In the third round of Group G, Brazil secured a challenging victory against Ivory Coast with a final score of 89:77 at the FIBA World Cup.
In a match that proved more arduous than anticipated, the Brazilian team had to overcome the absence of Raul Neto, who had been sidelined due to a serious injury suffered earlier in the tournament.
Ivory Coast, buoyed by their previous close win against Iran, made a strong start to the game. Their offensive strategy posed a challenge for the Brazilian defense, allowing the team under the guidance of coach Dejan Prokic to take the lead. However, the tide began to turn in the second quarter when Yago dos Santos stepped up his game and almost single-handedly reversed the score.
Brazil advances to the second round, led by Yago Santos. โ #FIBAWC x #WinForBrasil ๐ง๐ท
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 ๐ (@FIBAWC) August 30, 2023
The South American team continued in the same rhythm in the second half. Dos Santos continued to orchestrate plays, expanding Brazil’s lead. Despite a temporary setback when the Red Star’s playmaker suffered an injury, both Brazilian and Red Star fans breathed a sigh of relief as it turned out to be minor. Dos Santos returned to the court and played a pivotal role in preventing a potential upset, securing his team’s spot in the next phase of the tournament.
Dos Santos emerged as Brazil’s top scorer with 24 points and 12 assists, closely followed by Tim Soares with 15 points. On the losing side, Cedric Bah contributed 13 points, while Solo Diabate added 12.
With a 2-1 record, Brazil concluded the group stage in second place and is now set to face Canada in the next phase. Ivory Coast ranks third with a 1-2 record, heading into the playoff rounds for placements from 17th to 32nd.