Slovenia maintained its position at the top of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023’s Group E by defeating Georgia 88-67 on Monday at the Okinawa Arena in Japan.
Luka Doncic delivered yet another spectacular performance, recording a double-double of 34 points and 10 rebounds, propelling Slovenia closer to advancing to the next round.
Alongside Doncic’s double-double performance, Klemen Prepelic contributed 15 points, exhibiting perfect shooting inside the arc and from the free-throw line, while also making 50-percent from beyond the three-point line.
Sandro Mamukelashvili, the center for the San Antonio Spurs, tallied 21 points, seven rebounds, and an assist for Georgia.
Slovenia aims to conclude the first round of the World Cup strongly against Cape Verde on Wednesday, August 30, at 7:30 p.m., at the same Japan Arena.
In the preceding match, Cape Verde made history by overcoming Venezuela in an upset, with a score of 81-75, saving themselves from the brink of elimination.
This marks Cape Verde’s first-ever win in the history of the World Cup.
A dominant performance by Benthino Gomez and Will Tavares, who finished with 22 and 20 points, respectively, secured the victory.
Ivan Almeida also made a significant impact in the blowout win, contributing 18 points and six rebounds, along with two assists and two steals.
The double-digit performances of the trio David Cubillan, Jhornan Zamora, and Garly Sojo, with 15, 14, and 13 points respectively, went in vain, as Venezuela will strive to maintain their chance of advancing to the next round when they face Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic and the 7th-ranked Slovenia for their final game in the first round. (Jan Marcus Montevirgen)
The Scores:
First Game
Cape Verde 81 – Gomes B. 22, Tavares 20, Almeida I. 18, Tavares 6, Almeida J. 6, Mendonca 3, Lima 2, Da Rosa 2, Correia 2, Mendes 0, Gomes K. 0,
Venezuela 75 – Cubillan 15, Zamora 14, Sojo 13, Chourio 8, Guilent 7, Colmenares 6, Materan 5, Carrera 5, Ruiz 2, Graterol 0, Vargas 0
Quarterscores: 24-23, 33-46, 59-66, 81-75
Second Game
Slovenia 88 – Doncic 34, Prepelic K. 15, Dragic 12, Tobey 8, Hrovat 6, Blazic 6, Prepelic B. 3, Nikolic 2, Glas 2, Samar 0, Dimec 0, Cebasek 0
Georgia 67 – Mamukelashvili 21, Jintcharadze 12, Shengelia 9, Bitadze 7, Tsintsadze 5, Mcfadden 5, Shermadini 4, Sanadze 2, Andronikashvili 2
Quarterscores: 16-17, 45-33, 63-50, 88-67
