Spain, the reigning champions, made a strong start to their FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 journey by securing a commanding 94-64 victory over Cote d’Ivoire in their Group G matchup.
Maintaining their flawless record of never losing to an African team in World Cup history, Spain encountered a spirited performance from Cote d’Ivoire in the first quarter-hour.
However, as the game progressed into the second period, the Spanish team’s advantages in terms of size, depth, and experience became more evident. These factors ultimately proved insurmountable for the Ivorian squad.
Showing exceptional strength, Willy Hernangomez led Spain’s paint domination with 22 points in just 21 minutes. His incredible 9-of-12 shooting included a flawless 7-of-7 in the second quarter, coupled with 5 rebounds.
“It’s always hard to start a competition like this,” Willy Hernangomez said. “Everybody is very excited to play in this tournament, big win for us – always good to start with a win. Still a long way to go, we have another day to recover and get ready for the next game.”
Check out Willy Hernangomez’s TCL Player Of The Game highlights during Spain and Cote d’Ivoire game at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023:
