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The 2019 FIBA World Cup is now well underway, and the second round of the tournament will soon kick into effect after a thrilling opening group stage. FIBA's decision to expand the initial pool of teams from 24 to 32 was initially met with skepticism, although the new format has proved to be a success as it has allowed for some intriguing first-time matchups.
Meanwhile, an expanded field has allowed teams to quickly gain momentum, and the likes of Serbia, Spain, and France have all excelled in the early days of the tournament. With the conclusion of Day 5, the tournament has also lost several teams, with the host country China among those eliminated following a 72-59 loss to Venezuela in Beijing.
Nevertheless, there were once again stand out performers on all sides during another excellent day of basketball, and here we will look at the top 5 individual performances from Day 5 at the 2019 World Cup.
#5 Marc Gasol - Spain
Spain won the World Cup back in 2006, although the current roster is not considered a major threat for this year's title. However, the Spaniards celebrated their third successive victory thanks to a 73-65 win over Iran after finishing with a 16-3 run to avoid a major scare. Marc Gasol was sharp despite some doubts over his fitness and led Spain with 16 points.
The Toronto Raptors star struggled with his perimeter shooting (1/5) but found form in his mid-range game to contribute some much-needed points to a struggling Spanish team. With point guard Ricky Rubio struggling for the first time in the competition, Gasol also took over at times, contributing three assists to his teammates.
His presence at the defensive end was also vital to keeping Iran quiet in the final quarter, and this was Gasol's best performance of the competition so far.
#4 Andray Blatche – Philippines
The Philippines ended their World Cup campaign winless after falling in overtime to Angola. Yanick Moreira, Reggie Moore, and Valdelicio Joaquim combined for 44 points for the winners, although Andray Blatche’s fine solo performance was almost enough to send the Philippines home with a World Cup win.
Blatche’s importance to his nation was highlighted by the fact that he featured for a full 13 minutes longer than any of his teammates, and the veteran once again led his team in points (23). Blatche also managed to grab 12 rebounds – 3 of which were on the opposition's glass.
For the first time in the tournament, Blatche recorded more turnovers (4) than assists (2), although the American-born star made up for it on the defensive end by managing 4 steals and a block.
#3 Danilo Gallinari – Italy
Italy traveled to China amid a worrying stretch of form that had seen the team lose six of its last seven games. However, after making an excellent start at the World Cup, the Italians entered their game against Serbia believing that they could spring a surprise. Nevertheless, Italy was outscored in all four quarters on their way to a 77-92 loss, although Danilo Gallinari was once again impressive.
The Oklahoma City Thunder man led his team with 26 points, and his accuracy from beyond the arc was on show as he knocked down 3 of his 5 attempts. Gallinari also pulled down eight rebounds, while dishing out a lone assist.
Gallinari was one of the few Italians that put up much resistance against the tallest team at the World Cup, and the 31-year-old’s performances may help earn him a move to an NBA contender next season.
#2 Adam Waczynski – Poland
Poland were already through to the next round after edging China in Game 2, although the team made it three straight victories with a comfortable win over Ivory Coast. After a long absence from the World Cup, Poland's form has been among the biggest surprises of the tournament.
While Poland owe much of their success to togetherness, Adam Waczynski was particularly impressive in the win over Ivory Coast.
Waczynski led his team with 26 points and shot 85% from the field. The Unicaja star also connected with all three of his attempts from beyond the arc and was Poland’s chief creator with six assists. Like the rest of the Polish team, Waczynski was afforded the time to rest in the second half, and he will be important as Poland attempt to keep up their impressive form.
#1 Bogdan Bogdanovic – Serbia
Many tipped Serbia as the favorites entering the World Cup, and the European powerhouse have managed to live up to their lofty expectations in the first round. In Game 3, Serbia made it three straight victories thanks to another impressive performance against an Italian side that had entered the game with a perfect record.
Nikola Jokic and Miroslav Raduljica performed well for Serbia, although it was Bogdan Bogdanovic who led the way with 31 points. The Sacramento Kings star connected with just under 50% of his field-goal attempts and recorded 6 of Serbia’s 10 three-pointers.
Bogdanovic also managed five assists as he set the offensive tempo, and his work on the defensive end was excellent as he recorded four rebounds and five steals. Ultimately, Bogdanovic has been the star of the tournament so far, and it will be interesting to see if he can keep it up over the next 10 days.
Guess the Lakers players!
