Brazil secured their place in the Second Round by securing the second position in Group G through an 89-77 victory against Cote d’Ivoire.
In the initial quarter, Cote d’Ivoire held the lead, largely due to frequent visits to the free throw line and clever defensive tactics. However, in the second quarter, Yago Santos took charge, contributing 13 points that propelled Brazil into the lead.
A pivotal moment arrived when, with 2:38 remaining, Georginho De Paula made a long-range shot that extended Brazil’s advantage to 82-74, creating a gap too wide for Cote d’Ivoire to bridge.
Yago Santos performed remarkably in the first half, scoring 19 points with a perfect 5-of-5 record in three-point shots. Despite battling a leg injury, the point guard concluded the game with 24 points, 12 assists, 4 rebounds, and an impressive efficiency rating of 38.
Santos has now equaled the fifth position in World Cup history for the highest number of assists in a single game, a record kept since official data recording began in 1994.
Watch the game highlights between South Sudan and Serbia in the First Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023:
