By William Madouk
South Sudan shoots rocket high to attain first-ever historic win in the ongoing Basketball World Cup with 89–69 points against China in Manila, Philippines.
This comes after the Bright Stars suffered a calamitous defeat in their opening match of the tournament against Puerto Rico with a 101-96 loss in overtime.
Just as the final whistle blew, all basketball fans watching the game live at Juba’s Nimra Talata basketball court jumped to their feet with joy and ululation.
Bright stars’ hard-earned success sparked off jubilation among South Sudanese with many wishing the FIBA debutants good luck in their upcoming match against an unbeaten Serbian team.
A self-styled prophet, Peter AD, who is the founder of the Stone International Church (SIC), congratulated the South Sudan Men’s Basketball Team on their incredible victory against China in the World Cup.
“Your hard work, dedication, and teamwork have truly paid off. The score of 89-69 is a testament to your skill and determination on the court,” Peter posted on his Facebook timeline.
He anticipated that the South Sudan Basketball Team would continue to shine on the world stage, showcasing the talent and resilience of the nation.
The Bright Stars will play the next match against Serbia on Wednesday, August 30th, 2023.
Ranked 62nd by FIBA, the South Sudanese basketball team still has a rough and tough journey ahead; they must defeat Serbia in an upcoming game to qualify for the next round of the competition.
“We will be praying for victory and success in the upcoming match. Stay focused, stay united, and remember that with God, all things are possible,” he added.
He quoted the book of Philippians 4:13, which says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Trust in God’s plan for you and let His presence be your source of inspiration and motivation.”
While the Chinese Embassy in South Sudan also came out to congratulate Bright Stars, they thanked both teams for the great match and wished them good luck in their upcoming matches.
Also, the Japanese Embassy in South Sudan congratulated the Bright Stars for beating China, adding that their Japanese basketball team also won a historic victory over Finland on August 27.
“Hope both teams will pave the way towards the second round!” it added.
Meanwhile, in Group B, Serbia, ranked 8th, and Puerto Rico, ranked 20th, have already earned their victories but are set for a fierce battle with each other later on Monday.
China now stays at the bottom of Group B and is set to compete with their last opponent, Puerto Rico, in the group phase.