The penultimate day of the preliminary phases noticed Japan and Germany maintain off, Brazil and Australia, respectively, in two nail-biting matches on the 2021 IWBF Males’s U23 World Championship. USA, Israel and Turkey all added one other win to their report.
South Africa 40 – 69 USA
The USA obtained again to successful methods with a strong crew efficiency towards South Africa. The USA gained the primary three quarters 7-18, 10-17 and 9-20 to carry a 29-point lead going into the ultimate quarter.
The much less skilled South Africa, who’ve been bettering with each recreation on the Championship, matched the USA within the remaining quarter conserving all of it sq. 14-14, however the recreation was already gained, 40-69, and the USA secured their spot within the quarter-finals of the U23 World Championship.
With 4 gamers in double digits, Eastwood led the way in which with 16 factors adopted by Merendes (14 factors), Denbraber (11 factors) and Armas (10 factors). Jim and Yalezo prime scored for South Africa with 12 and 10 factors, respectively.
Canada 40-82 Turkey
Canada got here into the sport nonetheless in search of their first win of the Championship, nevertheless it was to not be regardless of a decided begin which noticed them path by simply 3 factors halfway via the opening quarter, however a variety of turnovers from Canada allowed Turkey to make the most of the sport and win the quarter 12-21.
A 12-0 run within the second quarter from Turkey blew Canada away, successful the quarter 7-27 and pushing out to a 29-point lead on the break. The momentum stayed with Turkey within the second half to expire winners, 40-82, and go 3-1 to match Spain’s win-loss report and tie the group rankings.
Hasan Efeturk got here off the Turkish bench to prime rating with 17 factors, adopted intently by his captain Gunaydin who completed with a double-double of 15 factors and 10 rebounds. Lalonde (11 factors) and Ostepchuk (10 factors) had been Canada’s prime scorers.
Thailand 29-68 Israel
Israel concluded their group video games with a victory over hosts Thailand to complete with a 4-1 report. The house aspect saved it shut to start with, shedding the primary quarter 13-6 however buoyed by their noisy travelling supporters Israel put their foot on the gasoline within the second and third including 21 factors to their benefit. Israel closed the sport out with a 17-6 remaining quarter, with Thailand struggling to search out their contact capturing at simply 22%, all through the sport.
Israel’s Captain, Ido Maimon was the sport’s prime scorer placing up a double-double of 21 factors and 11 rebounds.
Japan 51-45 Brazil
It was an intense and bodily recreation in a combat for rankings in Group A between Brazil and Japan. Japan edged the primary half, holding a slender five-point benefit 27-22 however Brazil took the third quarter, 15-12, to make it a 2-point recreation going into the ultimate ten minutes.
A number of turnovers and fouls by Brazil allowed Japan to increase their result in 5 factors once more originally of the fourth. Each groups struggled to search out the basket within the final 5 minutes and remained scoreless other than 1 free throw from Japan’s Satoshi Shiota, as Japan prevailed, 51-45. to maintain their undefeated report and keep on prime of Group A.
It was once more Brazil’s Cristiano Clemente who was their go-to man, the highest scorer for the sport with 22 factors and 13 rebounds. Japan’s Chokai and Akaishi had been Japan’s prime scorers each scored 13 factors apiece.
Australia 53-55 Germany
The ultimate recreation of the day between Australia and Germany didn’t disappoint, Australia got here out with vengeance and shocked the at the moment unbeaten Germany leaping out to an 8-2 lead early within the first.
A change of lineup from the Germans noticed them get well and win the second and third quarters, 11-19 and 10-17, to offer them a 9-point benefit going into the ultimate interval.
However a 9-0 scoring run within the fourth from Australia introduced it again to inside two factors with simply 5 minutes remaining. Within the thrilling remaining minutes of the sport, the groups went basket for basket to see the Germans grasp on to say the win 53-55 and stay excellent (4-0) in Group B.
The highest scorers had been Germany’s Alex Budde with 22 factors and Australia’s Jaylen Brown 20 factors.
Observe all of the motion from the 2021 IWBF Males’s U23 World Championship
Photograph Credit score: Shingo ITO – X-1
