Nigeria on Wednesday claimed the first victory at the ongoing 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup at Wuhan Sports Center in China, seeing off Korea 108-66 in a one-sided Group B tie.
The win ensured that Africa’s top-ranked team advanced to the Classification Round in Beijing on the back of a 1-2 mark, while the Koreans conceded their third defeat in as many games.
Four Nigerians scored in double digits, including Michael Eric who finished with a team-high 17 points. Eric, son of former Super Eagles goalkeeper and assistant coach Joe Erico, also got a team-high nine rebounds.
The other players to hit the double-digit mark in the coach Alexander Nwora-tutored D’Tigers were Ike Diogu (16 points), Chimezie Metu (15) and ben Uzoh (10). Three other players – Al-Farouq Aminu, Stan Okoye, and Nnamdi Vincent – scored nine points respectively.
Meanwhile, Angola, now managed by former D’Tigers coach Will Voigt, needed five extra minutes to beat Philippines 84-81 in their encounter in Foshan.
It was the Angolans’ first win in the tournament.
Six Angola players scored in double digits, including Valdelicio Joaquim who finished with a team-high 20 points. Jacques Conceicao, Carlos Morais and Reggie Moore combined for 33 points and Yanick Moreira added a double-double 12 points and 15 rebounds.
