Czech Republic thrash Brazil

In the first match of Group K at the 2019 FIBA World Cup, the Czech Republic have comfortably defeated Brazil by a score of 93-71.

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Taking into account that Brazil defeated Greece in the first group stage, this is a favourable result for the Episimi Agapimeni, but the margin of victory for the Czech Republic has not helped the Greek cause.

In the event Greece, Brazil and the Czech Republic all finish the two group stages with a 3-2 record, the point differential taking into account only the games between the tied teams will decide who qualifies for the quarter-finals. In other words, the point differential of the games between Brazil/Greece, Brazil/Czech Republic, and Greece/Czech Republic will be taken into account for the tie break.

As a result of the Czechs defeating the Brazilians by 22 points, a defeat for Greece this evening against the USA will not be fatal, but the team will then need to beat the Czech Republic by at least 12 points on Monday. The Greeks will also have to hope that Brazil lose to the USA.

Currently, the point differential (taking into account only the games between the tied teams) involving the tied teams stands at Brazil (-21), Greece (-1), and Czech Republic (+22). Greece must defeat the Czech by 12 points to bump up their point differential to +11 while the Czechs will move down to +10, which would be enough for Greece to claim second place in the three-way tie and qualify for the quarter-finals.

Current group stage record ahead of the Greece - USA match:

USA (3-0)

Brazil (3-1)

Czech Republic (3-1)

Greece (2-1)

The Czechs dominated proceedings against the Brazilians from the outset. Winning all four quarters, they breezed past the South Americans with real confidence, scoring at least 20 points in each period. Tomas Satoransky (20 points), Ondrej Balvin (15), Patrik Auda (14 points) and Jaromir Bohacik (12 points) were their leading scorers.

The Czech Republic have now beaten Japan, Turkey and Brazil at the tournament. Greece will have to beat the Czechs by at least 12 points on Monday if the team suffer a defeat to the US today.

by Shaun Nicolaides

Image Source: to10.gr

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