SINGAPORE (Singapore) - Friday 13th brings some scary...good action at the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, as the Tasmania JackJumpers take on Quimsa in Group B, while Unicaja face Al Riyadi Beirut in Group A.
Tasmania JackJumpers vs. Quimsa (Group B)
Key matchup: Nicolas Romano was Quimsa's best player for most of the game against the NBA G League United on Day 1, and it's not going to get any easier for the soon-to-be 37-year-old.
He will have his hands full with the JackJumpers frontcourt, led by the Olympians Will Magnay and Majok Deng. Both of them are tough and physical, and most importantly - fresh, as it's their first game of the competition.
If they manage to limit Romano's scoring and passing, and Tavario Miller's rebounding - he had 16 against United - that would pave the way for the Tasmania JackJumpers to make history.
The FIBA Intercontinental Cup has been around since 1965, but even with all the format changes and most of the continents represented, this is the first time ever that a team from Australia has made the event.
As the reigning champions of the NBL, the JackJumpers surely believe they have what it takes to claim the key matchup and become the first team from Down Under to collect an Intercontinental win.
X factors: In a quick fire tournament such as this, it's always crucial to have fresh legs. Quimsa had an exhausting game against the NBA G League United on Day 1, battling to the finish line to reduce the deficit and stay alive in the hunt for the Final.
Meanwhile, the JackJumpers rested on Thursday and will come rested to this encounter. Keep that in mind in case the game goes down to the wire and Quimsa start running out of fuel.
How to watch: The game tips off at 17:00 local time in Singapore, which is 19:00 in Tasmania, Australia, and 6:00 a.m. in Argentina.
Basketball fans worldwide will have the chance to watch all games LIVE from Singapore, either on a TV channel, on the official FIBA YouTube channel, on Courtside 1891 or via a streaming service. You can find the list of broadcasters here.
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Al Riyadi Beirut vs. Unicaja (Group A)
Key matchup: The backcourt is where this game will be solved, as Wael Arakji and Manny Harris try to match Unicaja's high scoring guards in Kendrick Perry and Tyson Carter.
Arakji is the Lebanese version of Goran Dragic or Manu Ginobili, a lefty creator, and even though he usually is responsible for scoring, he was the top passer of the BCL Asia with 8.4 assists per game last season.
He got an impressive running mate in Manny Harris this season, with an illustrious career all over the world, including winning the MVP of the Season in the Basketball Champions League Europe in 2018.
In a way, it's going to be past versus present, since Kendrick Perry is the reigning BCL Europe Final Four MVP, and he has the ability to change the game with a few hot minutes.
Same goes for Tyson Carter, who is feeling comfortable in his role as the go-to guy for Unicaja when they need a bucket in a close game. He is their most clutch player, and he will be ready to win the game if needed.
X factors: The centers. Elmedin Kikanovic will be facing David Kravish in a sort of a copy-paste style of play. Both of them have a great feel around the rim, both of them are experienced, and both of them can pop and roll after setting screens for the guards.
If Kikanovic matches Kravish's output, Al Riyadi Beirut could pull off an upset against the Spanish powerhouse.
How to watch: The game tips off at 20:00 local time in Singapore, which is 14:00 in Malaga, Spain, and 15:00 in Beirut, Lebanon.
Basketball fans worldwide will have the chance to watch all games LIVE from Singapore, either on a TV channel, on the official FIBA YouTube channel, on Courtside 1891 or via a streaming service. You can find the list of broadcasters here.
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