Karl-Anthony Towns’ incredible performance against Puerto Rico ended in disappointment as the Dominican Republic fell to a 102-97 defeat in Group I of the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The standout player from the Minnesota Timberwolves recorded 39 points and 10 rebounds in nearly 32 minutes of play. This loss marked the first for the Dominican Republic in the tournament after their sweep of Group A.
As the primary figure for Los Quisqueyanos, the outcome was particularly challenging to accept for Towns.
“It’s a tough feeling. I want to get my country a win. A lot of people are counting on us to find a way to get a win and the guys played great. We played as a team but I got to do more.
“The guys are great, my teammates are fantastic, they did everything they needed to do. I gotta do a little more. It’s a tough night. We just got to go back to the drawing board and get ready for the next one. Keep my head up,” he remarked.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, all is not lost for the Dominican Republic in their quest to reach the final eight of the tournament. Towns and his team need a victory in their next game to secure their place in the next round.
However, a tough challenge awaits them as Serbia is determined to bounce back after a challenging loss to Italy. Players like Bogdan Bogdanovic and Nikola Jokic will be seeking redemption, promising an intense matchup.
“Got to get a win. Every game’s a win. I don’t worry about the points, differentials, and the losses, all that stuff and the way you got to win to get to the next round,” said Towns.
“I’m here to win games. find a way to win every game, let the chips fall where they fall.”
