In a sensational display of basketball prowess, Jordan Clarkson led the host nation, the Philippines, to a resounding 96-75 victory over China in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.
This crucial win not only marked the Philippines’ first victory in the tournament but also kept their hopes alive for a spot in the 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.
Clarkson’s remarkable performance saw him scoring an astonishing 24 points in the third quarter alone, ultimately ending the game as the top scorer with an impressive 34 points.
The thrilling match, held in front of an ecstatic crowd of 11,080 at the Manila Araneta Coliseum, was part of the Classification 17-32 Group M.
With this victory, the Philippines avoided joining the ranks of host nations that failed to secure a win in the World Cup, a fate that befell the Philippines in 1978 and Colombia in 1982.
The win also improved the Philippines’ historical record against China to 10-6.
This encounter marked the first-ever meeting between the two teams in the World Cup, with their only previous clash occurring in the 1948 Olympics, where the Philippines emerged victorious with a score of 51-32.
