MONTENEGRO got its first win in Group D at the expense of Mexico, 91-71, in the 2023 Fiba Basketball World Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena on Friday.
Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Vucevic ran the show for the European side with 27 markers in a battle between two sides which picked up victories over Gilas Pilipinas in a series of closed-door tuneup games at the PhilSports Arena.
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Vucevic nailed eight of Montenegro’s first nine points in the game to trigger a hot start over the Mexicans. He and Nikola Ivanovic hit six from beyond the arc as Montenegro hit 14 treys in the game.
Ivanovic and Kendrick Perry also combined for 30 big points.
From a winless 2019 prelims run to a 20-point rout in their opener, Montenegro looks to spark a win streak against Egypt as Mexico eyes redemption over Lithuania on Sunday.
The scores:
Mexico (71) - Cruz 16, Ibarra 13, Jaimes 12, Stoll 10, Giron 6, I. Gutierrez 6, J. Gutierrez 4, Bonilla 2, Camacho 2, Mendez 0, Amigo 0, Andriassi DNP.
Montenegro (91) - Vucevic 27, Perry 16, Ivanovic 14, Popovic 8, Radovic 7, Dubljevic 7, Simonovic 5, Slavkovic 4, Radoncic 2, Mihailovic 1, Ilic DNP. Drobnjak DNP.
Quarterscores: 19-19; 48-39; 68-58; 91-71
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