2nd Group: Serbia and the… rest

The group whose games will be played at the “Araneta Coliseum” in Manila, is the 2nd has a clear favorite. Although he will be without this year’s NBA champion and Finals MVP for the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic, the Serbia is the big favorite for the first place, since for another World Cup he is aiming for a long course. As for the second position, the experienced Puerto Rico seems to have a small lead, since China she is in a transitional stage, coming from consecutive bad competitions for her. Finally, the South Sudan looks like the weak link of the group, but he has come with ignorance of danger and can give us surprises in his first Mundobasket!

Serbia: Without Jokic and Micic, but with a roster capable of reaching high

She may have struggled too much in the qualifiers, having to wait until the last game to secure her presence at the upcoming MundoBasket, but since she did, she travels to Asia as one of the strongest teams. Although it will not have them in its composition Jokic and Micichis team Svetislav Pesic he has no choice but to aim for a medal, having a top-quality squad with plenty of options in all positions. Clear favorite for the first place in the 2nd group, it remains to confirm it on the court.

Star: Absence of Nikola Jokic, o Bogdan Bogdanovic it is he who is called upon to assume the role of leader. At 31 years old, the ace of the Atlanta Hawks is coming off a fairly good season in the NBA (14 points, 2.8 assists and 3.1 rebounds per average in 54 games played), he is a very capable scorer, very good shooter, while Micic is also absent, he will be asked to take initiatives in creation as well.

Advantages: Despite their absences, the Serbian national team remains a team capable of challenging for the distinction. Very capable offensively, while the experience and quality in their roster can take them up a notch.

Disadvantages: The fact that they will be playing without their best player, Nikola Jokic, is a huge disadvantage in itself. Add to that the absence of Vasilije Micic, a player who under normal circumstances would have the team’s… bucket in terms of the creative part of their game.

Assessment: Serbia will have no problem qualifying from the 2nd group, while if they perform according to their potential, they will reach the quarterfinals with relative comfort. Beyond that, the experience and quality of her players allows her to dream of a medal.

Serbia’s roster:



Alexa Abramović (25/10/1994 – 1.92 – G) Partisan

Bogdan Bogdanovic (18/8/1992 – 1.96m – G) Atlanta Hawks

Dejan Davindovac (17/1/1995 – 2.03 m.- F) CSKA Moscow

Ognien Dobrich (27/10/1994 – 2.00m – G/F) Red Star

Marko Guduric (8/3/1995 – 1.98m – G/F) Fenerbahce

Nikola Jovic (9/6/2003 – 2.08m – F) Maimi Heath

Vanja Marinkovic (9/1/1997 – 1.98m – G) Baskonia

Nikola Milutinov (30/12/1994 – 2.13m. – C) Olympiakos

Filip Petrusev (5/15/2000 – 2.11m – F) Philadelphia 76ers

Alexa Radanov (1/2/1998 – 2.01m – F)

Dusan Ristic (25/11/1995 – 2.13m – C) Galatasaray

Borisa Simanic (20/5/1998 – 2.11m – F) Zaragoza

Stefan Jovic (3/11/1990 – 1.98m – G) Zaragoza

Coach: Svetislav Pesic

China: With Sasha Djordjevic at the “helm” but with a low ceiling

Despite not playing a single game at home due to the country’s Covid restrictions, it had no problem qualifying for the World Basketball Championship, beating all the Asian qualifying teams except Australia. By Sasha Djordjevic benched since last summer and with a revamped roster, China is expected to do much better than it did at the 2019 Basketball World Cup, when it was ranked a not-so-honorable 24th. This will be her 10th appearance at the World Cup, with her best run coming in 1994, when she reached the quarter-finals.

Star: Lee Kayer or as he is known to us, Kyle Anderson. The 30-year-old NBAer was naturalized as a Chinese on July 24th last year and will wear red as the star of the team. With a very good perimeter shot, Anderson averaged 9.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists in the NBA with the Minnesota Timberwolves last season, is expected to be a standout for China in the upcoming WorldBasketball.

Advantages: The experience of Sasha Djordjevic on her bench may prove to be her biggest asset. In a roster without many performances, the Serbian coach will need to put all his … mastery if he wants to see his team reach the top.

Disadvantages: That all players on its roster except for Kyle Anderson are competing in the Chinese league. Inexperience and lack of performances at the top level may cost her.

Assessment: Since Serbia is clearly the best team in Group 2, first place seems to be… up for grabs. From there, China will try to qualify as second, but even if they do, it doesn’t look like they can make it to the knockouts.

China’s roster:



Kyle Anderson (9/20/1993 – 2.06m – F) Minnesota Timberwolves

Zhao Zhiwei (25/8/1995 – 1.85m. – G) Liaoning Flying Leopards

Zhang Zhenlin (28/1/1999 – 2.06m – F) Liaoning Flying Leopards

Fu Hao (24/8/1997 – 2.08m – F) Liaoning Flying Leopards

Zhu Peng (11/10/1989 – 1.93m – F) Shenzhen Leopards

Fang Suo (7/7/1990 – 1.88m – G) Beijing Shugang Ducks

Zheng Fanbo ( – 1.88m – ) Beijing Shugang Ducks

Cheng Shuipeng (3/6/1999 – 1.91m – G) Zhejiang Golden Bulls

Sun Mingui (27/3/1996 – 1.88m – G) Zhejiang Guangsha Lions

Zhu Yunlong (13/7/1993 – 1.98m – G) Zhejiang Guangsha Lions

Hu Yinqiu (24-9/1997 – 2.11m – C) Zhejiang Guangsha Lions

Chui Yongzhi (28/5/2003 – 1.99m – F) Guangzhou Long Lions

Hu Minghuan (10/3/1998 – 1.88m – G) Guangdong Southern Tigers

Zhao Rui (14/1/1996 – 1.96m – G) Guangdong Southern Tigers

Du Runwang (20/8/1999 – 2.06m – F) Guangdong Southern Tigers

Wang Zelin (20/1/1994 – 2.13m – C) Shanghai Sharks

Zhu Qi (16/1/1996 – 2.16m – C)

Coach: Sasha Djordjevic

Puerto Rico: With its “weapon” of homogeneity

He will be taking part in a World Cup for the 15th time, having missed just twice, in 1970 and 1982. He may never have managed to get on the podium, but he has been a consistent presence in the latter stages of the competition, with his best run going back to 4th place in the 1990 event held in Argentina. In the qualifiers he was initially nervous, but he got serious in the last two “windows” and took the qualification by celebrating four consecutive victories. With the NBAer, Jose Alvaradoto miss the tournament due to injury, the Tremont Waters, Ismael Romero and Christopher Ortiz they are expected to come forward, taking leading roles.

Star: The 25-year-old guard, Tremont Waters, was born and educated in the USA, has played with the Celtics, Raptors and Wizards, and has appeared in the NBA’s G-League. It’s coming off a very productive season for him in his return to Puerto Rico, while he also proved during the qualifiers that he can take on a leadership role by starring.

Advantages: A team with good homogeneity and players who have played several matches together in the qualifiers. They know each other’s game and that can give them the edge against the rest of the group.

Disadvantages: Limited quality on his roster. Athleticism and combativeness are good, but need more for the “something more”.

Assessment: They will battle China for the 2nd place in the group and will probably manage to qualify for the 2nd round, but that seems to be the best they can do.

Puerto Rico’s roster:



Tremont Waters (10/1/1998 – 1.78m – G) Carolina Giants

Jordan Howard (6/1/1996 – 1.80m – G) Obradeiro

Ethan Thompson (4/5/1999 – 1.96m – G) Windy City Bulls

John Holland (6/11/1988 – 1.96m – F) Hapoel Tel Aviv

Stephen Thompson (23/3/1997 – 1.94m – G) Bnei Herziliya

Philip Wheeler (4/23/2002 – 2.04m – F) Iowa Wolves

Alim Ford (22/12/1997 – 2.03m – F) Leones de Ponce

Isaiah Pinheiro (2/2/1995 – 2.01m – F/C) Pirates de Quebradillas

Justin Reges (16/3/1995 – 1.93m – F) Varese

Christopher Ortiz (2/4/1993 – 2.03m – F) Osos de Manati

Ismael Romero (23/6/1991 – 2.06m – F/C) Vaqueros de Bayamon

George Condit (8/22/2000 – 2.08m – F/C) Carolina Giants

Timay Parker-Rivera (9/2/1994 – 2.03m – F) Grises de Humacao

Arnaldo Toro Barea (28/10/1997 – 2.02m – F/C) Landstede Hammers

Coach: Nelson Colon

South Sudan: With the excitement of the first time

Having joined FIBA ​​only 10 years ago, South Sudan participates for first time in the World Cup! He presented an excellent competitive image in the African qualifiers and finally managed to get the qualification, knowing only one defeat in 12 games. In this magical course, South Sudan had the 41-year-old on the edge of its bench Royal Ivy (a long-time assistant in the NBA, Udoka’s partner in the Rockets since May), while when he had obligations with the Brooklyn Nets, his place was taken by a former NBAer, Luol Deng. The coaching team is also the biggest “asset” of this team, which comes with ignorance of risk to enjoy it.

Star: The 26-year-old centre, Wenyen Gabriel, is expected to be the benchmark of South Sudan. Coming off a busy season with the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA (68 games with 5.5 points, 4.2 rebounds per average), he will be the main source of danger for opposing defenses.

Advantages: Ignorance of risk and that he will play without any pressure whatsoever for the winning result. No one expects South Sudan to qualify, so they will have a chance to spring a surprise against anyone who underestimated them.

Disadvantages: The complete lack of experience from this type of competition is the team’s number one disadvantage. None of its players have been “baked” in such big matches and this can prove to be a damning thing when the ball is on fire.

Assessment: It may seem like the weakest link in Group 2, but neither Puerto Rico, nor China, are that far ahead of them. With “weapon” the excitement of the first time and under the instructions of the rising NBA coach, Royal Ivy, he could make a surprise.

South Sudan roster:



Junior Mandout (26/3/1997 – 1.98m – G) Norths Bears

Nouni Omot (3/10/1994 – 2.06m – F) Taichung Suns

Carlick Jones (23/12/1997 – 1.83m – G) Chicago Bulls

Emmanuel Acott (17/3/1999 – 2.03m – G/F) Ottawa Blackjacks

Mareng Gatkuoth (10/9/1999 – 1.98m – G) Tarleton State

Mangok Matiang (8/10/1992 – 2.08m – F/C) New Zealand Breakers)

Kuani Kuani (8/7/1994 – 2.01m – F) Kauhaionen Kahru

Mitiang Muo (4/3/1987 – 1.96m – G/F) Wolves

Deng Dut ( – 1.93m – G) Southern Utah

Marial Sayok (26/7/1995 – 1.98m – G/F) Maine Celtics

Deng Akuoth (24/10/1996 – 2.08m – C) Knox Riders

Mayok Deng (1/3/1993 – 2.05m – F) Logan Thunder

Peter Jock (30/3/1994 – 1.98m – G/F)

Kaman Maluah (14/9/2006 – 2.16m – C) NBA Academy Africa

Koch Bar (15/9/1996 – 2.11m – C) Horsens

Gob Gabriel (27/10/1999 – 2.00m – F) Bradford Christian

Wenyen Gabriel (26/3/1997 – 2.06m – F/C) Los Angeles Lakers

Sunday Deck (1/1/1994 – 1.95m – G) Adelaide 76ers

Coach: Royal Ivy