Powered by the efforts of Andres Feliz and Karl-Anthony Towns, the 23rd-ranked Dominican Republic accomplished a remarkable upset against the 10th-ranked Italy, 87-82, on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
This victory brought them one step closer to securing a spot in the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.
With a perfect 2-0 standing, the Dominicans secured the top position in Group A. A win by Gilas Pilipinas over Angola later in the day would officially confirm the Dominican Republic’s advancement to the second round.
During the third quarter, the Dominican Republic embarked on an impressive 21-6 run, powered by the contributions of Feliz, Towns, and Angel Delgado. This surge established a comfortable 59-45 lead against the Azzuri.
From that point onward, the Los Quisqueyanos maintained their control, extending their advantage to a maximum of 17 points with 5:34 left in the game, thanks to a three-pointer from Rigoberto Mendoza.
“First of all, we have great respect for the Italy team, their players, and their coach. The national team has a rich history,” commented Dominican Republic head coach Nestor Garcia.
Feliz, who played a crucial role in keeping the game competitive in the first half with 15 significant points, ultimately contributed 24 points by sinking seven three-pointers. He also added five rebounds, five assists, and one block. Meanwhile, Towns mirrored Feliz’s 24 points and added 11 rebounds and five assists.
Jean Montero, coming off the bench, ignited the team with 12 points, nine assists, and six rebounds. Victor Liz and Angel Delgado contributed nine and seven points, respectively.
The Italians, who initiated their World Cup journey with a convincing 81-67 win over Angola, slipped to a 1-1 record in the standings. To secure passage to the second round, they must triumph over Gilas in their final group phase game.
Italy’s Marco Spissu led the team with 17 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Simone Fontecchio and Giampaolo Ricci added 13 and 12 points, respectively.
Italy faced a significant setback during the second quarter when head coach Gianmarco Pozzeco received two technical fouls, resulting in his ejection from the game.
Italy’s next challenge is to complete a clean sweep of Group A against the home team, Gilas Pilipinas, on Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. On the same day and venue, the Dominican Republic aims to secure the final second-round slot by facing Angola earlier at 4:00 p.m.
The Scores:
Dominican Republic 87 – Feliz 24, Towns 24, Montero 12, Liz 9, Delgado 7, Mendoza 3, Pena 3, Vargas 3, Figueroa 0, Solano 0.
Italy 82 – Spissu 17, Fontecchio 13, Ricci 12, Polonara 10, Datome 8, Tonut 8, Melli 6, Pajola 4, Spagnolo 4, Procida 0, Severini 0.
Quarterscores: 19-13, 39-38, 56-69, 87-82
