Montenegro star Nikola Vucevic waxed hot early that keyed his first game explosion in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 at the expense of Mexico.
Vucevic, a dominant presence, kick-started the game by scoring eight out of the first nine points for the Black Mountains, which fueled his momentum throughout the match on Friday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Finishing the game with 27 points on an impressive 11-of-15 shooting from the field, including a flawless 3-of-3 accuracy from beyond the arc, Vucevic also secured 10 rebounds.
Highlighting the significance of a strong game start, Vucevic commented, “I think it’s very important to start the game off well, in preparation we had issues to begin our games, we weren’t always prepared well. The starting five we didn’t always start games off well and we’d get into deficit and had to play behind which is very difficult.
“I had to make sure that I try to help the team set the tone, I was able to get to good positions, my teammates were able to find me and just tryna be aggressive and get going.”
Vucevic began the game at the free-throw line, sinking both of his free throws after drawing a foul. He then seamlessly made three consecutive field goals—a pair of layups and a turnaround jumper.
Reflecting on their previous slow starts during warm-up matches, it’s worth noting that during their friendly game against Gilas Pilipinas, the Filipino team finished the first quarter ahead at 19-16, only to eventually succumb 102-87.
Following his explosive initial display, Vucevic’s offensive prowess remained consistent as he also sunk three three-pointers on as many attempts.
The exceptional long-range shooting was, as explained by the 32-year-old center, a direct result of his earlier dominance in the paint.
“I feel like I’m best inside close to the basket where I try to start the game off and get going. Once I was able to get going inside, I was able to step out and make some shots,” said Vucevic.
“I felt like tonight was one of those nights. I got going early and everything was going my way and I wanted to stay aggressive,” he continued.
“I got some good looks, I wasn’t trying to force, I was trying to be more inside and it worked.”
Looking ahead, Vucevic and Montenegro aim to continue their impressive run as they prepare to face Egypt on Sunday.
