Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 21) — Basketball fever is definitely catching many sports fans as the FIBA World Cup 2023 kicks off in less than a week.
Although many NBA superstars are sitting out the global tilt, some veteran national players and rising stars are present to stand as pillars for their home team.
As most of the 32 national teams’ rosters have been revealed, CNN Philippines takes a look at the big names everyone should watch out for in the matches set in Metro Manila.
Karl-Anthony Towns – Dominican Republic
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Minnesota Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns is back donning his home country’s colors after committing to play for the Dominican Republic during the NBA off season.
Towns, an NBA draft first pick, led the Dominicans in their recent tune-up win versus Canada, 94-88, racking up 20 points, six rebounds, and two assists. The big man last played for the national team in 2013 at the FIBA AmeriCup.
KAT will stand to lead the Caribbean nation’s 12-man roster which also includes Golden State Warriors shooting guard Lester Quinones, who averaged 17.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists during the FIBA U18 Americas Championship in 2018
Jonas Valančiūnas – Lithuania
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The Lithuania team may also be one to watch, backed by veteran Jonas Valančiūnas who comes off a stellar summer, averaging double-double in points and rebounds during the EuroBasket 2022 Group Phase.
The New Orleans Pelicans center recorded a rebound average of 10.5 per game — the third highest in the league — while his scoring average of 16.2 points per game (PPG) ranked 15th overall.
Valančiūnas has already represented Lithuania twice in the FIBA World Cup, first in 2014 and his most recent in 2019.
Simone Fontecchio – Italy
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Utah Jazz forward Simone Fontecchio is also expected to dominate the paint, hitting his career-high of 26 points in Italy’s match with China, 93-87, during the FIBA Solidarity cup.
While the sharpshooter’s missed crucial free-throws in the last 16 seconds of Italy’s game against Greece may have cost the team a Semi-Final slot in the EuroBasket 2022, Fontecchio still led the team with an average of 19.4 points per game.
Italy has remained unbeaten in their preparation games for this year’ s world cup.
Bogdan Bogdanovic – Serbia
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Atlanta Hawks shooter Bogdan Bogdanovic is back to stand guard for Serbia, leading the 20-man squad in this year’s World Cup campaign.
The guard was the second leading scorer at the last World Cup set in China where he made the All-Star Five, hitting an astounding 53% shooting rate from behind the arc and averaging 15 PPG.
During the 2019 World Cup, the Serbian sniper was the WC’s top scorer with 183 points throughout the tourney. He was also named to the All-FIBA World Cup team.
Bogdanovic is eyed to spearhead Serbia in the absence of reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic who chose to rest and recover during the summer in preparation for another season with the Denver Nuggets.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson – Jordan
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Naturalized Jordanian Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is also one to watch out for during the global games.
A 23rd pick in the 2015 NBA draft, the small forward first joined the Portland Trail Blazers before being traded to the Brooklyn Nets. The American native averaged 9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game in his six-year career in the NBA with Brooklyn, Toronto, and Portland.
This season, Hollis-Jefferson is returning to Manila after his stint with TNT in the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup where he was recognized as the Best Import. He also aided the Tropang Giga to a championship title against Barangay Ginebra in the finals.
Nikola Vucevic – Montenegro
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The Montenegro team has its hopes up with its NBA star at the helm for this World Cup season: Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic is set to lead the No. 18-ranked basketball team.
The big man competed for Montenegro in the 2011, 2013, and 2017 EuroBaskets, as well as in the 2019 World Cup in China. He averaged 17.6 points, 11 rebounds, and 3.2 assists over 82 regular-season games in 2022 to 23.
In the final tune-up ahead of the World Cup, Vucevic guided his team to a 102-87 victory over the Gilas Pilipinas, contributing 18 points and nine rebounds.
Anthony Edwards – US
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NBA All-Star Anthony Edwards is set to steer the star-studded Team US in the world tournament. The Timberwolves sniper has so far led the 12-man roster with a perfect 5-0 record in their FIBA warm-up series.
In their last exhibition against Germany, the No.1 pick in the 2020 NBA draft scored 14 out of his 34 points in the last quarter, closing a 22-5 run against the Germans to secure a win.
Edwards will be giving basketball fans in Manila thrills, shooting boards alongside Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton and Memphis Grizzlies center Jaren Jackson Jr.
Jordan Clarkson – Philippines
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For the Philippine team, Filipino-American Jordan Clarkson fronts the 21-man Gilas Pool, committing to play for the country after signing a contract extension with the Utah Jazz.
Clarkson suited up for two games as a naturalized player for Gilas in the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers, averaging 25 points (45% shooting from the field), 6.5 assists, and 5.5 rebounds.
Clarkson last competed for Gilas Pilipinas during the World Cup Qualifiers’ fourth window.
