In the final matchup of Group B at the FIBA World Cup, China faced off against Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico emerged victorious with a final score of 107-89, securing their spot in the next round of the tournament.
They established a double-digit lead in the first quarter, ending the period with a score of 23-16. The same trend continued in the second quarter, with Puerto Rico leading by as much as 17 points at one point, entering halftime with a 52-37 advantage.
Puerto Rico are through to the Second Round! ๐#FIBAWC x #WinForPuertoRico ๐ต๐ท
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 ๐ (@FIBAWC) August 30, 2023
China showed great resilience in the third quarter, scoring an impressive 32 points. As the game entered the decisive final quarter, Central American team maintained a lead of 78-69. Despite moments of pressure from the Chinese team, their performance fell apart entirely in the fourth period, allowing opponent to capitalize and secure a more than convincing victory.
Tremont Waters was the top scorer for the winning team, finishing the game with 22 points and six assists. Ismael Romero achieved a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Rui Zhao led China’s efforts with 16 points, closely followed by Jiwei Zhao with 14 points.
With this win, Puerto Rico advances to the next round of the FIBA World Cup alongside Serbia. China and South Sudan will now seek their final placements through playoffs for positions 17th to 32nd.