunisia, 80-56
SLO: Dragic 16, Vidmar 15, Nachbar 14
TUN: Slimane 11
Slovenia as expected put away the Tunisian minnows without much trouble.
- USA defeated Croatia, 106-78
USA: Gordon 16, Durant 14, Billups 12, Westbrook & Gay 10
CRO: Bogdanovic 17, Popovic 16, Tomic 12
USA used their athleticism and fast-breaking game to overpower Crotia.
- Brazil defeated Iran, 81-65
BRA: Giovannoni 17, Barbosa & Splitter 13, Huertas 10
IRN: Haddadi 16, Kamrani 13, Sahakian 10
Brazil had far too much firepower and talent for a clearly outmatched Iranian team.
Group C
- Greece defeated China, 89-81
GRE: Bourousis & Zisas 21, Spanoulis 19, Diamantidis 11
CHN: Yi 26, Sun & Z Wang 15, S Wang 13
Despite missing Fotsis and big Sofo to suspension, Greece were just too strong and too deep for China to handle.
- Russia defeated Puerto Rico, 75-66
RUS: Monya 16, Kaun & Mozgov 13, Ponkrashov 10
PUR: Barea 25, Ramos 15, Vassallo 13
In a close game, Russia who were without Khryapa were able to finish stronger using the pick and roll to great effect whilst holding Arroyo to just 4 points for the game.
- Turkey defeated Cote d'Ivoire, 86-47
TUR: Onan 18, Ilyasova 17
CIV: Kale 10
Home team Turkey won easily as expected - no surprises here.
Group D
- Lithuania defeated New Zealand, 92-79
LTU: Kleiza 27, Jankunas 15, Maciulis 14
NZL: Penney 37, Vukona 19
New Zealand pushed the European powerhouse all the way, yet despite herculean efforts from Penney, only Vukona provided scoring support - their lack of scoring depth exposed.
- Lebanon defeated Canada, 81-71
LEB: El Khatib 31, Fahed 17, Freije 12
CAN: Anthony 17, Brown 13, Rautins & Shepherd 10
Lebanon upset the more fancied Canada with a barnstorming last quarter led by El Khatib.
- France defeated Spain, 72-66
FRA: Gelabale 16, Batum 14, Albicy 13, Koffi 11
ESP: Navarro 17, Fernandez 13
Biggest upset of the tournament on day 1 - a well rounded scoring spread by France gets past a stuttering Spain.
