Luka Doncic exploded for 37 points as Slovenia cruised past Venezuela, 100-85, in their FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 opener on Saturday night at the Okinawa Arena in Japan.
The superstar from the Dallas Mavericks scored 24 points in the first half and propelled the 7th-ranked Junaki, sparking a 12-0 run early in the second half. This effort allowed them to finish the first half with a 56-51 advantage against the 17th-ranked Squadra Criolla from Venezuela, who had taken a 33-31 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Already up by 64-57 in the third quarter, Slovenia unleashed a 9-1 run with over four minutes remaining in the penultimate frame, securing a 15-point lead and taking control of the match.
Venezuela never trailed by single digits since then.
Doncic also filled up the stat sheet for Slovenia, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out six assists, along with two steals and a block.
Mike Tobey also made his presence felt, registering 21 points, while Klemen Prepelic chipped in 18 markers in Slovenia’s victory.
Garly Sojo led the scoring for the Squadra Criolla with 16 points, while Jhornan Zamora and Heissler Guillient scored 12 markers each.
Doncic and the Junaki will attempt to secure back-to-back wins against Georgia on Monday, August 28, at 8:10 p.m. at the same venue.
In the preceding match, Georgia outplayed Cape Verde, 85-60, to open their campaign with the first win (1-0) in Group F.
It was a balanced distribution of offense for the World No. 32 Crusaders, with Orlando Magic’s Goga Bitadze recording a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Tornike Shangelia led all scorers with 16 markers and seven boards.
Trailing by six (8-2) at the 4-minute mark of the first quarter, the Crusaders hit the gas pedal and concluded the quarter with an 18-3 run, securing a nine-point lead (20-11).
Georgia further tightened its grip on the game, ending the first half with a commanding 26-point advantage at 48-22.
The 32nd-ranked world team added an exclamation point as Duda Sanadze hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to conclude the third frame with a 33-point lead (70-37).
The Blue Sharks surrendered early in the final quarter, as head coach Emanuel Torovoada benched his starters and let most of their role players continue the match.
Georgia’s defense held Cape Verde to shoot 21-of-71 (30%) from the field, causing its top players to struggle with efficiency.
Sandro Mamukelashvili of the San Antonio Spurs contributed an efficient 10 points and eight rebounds for the Georgians, while Duda Sanadze registered 12 markers.
Kenneti Mendes and Keven Gomes were the only double-digit scorers for Cape Verde, scoring 11 and 10 points, respectively, as Cape Verde starts at 0-1 in the standings. (Jose Gabriel Ignacio)
The Scores:
First Game
Georgia 85 — Shengelia 16, Bitadze 15, Sanadze 12, Mamukelashvili 10, Tsintsadze 8, Shermadini 8, Andronikashvili 7, Mcfadden 4, Turdziladze 2, Liklikadze 2, Berishvili 1, Jintcharadze 0
Cape Verde 60 — Kenneti 11, K. Gomes 10, W. Tavares 9, I. Almeida 6, Lima 6, E. Tavares 6, B. Gomes 5, Da Rosa 3, J. Almeida 2, Correia 1, Mendonca 1, Coronel 0
Quarterscores: 20-11, 48-22, 70-37, 85-60
Seconf Game:
Slovenia 100 — Doncic 37, Tobey 21, K. Prepelic 18, Nikolic 8, B. Prepelic 5, Blazic 4, Cebasek 3, Dimec 2, Hrovat 0
Venezuela 85 — Sojo 16, Guillent 12, Zamora 12, Materan 11, Carrera 10, Colmenares 6, Vargas 5, Chourio 5, Ruiz 3, Cubillan 3, Graterol 2, Sifontes 0
Quarterscores: 31-33, 56-51, 78-63, 100-85
