Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
A total of 12 teams from across the Americas, Asia and Europe have secured their passage to the second round of the Fiba World Cup 2019 Qualifiers.
Australia, Brazil, Canada, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Iran, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, Serbia and Venezuela already have their places guaranteed in the second round consisting of three windows—September and November 2018 and February 2019.
The third window (June 25-July 3, 2018) of the first round is still crucial as results of every game carries over to the second round.
Three teams from each group will advance to the next phase, all aiming to secure one of 32 berths to the 18th World Cup slated in China on Aug. 31 to Sept. 15, 2019.
The previous World Cup was held in Spain in 2014 but the next men’s edition has been reset to 2019 to avoid conflict with the Fifa World Cup.
In the Americas, the Dominican Republic dominated Virgin Islands, 113-85, to stay undefeated with a 4-0 record and was joined in the second round by Brazil, also at 4-0, after its 83-58 win over Chile at its Goiânia Arena packed with 10,550 spectators.
Canada and Venezuela also advanced with wins that improved their records to 3-1.
In the Asian Qualifiers, Australia is the only team so far to boast a 4-0 record, but the trio of Iran, Kazakhstan and the Philippines also joined them through to the next phase with 3-1 cards.
Andray Blatche joined hands with Calvin Abueva as Gilas Pilipinas bucked Japan’s rally for an 89-84 Group B triumph at its home court Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday.
France, Germany and Greece all improved to unassailable 4-0 marks in their groups in the European Qualifiers, while getting to 3-1 in Group G was enough for 2014 World Cup runner-up and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic silver medalist Serbia to lock its spot as well.
United States, the defending champion, can assure its place in the second round Monday when it hosts Puerto Rico in Santa Cruz, California.
No teams have clinched second round places in the African Qualifiers yet as they have so far played just three of their six first round games. —FIBA.COM, AP