A SPIRITED fight from Nigeria inspired them to their first win at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 after seeing off South Korea 108-66 in a one-sided Group B game at the Wuhan Sports Center in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, yesterday.

Four players recorded double digits as D’Tigers showed their true spots and returned to winning ways in a convincing performance that saw them get closer to a possible qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Michael Eric dropped 17 points and was one rebound away from a double double in his best game at this competition so far with these figures earning him the prestigious TCL Player of the Game.

The ever present Ike Diogu showed great character in the paint on both ends of the court to limit South Korea’s Guna Ra to just eight made field goals out of 18 attempts. Diogu scored 16 points and made six rebounds on his part.

Chimezie Metu and Ben Uzoh added 15 and 10 points in that order to restore dignity in the Nigerian camp following their close losses to Russia and Argentina earlier.

It was close in the beginning but that was just about it. In the second quarter, Nigeria turned up the heat and picked everything off the glass while making it count on the other end of the court establishing a 13-0 run and through to the third quarter.

Nigeria netted 50 points in the paint as compared to South Korea’s 18 or rather Ra’s individual 18. No other South Korean player managed to convert in the paint. The Nigerian bench too will be receiving kudos from coach Nwora for scoring 63 of the team’s 108 points to get them to the triple digit club at this World Cup.

(FIBA)