KAYSERI – Olimpio Cipriano scored 30 points as Angola rallied from a 10-point deficit late in the game to stun Germany 92-88 in overtime and advance to the round of 16 at the basketball world championship on Wednesday.
Angola began the tournament by losing by 50 points to Serbia but improved with every game and capped its run by beating Germany for the first time.
‘We made history for Angola today,’ coach Luis Magalhaes said. ‘My players never give up, they are warriors.’
Joaquim Gomes added 16 points and 14 rebounds for Angola and Miguel Lutonda had 13. Jan Jagla led Germany with 23.
‘This win means a lot for Angola, because basketball is so big in our country,’ Gomes said.
Jagla’s 3-pointer made it 74-64 to Germany with 3:56 minutes left on the clock.
But Angola wasn’t finished.
Gomes sank a 3-pointer to put Angola within six, Felizardo Ambrosio stole the ball for a dunk and after both teams wasted their next two possessions, Ambrosio made another 3 to make it a one-point game. Heiko Schaffartzik made one free throw but Cipriano sank both to send the game into overtime.
In overtime, Schaffartzik’s 3-pointer got Germany within three with seconds remaining, but Ambrosio then made both free throws to secure the win. Ambrosio finished with nine points and seven rebounds.
Serbia, Argentina, Australia and Angola will advance from Group A. Serbia and Argentina will decide the pool winner on Thursday. – Nampa-AP
