By REYNALD MAGALLON
It was all good and happy mood after Team USA easily rolled to a 3-0 record in the first round of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Anthony Edwards drew laughter from the members of the press after sharing how simple-minded he is in approaching the tournament as big as the global showpiece.
“For me, it’s just ‘put the ball in the basket and get a stop’,” said the 22-year-old Edwards to which USA coach Steve Kerr quickly quipped: “That’s why we love him. That’s all we need from him,” again drawing smiles from the people inside the room.
The world No. 2 Americans seemed to be really enjoying their stay here in Manila and they hoped to keep it that way once they open the second round of pool play against Montenegro.
The fancied USA team aims to keep their 3-0 record unblemished against the Black Mountains in the 4:30 p.m. affair which will also kick things off in the Group J action in the second round.
The match will be followed by the showdown between the also unbeaten Lithuania and Group B second seed Greece in the second game at 8:30 p.m.
Although wary of the first real World Cup test in the second round against the European teams, Team USA is not lacking in confidence that it will once again top the second round and book a spot to the Top 8.
“I think we’re gonna win,” declared Edwards.
“I think we have a great chance of winning. We have a great coaching staff, we have great players. Our confidence is at an all-time high, so we’re not really worried about those guys,” he added.
Kerr, for his part, believes that USA will be facing some challenges in the second round although he likes how his team is finally adjusting to the FIBA style of play evident in US’ 110-62 dominance over Jordan.
“It’s going to be tougher from here,” said Kerr.
“We didn’t get off to good starts in the last couple of games. So it felt good to jump right out and grab that early lead,” said Kerr, whose team easily erected a 62-33 lead in the first two quarters of the contest.
