Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 1) — Team USA remains unbeaten, 4-0, after extending its FIBA World Cup winning streak versus the Montenegro Black Mountains, 85-73, in their second round face-off at the Mall of Asia Arena on Friday.
Trailing by a point at half-time, USA used a strong third and fourth quarter to snag its first win in the second round matches. The Americans started off slow, opening the match with a 7-point gap behind the Black Mountains powered by Montenegro big man Nikola Vucevic’s back-to-back treys and boards.Bobby Portis Jr. then slamed one in to tip the tables for USA, keeping Montenegro down by one at the end of the first quarter.USA kept its momentum in the second salvo, maintaining the lead over Montenegro before Marko Simonovic dropped a hook shot and slammed one in to take over the American team, 38-37.A jump shot by Anthony Edwards, who was scoreless in the first half, regained the lead for the Americans in the third quarter. The Black Mountains failed to recover until the final frame.Montenegro’s attempts to take over were clamped by USA’s tough defense, tallying 14 steals throughout the game that led to 23 fastbreak points.“It’s definitely gonna get a lot better, that’s what we came for. That’s what we’re ready for,” Edwards said when asked if the games are getting stiffer in the second round.
USA overpowered the Black Mountains despite Vucevic’s double-double performance of 18 markers and 16 rebounds and Kendrick Perry’s added 14 points.
Edwards and Austin Reaves led USA with 17 and 12 points, respectively.
