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The eight teams that advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2021 IWBF Men’s U23 World Championship were defined with the closing of the Group Phase, this Tuesday, at the Prince of Songkla University, Phuket Campus.
The teams that finished in the top four of each group, got their ticket to the Quarterfinals, which will take place this Wednesday 14 September.
In group A it was a fight for ranking on the final day of the preliminary round with Brazil, Turkey, Japan and Spain already guaranteed their place in the quarter-finals.
A huge game by Turkey’s Mahmut Acikgoz with a double-double of 34 points and 12 rebounds, helped Turkey to ensure a 4-1 record by holding off a determined Brazilian team, 76-61. The loss for Brazil resulted in a 4th place finish in the group. Spain and Japan also ended the pool stage with 4-1. Following Spain’s emphatic 19-point victory over Japan, 71-52. The result meant a three-way tie between Japan, Spain and Turkey determined on points between the three games, with Spain finishing first, Turkey second and Japan third.
Germany remained perfect in Group B, with a resounding win over hosts Thailand, 68-33, to secure the top spot and set up a quarter-final clash with Brazil. Israel already concluded their group campaign with four wins and one loss to clinch second it was a fight for 3rd and 4th between Australia and USA, and the game did not disappoint. An intense battle saw the USA just edge out Australia in a 3-point game, 61-58, to secure third place and a match-up against Turkey in the quarter-finals. Australia will face first in Group A, Spain.
In the other game of the day, Canada defeated France by 2 points in an overtime thriller, to get their first win of the Championship and finish fifth in Group A. Setting up a crossover against South Africa in the 9-12 playoffs.
Day 8 Schedule – Quarter-finals
09:00 - 9-12 Crossover - Thailand v France
11:00 - 9-12 Crossover - Canada v South Africa
13:00 - Quarter-final 1- Turkey v USA
15:00 - Quarter-final 2 - Israel v Japan
17:00 - Quarter-final 3 - Spain v Australia
19:00 - Quarter-final 4 - Germany v Brazil
Follow all the action from the 2021 IWBF Men’s U23 World Championship
Photo Credit: Shingo ITO – X-1
