Hollis Jefferson flirts with triple-double but Mexico prevail

MANILA (Philippines) - Mexico finished the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 on a high, taking down Jordan who will leave the Philippines without registering a win. Mexico end the event at 2-3 after a 93-80 triumph on Saturday night.

Turning point: Mexico were in front for most of the game, but Jordan put together a strong run in the opening part of the final period. Two Rondae Hollis Jefferson assists brought the team to a 76-73 lead with six minutes left to play.

Whatever coach Omar Quintero told his men in the huddle, it worked. Mexico raised the intensity of their defense in the final five minutes of their run in Manila, holding Jordan scoreless for three minutes, good enough to get back in front because that Paul Stoll - Joshua Ibarra pick-and-roll worked like a charm for an 8-0 run - especially with Fabian Jaimes as the third man.

TCL Player of the Game: Rondae Hollis Jefferson nearly got the first ever triple-double in FIBA Basketball World Cup history, collecting 26 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds. He was fouled 11 times in this game.

However, the award goes to the winning side, and in a game with a well balanced offense and five men in double digits, it was Gabriel Giron who gets the call. The captain finished with 21 points, including a dagger three-pointer to seal the deal.

Stats don't lie: Mexico won the battle under Jordan's rim, collecting 12 offensive rebounds and 15 second chance points, compared to just six for Jordan in that department.

Bottom line: As Pako Cruz said in a couple of press conferences now, Mexico lacked their well-known passion in the first three games. They bounced back to win both of their Classification Games, and Fabian Jaimes became the first player with multiple games of 15+ points, 10+ rebounds and 5+ assists in this World Cup.

He finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists, done while struggling with foul trouble in the second half.

Jordan leave the Philippines without a win, but they made a lot of fans in the Mall of Asia Arena. Hollis Jefferson was one of the feel-good stories of the entire World Cup, and the fact Jordan were in this game until the final two minutes despite the fact Freddy Ibrahim did not play speaks volumes about their potential.

They said:

FIBA