China’s Kyle Anderson within the Fiba World Cup sport in opposition to Serbia. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web
MANILA, Philippines — China coach Sasa Djordevic stays affected person with NBA veteran Kyle Anderson, who additionally goes by his Chinese language title Li Kaier, after a scoreless Fiba World Cup 2023 debut of their 105-63 blowout loss to Serbia on Saturday at Sensible Araneta Coliseum.
Anderson, who obtained Chinese language citizenship final month, missed all of his 9 photographs and solely chipped in 4 rebounds and 4 assists and was a minus 35 in 25 minutes of motion in opposition to the Bogdan Bogdanovic-led Serbia.
Regardless of Anderson’s underwhelming debut, Djordevic admitted that the Minnesota Timberwolves ahead was hounded by the Serbians’ hermetic protection.
“I don’t like to speak personally except somebody had a very nice sport and I can put emphasis on that and actually put him in an incredible highlight. He was inside our sport, they discovered each time good traps on him and good conditions defensively. He tried to seek out some open photographs, it didn’t go in, some simple layups after all to maintain him going,” Djordevic, who hails from Serbia, mentioned within the postgame press convention after the 105-63 loss to the Serbs.
However Djordevic is protecting his religion in Anderson, anticipating him to bounce again from such a disappointing debut.
“That’s one sport. For him additionally, it’s his first time to play groups like this, first time within the World Cup. All the pieces wants time. We’re simply affected person. Head up, we all know what we have now to do. He is aware of what he has to do,” he mentioned.
Bogdanovic, who led the best way for Serbia with 14 factors, mentioned Anderson remains to be adjusting to the Fiba play.
“Robust sport for him, however for positive he’s attempting to regulate. That is his first event, so I understand how it’s whenever you’re taking part in a special sport. He’ll want time to regulate,” mentioned the Serbian skipper and Atlanta Hawks capturing guard.
Like Bogdanovic, his teammate Svetislav Pesic nonetheless lauded Anderson, believing China’s naturalized star will discover his groove because the event goes on.
“Glorious participant, very good participant. For him, it’s a brand new state of affairs. First time to play FIBA basketball. The gaps on the courtroom in FIBA basketball are smaller than the NBA. Like all people is aware of, he’s one participant who for his dimension is superb at ball dealing with. Good eyes, he’s not a scorer. He’s like a second level guard,” Pesic mentioned. “I feel from day after day, he’ll discover his rhythm to work out and play our FIBA basketball.”
Anderson and China search to rebound in opposition to South Sudan on Monday on the Huge Dome earlier than going through Puerto Rico of their final Group B sport on Wednesday.
China can be vying to emerge as the perfect Asian group of the event for an outright berth within the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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