Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

2023 FIBA World Cup

FIBA: Vucevic, Montenegro escape Greece to end campaign on a high note


Montenegro displayed composure under pressure as they defeated Greece, 73-69, and exited the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 with a win on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Trailing by as much as 14 points in the fourth quarter, Greece fought back thanks to the efforts of Georgios Papagiannis, Thomas Walkup, and Lefteris Bochoridis, pulling within four with 2:47 to go, making the score 58-62.

However, Black Mountains’ star Nikola Vucevic scored three consecutive baskets to extend their lead to 10 with 49 seconds remaining.

“We played tonight with the same energy as in the game against the United States. What’s important is that we secured three victories in this World Cup,” said head coach Bosko Radovic.

Greek forward Kostas Papanikolaou hit back-to-back triples to narrow the gap to four points once again with 16 seconds left, making it 64-68. Bojan Dubjlevic and Dino Radoncic then sealed the victory for the Montenegrin squad.

Vucevic led the way for the Black Mountains with 19 points and seven rebounds, while Radoncic contributed 12 points.

Ioannis Papapetrou scored 16 points on 16 shots for Greece. Papanikolaou and Bochoridis each added 13 points, while Walkup managed 11 points along with six assists.

Montenegro’s naturalized player, Kendrick Perry, did not play and was not in uniform. Greece’s Thanasis Antetokounmpo was also in street clothes.

The Black Mountains finished with a 3-2 win-loss record in Group J, while Hellas fell to 2-3.

The Scores:

Montenegro 73 – Vucevic 19, Radoncic 12, Mihailovic 10, Radovic 8, Ivanovic 7, Popovic 5, Drobnjak 4, Dubjlevic 4, Simonovic 2, Slavkovic 2.

#ReadMore  Will RHJ's citizenship papers make it in time for FIBA WC

Greece 69 – Papapetrou 16, Bochoridis 13, Papanikolaou 13, Walkup 11, Rogkavopoulos 7, Papagiannis 5, Chatzidakis 2, Lountzis 2, Larentzakis 0, Moraitis 0.

Quarterscores: 19-14, 36-30, 50-42, 73-69.

Written By

Just a kid from Cavite trying to make a difference.


You May Also Like

2024 Summer Olympics

If you thought that Group A of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024-Riga was crazy, Group B was wilder. After three days of competition,...

2023 FIBA World Cup

The year 2023 will always be remembered in Philippine sports as the year the country competed in two separate world cups – the 2023...

2024 Summer Olympics

In a bid to secure a coveted spot in the Paris Summer Olympics 2024, the Philippine national basketball team, Gilas Pilipinas, is gearing up...

2023 FIBA World Cup

Mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has won a bronze award in the prestigious 2023 CLIO Sports Awards for transforming the iconic SM...

2023 FIBA World Cup

Hundreds of students from Tondo, Manila, who served as mascots or player escorts during the FIBA World Cup, were honored during a ceremony that...

2023 FIBA World Cup

Gilas Pilipinas Men have risen to 38th in the world rankings, just two spots higher despite their participation in the FIBA Basketball World Cup...

2023 FIBA World Cup

After more than two weeks of nonstop basketball action, the FIBA World Cup 2023 held in Manila came to a close on September 10....

2023 FIBA World Cup

The final buzzer of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 rang with a much deeper meaning for Filipinos who witnessed the best players from...

Advertisement