The FIBA World Cup tipped off at 4 venues in China, as Groups A through D started the first round on Saturday, with few surprises but one major comeback.
Day 1 of the FIBA World Cup in China did not offer a lot of surprises, but was highlighted by a huge comeback victory for Puerto Rico to open play in Group C and a disappointing loss by Nigeria, which had Russia on the ropes before faltering late.
Puerto Rico beating Iran 83-81 on Saturday hardly classifies as an upset — the Puerto Ricans entered the tournament at No. 16 in the FIBA World Rankings, well ahead of the 27th-ranked Iranians — but it was the way Puerto Rico picked up the win that was the highlight of the day.
Iran, riding the advantage of its two 7-footers against a Puerto Rican squad with one player taller than 6-foot-10, led by as much as 19 points in the first half and still led by 11 with 3:04 to go before Puerto Rico closed the game on an 18-5 burst to steal the win.
David Huertas scored 11 of his game-high 32 points in the final 1:52, but it was old pro Javier Mojica who hit the game-winner with a pull-up jumper in the lane after Iran’s lone NBA player ever, Hamed Haddadi, had tied the game with a deep 3 from the wing with 4.4 seconds left.
Mojica, who turned 35 on Saturday, ended up with the ball and some space to drive and the former Central Connecticut State player made the most of the opportunity.
Iran killed itself with 18 turnovers, including three in the final 2:22 — a sequence which included a costly unsportsmanlike foul against Armen Zangeneh as Iran nursed a four-point lead with 46 seconds left.
Zangeneh fouled Puerto Rico’s Renaldo Balkman, the former first-round pick of the New York Knicks, with the clock stopped during an inbounds play, giving P.R. two free throws and the ball. Balkman split the foul shots before Huertas canned his fourth 3-pointer of the game to tie it.
Huertas, who was 13-for-19 overall and 5-for-7 from deep in the game, gave Puerto Rico the lead with his next 3-pointer, a catch-and-shoot jumper from the top of the arc with 16.1 seconds left
In the other game in Group C, favored Spain took care of business, pulling away from Tunisia for a 101-62 win.
As action tipped off in the most-competitive group in the first round, Group A, Poland erased an early seven-point deficit in an 80-69 victory over Venezuela, while host China got off on the right foot, breaking open a tie game at halftime for a 70-55 win over Ivory Coast.
In Group B play, Russia came back from an eight-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Nigeria 82-77, while Argentina routed Korea 95-69.
Group D saw a pair of blowouts from the two top teams, with Serbia blasting Angola 105-59 and Italy eviscerating the Philippines 108-62.
Here are the takeaways from the first day, by group.
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