Tremont Waters, one of the standout players for Portorico in their thrilling victory against South Sudan, shared his thoughts with the media.
Waters delivered an exceptional performance, earning him the title of the game’s Most Valuable Player. He scored 19 points, contributed 10 assists, secured five rebounds, and made three steals. However, amidst the brilliance, the fact that he also had eight turnovers highlights room for improvement.
“There are several aspects of the game we need to work on. Primarily, I’m aiming to reduce my turnovers. I apologized to my teammates in the locker room after the game. I’m the player on this team who handles the ball the most. They trust me, and that’s something I need to focus on,” Waters explained.
It's never over 'til it's over ๐ฏ
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 ๐ (@FIBAWC) August 26, 2023
Puerto Rico stormed back from 12 down to beat South Sudan and take their first win in Manila!#FIBAWC x #WinForPuertoRico ๐ต๐ท pic.twitter.com/kuQ7oRXUe9
He emphasized the team’s collective effort, acknowledging their growth during the preparation period. “We’ve done a great job as a team. We learned that through our preparation. Even if we hadn’t fully realized it before, this game against South Sudan definitely reinforced it,” Waters stated.
Waters was one of four players on the national team who achieved a double-double against South Sudan. Stephen Thompson Junior scored 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, while George Conditt added 18 points and 12 rebounds. The fourth player with a double-double performance in both categories was Ismael Romero, contributing 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Looking ahead, Portorico will face Serbia in the next round of the FIBA World Cup. On the other side, South Sudan is set to compete against China.