FIBA World Cup 2014 – Day 1 Round-up

By Bradley Gains on August 31, 2014

The 2014 FIBA World Cup got underway in Spain in yesterday with all 24 teams in action on the opening day. Pre-tournament favourites USA and Spain recorded convincing victories while reigning EuroBasket champions France were beaten by Brazil.

Here’s a re-cap of the day’s action:

Group A:

Serbia began the group’s proceedings with an 85-64 victory over Egypt in Granada. Milos Teodosic top scored with 15 points while NBA centre Miroslav Raduljica added 13 points and 6 rebounds. In the second game, last year’s EuroBasket gold medalists France were edged out 65-63 against Brazil after falling behind in the middle stages. San Antonio’s Boris Diaw had 15 points but Marcelinho Huertas led his side to victory with a game-high 16 points. Tournament hosts Spain were last up and eased to a routine 90-60 victory over Iran behind Pau Gasol’s 33 point haul. Serge Ibaka missed out through injury but the Spaniards still had enough quality to get off and running with a win.

Group B:

The Philippines battled back from an early 14-point deficit to force overtime in the tournament opener but it was Croatia who ended victorious, winning 81-78. Number 11 NBA Draft pick Dario Saric had an all-round 10-9-4 display while Brooklyn’s Bojan Bogdanovic led the way with 26 points. Argentina began their campaign with a 98-75 win over Puerto Rico as Luis Scola continued to be a star player at international level scoring 20 points while JJ Barea’s 24 points were in vain. Greece used a strong first half display as a platform for their opening 87-64 win over Senegal. Gorgui Dieng had 21 points and 14 rebounds in the defeat while the Greeks were led by Kostas Kaimakoglou’s 17-8 performance.

Group C:

Ukraine began the day with a hard-fought 72-62 win over the Dominican Republic after a strong third quarter display. Houston’s Francisco Garcia had a game-high 18 points but Eugene Jeter’s 16 points inspired Ukraine’s victory. New Zealand let slip a 10-point half-time lead as Turkey battled back in the second half to triumph 76-73. Oguz Savas proved very efficient scoring 16 points in just 12 minutes of action as the 2010 runners-up got off to a winning start. The final game was the most one-sided of the day as USA thrashed Finland 114-55. The defending World champions inflicted a devastating 29-2 second quarter on their opponents on their way to an emphatic 59-point win. Klay Thompson top scored with 18 points while Anthony Davis added 17 points to continue his impressive form for the national side.

Group D:

Angola started off with an 80-69 win over Korea after a 16-10 double-double from Yanick Moreira in Gran Canaria. NBA rising star Goran Dragic then led his Slovenia side to a 90-80 victory over Australia with a 25-7-4 display. Aron Baynes top scored with 21 points for the Boomerangs while the 3rd pick in this year’s NBA Draft Dante Exum failed to score in his 11 minutes. The final game in the group saw highly ranked Lithuania defeat Mexico 87-74 despite falling to an early deficit. Jonas Maciulis top scored with 19 points while NBA duo Jonas Valančiūnas and Donatas Motiejunas combined for 32 points.

Game of the day. The overtime thriller between Croatia and Gilas Pilipinas. Highlights below.

Day 2 schedule: Dominican Republic v New Zealand, Korea v Australia, Argentina v Croatia, Serbia v France, Finland v Ukraine, Slovenia v Mexico, Senegal v Puerto Rico, Brazil v Iran, Lithuania v Angola, Philippines v Greece, Turkey v USA and Spain v Egypt.

Watch the action unfold on Livebasketball.tv

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