In the bustling heart of Manila, Philippines, the basketball court became a stage for a tale of passion, drama, and competitive spirit. Luka Doncic, Slovenia’s shining star, frequently found himself at odds with the referees throughout the game. This disagreement would be his undoing, as he wasn’t present in the pivotal last minutes that saw Canada make a glorious stride to the Basketball World Cup semifinals.
Leading Canada’s charge was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with a commendable 31 points, closely followed by RJ Barrett’s 24 points. Their combined might pushed Canada ahead, securing a 100-89 win over Slovenia. This victory propels Canada into an anticipated semifinal face-off against Serbia this Friday.
Doncic, having amassed 26 points for Slovenia, found himself ejected from the court with just over 6 minutes to go, the result of his second technical fault. Both of these technicals were consequences of disputes over referee decisions. Even as Slovenia tried to bridge the 15-point gap after Doncic’s exit – managing to close it to nine – their efforts fell short. In a sportsmanlike gesture, Doncic, now donning flip-flops, returned to the court post-game to offer his congratulations to the victorious Canadians.
Interestingly, Dillon Brooks of Canada also saw an early exit, courtesy of a technical, not long before Doncic’s departure. As we look ahead, Canada is slated to compete against Serbia in the upcoming semifinals. The U.S. and Germany are gearing up for their own showdown, with the victors from both games vying for the coveted World Cup title come Sunday night.
Historically, Slovenia’s journey has been remarkable. Since its independence in 1991, the nation sought to make its maiden entry into the World Cup semifinals. Despite this setback, they will face Lithuania to kick off the consolation playoffs, determining positions fifth through eighth.
This victory is monumental not just for Canada, but for Germany and Serbia as well. The two top European finishers earn a direct ticket to the Paris Olympics. With Slovenia’s current position, it’s clear that Germany and Serbia will represent Europe in France. However, Slovenia’s Olympic dream isn’t entirely extinguished; they could still clinch a spot by winning the qualifying tournament next summer.
Canada’s basketball history reverberates with echoes of its silver win at the 1936 Olympics. Since then, despite 22 participations in global tournaments, the nation hasn’t enhanced its medal tally. Regardless of the outcome in Manila, Canada is set to record its best World Cup performance, surpassing its 6th place finishes in 1978 and 1982.
The game’s first half was the very epitome of a neck-and-neck competition. With the scoreboard reading 50-50 after two quarters and 18 lead changes, both teams gave fans a roller-coaster of emotions. But Canada seized the narrative with a decisive 19-5 run in the third quarter, retaining their lead till the final buzzer, solidifying their spot in basketball history.
