Gilgeous-Alexander shines in amazing superstar duel with Doncic

MANILA (Philippines) - Big players step up in big games and both Canada superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Slovenia playmaker Luka Doncic rose to the occasion in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Quarter-Finals.

 

In the end, it was Gilgeous-Alexander who brought home the victory 100-89 and helped Canada reach the Semi-Finals of the World Cup for the first time.

 

 

"It feels good, but we're not satisfied. We didn’t come here to reach the Semi-Finals. We came here to get gold," Gilgeous-Alexander said.

"We just set out to play basketball. Every night we try to make the right basketball plays for ourselves and our teammates and play to our strengths. And we did that tonight."

 

Gilgeous-Alexander received a big welcome when he was announced before the game, but the crowd of 11,710 at the Mall of Asia Arena went wild when Doncic was introduced.

 

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points for Canada to go with 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 12 fouls drawn. The Oklahoma City playmaker knifed through the Slovenia defense and only committed 1 turnover in 36 minutes. He also fought for loose balls and directed his team. He was brilliant.

 

"Shai knows when to take the game over. He knows when to pick his spots. But he's also letting the game breathe and take what comes to him and make sure that he’s feeding everybody. It's hard to beat a team when you don't know where it's coming from," said Rowan Barrett, the general manager of Canada Basketball, proud father of RJ, another starter on the team.

Doncic for his part was hounded all game by Canada's Dillon Brooks, with equally physical Lugentz Dort also defending Doncic closely.

Luka Doncic and Dillon Brooks

"Dillon played great. He was very physical, like he always does. A lot of people don't like him, but I respect him for what he does. And he does that stuff really good," Doncic said of Brooks.  

Doncic also praised Gilgeous-Alexander, saying: "They have one of the best players in the world so it was really tough to guard him."

The Slovenia star still finished with 26 points in 30 minutes on the court. Doncic struggled inside the three-point line, making just 4-of-14 on two-pointers but he drained 4-of-6 three-pointers. He also dished out 5 assists to go with 4 rebounds and 2 steals.

 

Doncic’s night was over early when he ejected with 6:37 minutes to go with his second technical foul.

"I’m proud of my team. Everybody gave 100 percent when they went out there. We should go back to the hotel with our heads up. I'm just proud of this team," the Slovenia star said.

 And basketball fans can be happy about the showdown of the stars.

FIBA