Defeated by Germany on Sunday (82-85) in the clash of Group E, Australia did not flinch against Japan on Tuesday (108-89) to secure second place in their group and obtain their ticket for the second round. The “Boomers” were able to count on the good part of Xavier Cooks (24 points, 16 rebounds including 10 offensive!) in support of Josh Giddey (26 points, 11 assists) to emerge victorious in Okinawa.
Host country of the group, Japan will play two classification matches to try to obtain the direct ticket for the Paris Olympic Games awarded to the best Asian nation on this World Cup. Australia will probably have to win their two second round matches, including the one against Slovenia, to open the door to the quarter-finals.
Zero points for the Philippines
The other host country of the World Cup was also eliminated on Tuesday. Beaten in their first two matches, the Philippines remained fanny losing against Italy (83-90) in Manila. Niccolo Melli (10 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists) led the charge for the Azzurri who locked up second place in Group A, synonymous with qualification, behind the Dominican Republic. The partners of Karl-Anthony Towns (8 points) come out of the pool undefeated after their difficult success against Angola (75-67). Italians and Dominicans will cross paths with Serbia in the second round, in a decisive poster for the quarter-finals.
Finally, Lithuania and Montenegro competed for first place in Group D, which went to the Baltics, wide winners (91-71). Presented as the heir to Sarunas Jasikevicius in the lead for several years, Rokas Jokubaitis (22) finished with 19 points and 6 assists. Lithuanians and Montenegrins will meet the United States and Greece or New Zealand in the second round.
