Two More Through, Two More Beaten
One Major Upset as Nigeria Steals the Limelight!
By WILL SIT, AP Writer
August 27, 2006
JAPAN (AP) -- Nigeria are set to play Greece in the next round after upsetting European power Germany in a 90-86 upset. NBA star Dirk Nowitzki played a horrible game finishing with just 12 points and 9 rebounds. His mistakes on offence cost the Germans dearly as he misfired on 4 for 11 shooting. His biggest mistake was taking a three pointer with three Nigerian players on him with his team mates open under the hoop.
Nowitzki left the stadium quickly, refusing to speak to reporters but the German players were more than happy to share their feelings and emotions. C Patrick Femerling scored 20 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. He said, after the game, “I don’t know if playing in the NBA does this to you but he is a lot cockier than last year we played together. I feel like he doesn’t trust us (team mates) any more.”
PG Pascal Roller scored 16 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists was also disappointed with his German team mate Nowitzki. “I remember when we won silver (at the Eurobasket) last year and it was a great feeling. He (Nowitzki) was a leader but now he isn’t. I don’t know what happened.”
Nigeria certainly put in a team effort as they were led by PG Kingsley Ogwudire’s 20 points and 7 assists. All of their starting five scored in double figures. The Nigerian coach was very pleased with the result, “We are just happy to be here. We beat Germany so that is a very good result.”
PF Ekene Ibekwe, who plays college basketball for Maryland in the NCAA, chipped in an impressive 12 points from off the bench. He was happy to help his team win, “Germany are a very good team. They have a NBA star and a lot of good players. We were very fortunate to beat them and also maybe very lucky to catch Dirk Nowtizki on a bad shooting day.”
The Germans and Nigerians kept level for much of the game before Nigeria took advantage of the slow pace to set up a small lead. With 45 seconds left in the game, Ogwudire dished off a nice pass inside to Ibekwe who put the ball in softly to create a slim 2 point lead. Nigeria sent an aggressive triple team at Dirk Nowitzki down in the corner of the court. The German threw up an ill advised shot and the ball didn’t even touch the rim. With that, Nowitzki walked off the court, calling his own substation before the Nigerians’ SF Awojobi made a shot to ice the game with 7.4 seconds left. Germany’s Roller then missed a shot at the buzzer.
Nigeria now advances to play Greece.
Greece 93, Puerto Rico 82
PF Sharif Fajardo scored 20 points and C Peter John Ramos added 17 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists as their Puerto Rican side fell victim to Greece. NBA PG Carlos Arroyo struggled on 3 for 11 shooting and finished on 9 points and 2 assists. SG Nikolaos Chatzivrettas led Greece with 23 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. PF Antonis Fotsis added 20 points and 8 rebounds for Greece in a game where they led from start to finish.
Game Images



