LAUSANNE (Switzerland) – The opening day of the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup did not disappoint. When it comes to individual performances, Day 1 delivered in a big way. Here are the top five performers who stood out.
Lucas Morillo was unstoppable in the Dominican Republic’s win over Jordan. He poured in 26 points on 10-of-17 shooting, went a perfect 5-of-5 from the free-throw line, and added 12 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. His efficiency rating of 31 in 36 minutes speaks for itself. Brilliant.
Ariel Sela was nearly flawless in Israel’s historic first-ever win at the U19 World Cup. He tallied 16 points on 5-of-6 shooting, grabbed 12 rebounds, and added 3 steals and 2 assists. His efficiency rating of 29 in just 23 minutes was outstanding. Impressive.
Koat Peat showed early on why he’s already lifted two World Cup trophies despite his young age. He led by example, boosting his teammates' confidence while contributing 17 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. His efficiency of 25 in 21 minutes was the best for Team USA against Australia. Solid.
Frank Siaca was a force in the paint for the Dominican Republic. He finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds (including 6 offensive), and 4 blocks, asserting his presence far beyond the box score. He posted an efficiency rating of 28. Imposing.
Hannes Steinbach was simply too much for Slovenia to handle. He nearly matched the entire Slovenian team’s rebound total on his own — they had 24, he had 19. Add 19 points and a tournament-leading efficiency rating of 38 in 30 minutes, and you get one word: dominant.
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