MORE marquee names led by NBA All Stars Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are set to whip up a storm in hoops-crazy Philippines in the next six days beginning today.
Four-time All-NBA First Team Mr. Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks banners Slovenia, one of two powerhouse squads coming over for the Final Phase of the FIBA World Cup here after their stellar play in Japan.
Mr. Doncic and Slovenia finished second with 4-1 in Group K and joined unbeaten Germany in the march of quarterfinalists from Okinawa to Manila.
NBA talents Dennis Schroder of the Toronto Raptors, Daniel Theis of the Indiana Pacers and brothers Franz and Moritz Wagner of the Orlando Magic carry the torch for the Germans, who topped the group with a 100-71 rout of Slovenia Sunday.
Mr. Gilgeous-Alexander and his loaded Canadian squad paced the Last-8 contingent from the Indonesian side of the group stages.
Oklahoma City Thunder stalwart Mr. Gilgeous-Alexander and fellow NBA mainstays RJ Barrett (New York Knicks), Dillon Brooks (Houston Rockets), Kelly Olynyk (Utah Jazz), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Minnesota Timberwolves), Lu Dort (Thunder) and Dwight Powell (Mavericks) are fresh from ousting holder Spain, 88-85, in Sunday’s virtual KO in Group L in Jakarta.
Joining the Canadians in the flight to the Philippines is a Latvian team enjoying an amazing Cinderella run in the WC.
Led by Davis Bertans of Oklahoma, Latvia first sent shockwaves with a 74-69 upset of Spain last Sept. 1 then crushed Brazil, 104-84, to seal its quarterfinal entry as No. 2 with 4-1 behind Canada (4-1).
Lying in wait are four sides and their slew of NBAers that have been strutting their stuff in Manila from Day One: unbeaten Lithuania led by Jonas Valanciunas (New Orleans Pelicans), USA topbilled by Anthony Edwards (Minnesota), Serbia anchored by Bogdan Bogdanovic (Atlanta Hawks) and Italy spearheaded by Simone Fontecchio (Utah). — Olmin Leyba
