As the knockout stage of the ongoing basketball tournament looms, Germany, France, and Canada have already secured their spots, while Team USA has a promising chance to join them with a must-win game against South Sudan on Wednesday. The tournament format is designed to allow the top two teams from each group to advance, along with the top two high-performing third-place finishers.
In a standout performance, Germany clinched their place in the quarterfinals with a commanding 86-73 victory over Brazil. The German effort was spearheaded by Dennis Schroder, who contributed 20 points and six assists, showcasing his leadership on the court.
France's route to the knockout stage was anything but straightforward, requiring overtime to overcome a gritty Japan. The match was a nail-biter, pushed into overtime by a remarkable four-point play from Matthew Strazel with only 10 seconds remaining in regulation. Victor Wembanyama, a rising star, scored eight of his 18 points in the overtime period, playing a pivotal role in France's triumph. Reflecting on the fraught encounter, Nicolas Batum acknowledged the fortunate turn, stating, "We could've easily given up down four with 10 seconds. We had no solution, and we got a crazy shot from Matthew."
Japan's valiant effort was highlighted by Yuki Kawamura, who posted a game-high 29 points, and Rui Hachimura, who scored 24 points on a highly efficient 10-for-16 shooting in just 28 minutes. Unfortunately, Hachimura's contributions were cut short due to an ejection.
On another front, Canada continued their impressive run with a 93-83 win against Australia. RJ Barrett emerged as the top scorer for Canada, tallying 24 points on 8-for-15 shooting within 25 minutes of play. Canada's strong performance poses a significant challenge to their competitors, with Australia still holding on to the second spot in Group A.
Spain also added to their victory tally with an 84-77 win over Greece. Despite a stellar performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo, who netted 27 points accompanied by 11 rebounds, three assists, and two steals, Greece couldn't secure the win. Spanish coach Sergio Scariolo discussed their strategic choices, sharing, "We thought we'd keep it for the very end of the game... Actually, with Luis Gil, our defensive coordinator, we've been talking a lot about doing it at some point, but we decided to keep it for the very end, because I wanted to keep Willy on the floor, his pick-and-roll with Lorenzo [Brown] is a big weapon for us."
As the knockout stages approach, teams reflect on their journeys and the fierce competition they have faced. Josh Hawkinson from Japan expressed a sentiment echoed by many competitors: "We can fight with any team... To be able to fight until the very end against one of the top teams in the world, that's definitely steps in the right direction for us. No moral victories. We wanted to win."
From individual brilliance to collective resilience, this tournament has already provided a rich tapestry of stories, with many more to unfold as the championship progresses.