The underdog Czech Republic destroyed and eliminated Turkey at FIBA World Cup
The underdog Czech Republic destroyed and eliminated Turkey at FIBA World Cup
After almost beating the USA team, Turkey looked like the biggest surprise of this World Cup. The miracle last only a day, like all the miracle and the Turks are ready to catch the flights back from China, after being eliminated today by the Czech Republic.
This is a real surprise, especially because the Czech squad came without Jan Vesely and outside Tomas Satoranski doesn’t have any other NBA players in the roster. They are a decent team but anything they have got is by hard work, a smart move of the ball and a much better defense. Before this game, nobody would give a chance to them in front of so overrated Turkey, but for me was not a huge surprise. As I wrote in a previous article, Turkey has only a couple of good players and they are practically basing their offense on 5 players. The Turkish bench is composed of modest role players who don’t put in danger the opponents. I still believe that the USA made a bad game against them than Turkey a good one against the Americans.
But coming back to the today’s do-or-die, we remark that the Czech Republic has dominated in almost any category, from points scored (91-76) to rebounds (41-26!), assist (26-15) and efficiency (120-83). They have smashed Turkey with the contribution of some players you won’t expect to step up this way: Vojtech Hruban (18 points), Ondrej Balvin (17), Patrik Auda (16) and Jaromir Bohacik (15). Tomas Satoranski made a good game as well with 11 points, 7 assists, 7 rebounds and 8 from at from the free-throw line.
For the Turkish side, the NBA-er Ersan Ilyasova finished with a 0-9 field goal, scoring only 6 free-throws the entire game. Scottie Wilbekin was as well neutralized by the defense, having only 5 points at the end of the encounter. It was a brave game made by the Czechs but I don’t see them advancing from the next stage of the World Cup.
Photo credit: http://www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2019
Gratian Cormos
Czech Republic eliminated Turkey at FIBA World Cup
