MIES (Switzerland) - Picking upsets at FIBA Basketball World Cups requires insight, tactical nous and luck. A lot of luck.

A crystal ball will also suffice.

Which First Round games in Manila, Okinawa and Jakarta are upsets could be waiting to happen in at the 2023 World Cup?

Dating back to the 2002 World Cup in Indianapolis, the First Round has had at least one. 

Upsets in the past

2002, Indianapolis: New Zealand 90 - Russia 81

New Zealand trailed, 49-35, at half-time, and 67-58 after the third quarter, yet outscored Russia, 32-14, the rest of the way. Russia, who had a young, explosive Andrei Kirilenko, had been second at the previous two World Cups and quarter-finalists at the Sydney Olympics. The performance was a launchpad to the Semi-Finals for the Tall Blacks.  

2006, Sendai: Serbia & Montenegro 75 - Nigeria 82

Nursing a hangover from their previous three summers, Serbia & Montenegro with Darko Milicic and Igor Rakocevic were supposed to beat Nigeria ... yet they didn't! Ime Udoka, who would years later becoming head coach of the Boston Celtics and was recently put in charge of the Houston Rockets, had 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists and Julius Nwosu (above) had nine points as D'Tigers ground out a tough win.

2006, Hamamatsu: Turkey 76 Lithuania 74

Taking on the country that won FIBA EuroBasket 2003 and the high-scoring Arvydas Macijauskas, the 12 Giant Men didn't have NBA stars Hedo Turkoglu or Mehmet Okur yet with unsung heroes like Ermal Kurtoglu, and rising star Ersan Ilyasova, Turkey overcome the 24 points of Macijauskas and edged a thriller.

2014, Seville: Croatia 75, Senegal 77

Despite boasting Bojan Bogdanovic, Darios and Krunoslav Simon - the trio that led Croatia two years later to glory at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Turin - and a host of other experienced players, Jasmine Repesa's Croatia fell to Senegal, who got 27 points Gorgui Djieng.

2019, Beijing: China 76 Poland 79 OT

Roared on by fans in a packed Wukesong Arena, China had possession with a 72-71 advantage just seconds from the end when Poland's Mateusz Ponitka intercepted Zhou Qi's inbounds pass, raced in for a potential go-ahead layup and was fouled. Though he sank just one of two free-throws, Poland won after overtime and reached the Quarter-Finals in their first World Cup appearance in half a century.

🚨🚨 2023 Upset Alerts 🚨🚨

August 25, Okinawa - Germany v Japan

 
On opening day, Japan, No. 36 in the FIBA World Ranking presented by NIKE, host No. 11 Germany in Okinawa. Japan will be underdogs yet if they play fast, heat up from long point range, and get the crowd excited, Germany will have to look out!

August 25, Jakarta: Latvia v Lebanon

The battle of countries that start with capital L's could be a barnburner. Yes, Latvia will have NBA talent in the shape of Kristaps Porzingis and Davis Bertans, yet there may be some nerves in a first-ever World Cup game for the Baltic country. The Cedars, meanwhile, will have their superman, Wael Arakji, the FIBA Asia Cup 2022 MVP leading the charge.

August 26, Manila: South Sudan v Puerto Rico

No. 20 Puerto Rico simply cannot look past No. 62 Bright Stars, who are making their bow at the FIBA Basketball World Cup and will be revving the engines, wanting to play fast. Puerto Rico like to play two speeds themselves: fast and faster.

August 29, Manila - Philippines v Italy

This is a game not to be missed, the ultimate First Round test for Gilas Pilipinas. What will be the most important factor for the Philippines, No. 40, against No. 10 Italy? Jordan Clarkson? No. Chot Reyes? No. This is all about the noise level of the Araneta Coliseum, and what type of a charge it provides the Filipino players.

August 30, Manila - Greece v New Zealand

The winner of this game likely keeps its hopes alive of going deep in the tournament. No question that Greece, with Giannis Antetokounmpo and their No. 9 FIBA World Ranking, will be favorites against the No. 26 Tall Blacks. Yet don't forget China four years ago, when the Kiwis trailed by just six with three minutes left before falling.

FIBA