1st Group: The Italians are favourites, the hosts and Towns are lurking

THE 1st group is one of the most… open groups in this year’s World Cup!

THE Italy can imagine the favorite for the first place, having by far the most… powder-smoked roster, however with it there are three more teams that have the possibility to get the coveted qualification.

With Jordan Clarkson on their roster and the world on their side as the host nation, the Philippines will have his chance, while the Dominican Republic will have after years superstar Karl Anthony Towns on their roster, who will lead their quest for the top two spots. Finally, no one writes her off either Angolawhich is traditionally the strongest basketball force in Africa!

Angola: Tough task for Africa’s most consistent basketball powerhouse

One of the strongest African basketball powers of all time (they have won the AfroBasket 11 times, more than any other country), Angola will be participating in a sixth consecutive World Cup, having lost just one of the last nine events held since 1986 . However, it will travel to the Philippines with a refreshed roster and after two consecutive failures, in the most recent pre-Olympic tournament and the 2021 AfroBasket, when it was eliminated in the quarterfinals. She finished 9th in the 2006 Mundobasket, her best run to date, while her work in the 1st group is characterized as very difficult.

Star: The only NBAer on her roster. The 24-year-old center, Bruno Fernando, has been playing in the USA since 2019, while he spent last season with the Rockets and Hawks, with whom he averaged 3.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in 39 games played.

Advantages: Among the African teams with the most experience in the competition, its know-how can help it to present itself competitively.

Disadvantages: Given the lack of quality in its roster, it will look to make up for it with the athleticism of its players.

Forecast: Logic says that Italy will top the group, while Angola will battle with the Dominican Republic and the Philippines for 2nd place. Low as her ceiling is.

Angola’s roster:

Wilson Ambrosio (6/8/1999 – 1.99m – F) Interclub

Markos Bala (12/6/2006 – 2.11m. – C) Center

Gilson Bango (6/1/1999 – 2.08m – C) Leuven

Klesio Kastro (22/2/1997 – 2.00m. – F) Sangalios

Silvio De Souza (7/10/1998 – 2.06m – F) Roane

Teotonio Do (20/5/1994 – 2.05m – F) Petro de Luanda

Gerson Domingos (16/4/1996 – 1.78m – G)Petro de Luanda

Childe Dudao (17/5/1998 – 1.67m – G)Petro de Luanda

João Fernandes (1/12/1992 – 2.00m.- C) Sporting

Bruno Fernando (15/8/1998 – 2.08m – C) Atlanta Hawks

Danielson Francisco (19/5/1999 – 1.89m – G/F) Electric

Eduardo Francisco (5/11/2003 – 1.98m – F) Benfica

Abubakar Gaku (27/5/1997 – 2.01m – F) Petro de Luanda

Gerson Gonsalves (29/5/1996 – 1.93m – G) Petro de Luanda

Aldemiro Joao (7/8/1993 – 2.06m – C) Petro de Luanda

Kevin Kokila (3/9/2001 – 2.03m – F/C) Bourges

Jeronimo Luis (30/11/1999 – 1.97m. – F) Sangalios

Jose Maconda (28/11/2001 – 1.88m – G) Sangalios

Elder Neto (4/7/2001 – 1.98m – G/F) Paso de Arcos

Milton Valente (28/9/1998 – 1.98m – G/F) Primeiro de Agosto

Aginaldo Neto (29/4/2006 – 1.85m – G)

Leonel Paulo (30/4/1986 – 1.98m – F)

Coach: Josep Claros

Italy: Favorites of the group with forwards Fontecchio, Meli and… Poceco

Theoretically the strongest team in Group 1, Italy come to this year’s World Cup aiming to qualify from the 1st round and then claim as much as they can. Without Gallinari, the “tobacco-smoked” Belinelli, Magnion, but also Bankero, who finally chose to compete for the US national team, the Italians rely on their team effort to claim the first medal in its history in Mundobasket!

Star: Simone Fontecchio is the team’s top scorer and is expected to… pull the paddle aggressively from the “3” position. Coming off his first NBA season with the Jazz, he averaged 6.3 points in 52 games played. Nikolo Meli is expected to be decisive in the positions of the tall.

Advantages: On its bench since last summer, Gianmarco Poceco has managed to make the Italian national team again. This team spirit and the good atmosphere that exists in the dressing room, is expected to be the greatest weapon of the Italians.

Disadvantages: The last time he managed to get on the podium of a major event was in 2004, at the Olympic Games in Athens. The absence of Gallinari is problematic, while there seems to be a gap in the position of centers.

Forecast: They will qualify from Group 1, managing to leave behind at least one of Angola, the Philippines and the Dominican Republic. Then things will get tough, but she is capable of reaching the knockouts.

Marco Spisou (5/2/1995 – 1.84m. – G) Venice

Stefano Tonout (7/11/1993 – 1.94m – G) Armani Milan

Nikolo Meli (26/1/1991 – 2.05m. – F/C) Armani Milan

Simone Fontecchio (9/12/1995 – 2.03m – F) Utah Jazz

Giambaolo Ricci (27/9/1991 – 2.01m – F) Olympia Milano

Matteo Spaniolo (10/1/2003 – 1.93m – G) Trento

Achille Polonara (23/11/1991 – 2.03m – F) Bologna

Mohamed Diouf (10/9/2001 – 2.06m – F/C) Breogan

Luca Severini (20/6/1996 – 2.04m – F) Dertona

Gabriele Prosida (1/6/2002 – 2.01m – G/F) Alba

Alessandro Paiola (9/11/1999 – 1.94m – G) Bologna

Luigi Datome (27/11/1987 – 2.02m – F) Olympia Milano

Coach: Gianmarco Poceco

Dominican Republic: Will chase qualification with leader Towns

Her third participation in a World Cup, she was present in both the 2014 and 2019 events. Despite the difficulties she faced in the qualifiers, she changed her coach and improved her image, managing to eliminate Argentina by beating them home and away, taking so the qualification! NBAers Holford and Duarte are out of the World Cup, however, Tomberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns will travel to Manila and lead his team’s efforts! This year he averaged 20.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists.

Star: Without a second thought, Karl-Anthony Towns, who returns to his national team after a decade (2013). One of the brightest names in the competition, the 27-year-old is considered one of the best centers in the NBA and even though defense is not his strong point, offensively he can score any way he wants!

Advantages: She is visibly improved after replacing Melvin Lopez and with Nestor Garcia in her technical leadership and can… maintain her good momentum in Mundobasket as well. The fact that she is not in the most difficult group allows her to dream of qualification.

Disadvantages: The lack of quality on the Dominican Republic’s roster will hardly be filled by Towns. In case she ends up qualifying from the 1st round, it could cost her later.

Assessment: He can leave behind the Philippines and Angola, so that he gets the qualification in the 2nd round. From there on, things will get difficult.

Andres Feliz (15/7/1997 – 1.83m – G) Badalona

Gelvis Solano (9/2/1997 – 1.83m – G) National

Jean Montero (3/7/2003 – 1.90m – G) Betis

Victor Liz (12/5/1986 – 1.90m – G) Capitanes de Arecibo

Rigoberto Mendoza (3/7/1992 – 1.91m – G) Captains

El Jay Figueroa (28/5/1998 – 1.98m – F) Ulm

Lester Quinones (16/11/2000 – 1.93m – G) Golden State Warriors

Angel Delgado (20/11/1994 – 2.05m – F) Carciyaka

Karl Anthony Towns (15/11/1995 – 2.13m – C) Minnesota Timberwolves

Antonio Peña (20/6/1986 – 2.03m – F) Brigantes de Julia

Gerardo Suero (9/10/1989 – 1.94m – F) Vanqueros de Bayamon

Eloi Vargas (30/12/1988 – 2.12m. – C) Atlético Aguada

Coach: Nestor Garcia

Philippines: With Clarkson and the world on her side

One of the three organizers, it will host this year’s Mundobasket together with Indonesia and Japan. They will compete in a World Cup for the 7th time in their history and 3rd in a row, looking for a better run compared to the disappointment of 2019 (finished 32nd out of 32 teams that participated). Led by NBAer, Jordan Clarkson and with the help of their crowd, the Philippines will look for the breakthrough!

Star: Jordan Clarkson was late but eventually integrated into the team’s mission, taking on the role of leader. At 31, he is coming off the best season of his career, after averaging 20.8 points, 4.4 assists and 4 rebounds per game for the Utah Jazz last NBA season!

Advantages: Given the limited quality on their roster, the fact that they will play all of their home games in packed stadiums is their biggest advantage.

Disadvantages: That Jordan Clarkson is the only player on their roster with experience at the top level. All the rest are playing for teams in Asia, which is expected to affect the important games.

Assessment: Their goal is initially to get the qualification from the 1st round, which if it doesn’t happen it will be a failure, given that the team will be playing at home. From then on, it will hardly be able to make a long march.

Renz Abado (11/5/1998 – 1.88m – G/F) Anyang

Japeth Aguilar (1/25/1987 – 2.06m – F/C) Barangay

Jordan Clarkson (7/6/1992 – 1.96m – G) Utah Jazz

AJ Edo (1/1/2000 – 2.08m – F/C) Toyama Georgia

June Fajado (17/11/1989 – 2.08m – C) San Miguel Beermen

Zem Malonjo (31/7/1996 – 2.01m – F) Barangay

Chris Newsome (25/7/1990 – 1.88m – G/F) Meralco Bolts

Calvin Oftana (3/1/1996 – 1.95m – F) TNT Tropang Giga

Bobby Ray Parks (19/2/1993 – 1.93m – G) Nagoya Diamond Dolphins

CJ Perez (17/11/1993 – 1.88m – G/F) San Miguel Beermen

Roger Pogoi (16/6/1992 – 1.88m – G/F) TNT Tropang Giga

Dwight Ramos (2/9/1998 – 1.93m – G) Levanwga Hokkaido

Kiefer Ravena (27/10/1993 – 1.85m – G) Singha Lakes

Thirdy Ravena (17/12/1996 – 1.89m – G) Sanen NeoPhoenix

Kai Soto (11/5/2002 – 2.22m – C) Hiroshima Dragonflies

Scotty Thompson (12/7/1993 – 1.86m – G) Barangay

Coach: Vincent Reges