8/22 ReviewUnited States vs. PolandThe game went wire to wire with the United States holding a slim lead from 10:35 left in the 2nd quarter until 4:50 left in the game. Both teams faced off with Look Inside/Man to Man tactics but turnovers killed our chances to maintain the winning margin. Tempers flared throughout, fouling came at a high rate, punctuated by Leigh Felder and Bolesław Rubiś exchanging flagrant fouls on each other in the second quarter. Later Janusz Wawoczny would through in another flagrant foul on Mike Merrill for good measure.
When the clock settled at 0:00 Poland won by 5, 95-90 putting the American's in an early 0-1 hole in the first round play. Though it will provide little solace for the loss, the game ball goes to Brad Rodriguez
(16433511) for his 25 points in 24 minutes. Rodriguez shot 62.5% from the field and had the highest +/- at 9 while also filling up the stat sheet.
Hong Kong vs. IsraelAutomatic qualifier and Asian runner up Hong Kong pummeled an Israeli team in disarray coming off an ugly repechage qualifying round 130-90.
(16605) It was the largest margin of victory of the day and puts Israel in an early point differential hole. Players seemingly didn't even know where to line up as shooting guards Wa Li Zhu
(16933995) and Shi Jeong Hyun
(16932898) went off for 69 combined points.
Israel faces off against the United States next while Hong Kong will take on the dangerous Spain.
Spain vs. SenegalSpain showed no sympathy to the host nation of Senegal winning by 33, showing how overmatched the African runner-ups are
(16606). In a likely TIE-TIE game, Senegal got the tactics right but couldn't find the fire power to stay close.
Senegal faces off against Poland next while Spain looks to capitalize on Israel's disorder.
Brasil vs. ItalyEuropean champion Italy survived an exciting game against our familiar Americas opponent Brasil 108-106
(16619). With Brasil and the United States the only teams competing from the Americas, both showed they belong but both fell just short. A staggering 32-7 Assist-Turnover ratio was overcome by Italy's 50% shooting from the field.
China vs. FranceAsian champion China, apparently playing at a diminished enthusiasm due to recent harsh communist policies restricting the volume of ice cream consumption, fell to a depleted France. France, coming out of the repechage qualifying round impressed nonetheless, winning 97-86 with a deliberate Low Post offense
(16620).
Germany vs. EgyptBoth the Germans and the Egyptians rolled the dice tonight with tactics, one coming up huge and one faltering. Egypt's CT allowed the team to easily defeat a German team testing an Outside Isolation offense, 113-90
(16621). A confusing match-up for sure, but one that is likely not to matter assuming Egypt gets eliminated.