South Sudan Celebrates Historic Olympic Win Against Puerto Rico

South Sudan celebrated a historic milestone by winning its first Olympic basketball game, defeating Puerto Rico 90-79.

In their Olympic debut, South Sudan overcame a strong performance from Puerto Rico’s Jose Alvarado, who scored 26 points.

Carlik Jones led South Sudan with 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. Despite a close game, South Sudan pulled ahead in the final minutes, securing their victory.

This triumph not only marks a significant achievement for the team but also highlights their talent and determination on the Olympic stage.

South Sudan made history by winning its first Olympic basketball game, defeating Puerto Rico 90-79.

Despite a stellar performance from Jose Alvarado, who scored 26 points, South Sudan emerged victorious in its Olympic debut.

Carlik Jones led South Sudan with 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. His contributions were crucial in the tightly contested game.

The match was close, with South Sudan holding only a 2-point lead with 8 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

In the final minutes, Bul Kuol made a layup, and Marial Shayok added a jumper and two free throws.

This 10-2 run helped South Sudan build a double-digit lead with just under four minutes remaining. Puerto Rico could not recover, and South Sudan celebrated its first Olympic win.

The game had an unusual start. The organizers mistakenly played Sudan’s anthem instead of South Sudan’s. Despite this, South Sudan focused on the game and achieved a historic victory.

Key Performances:

• South Sudan: Carlik Jones: 19 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists; Marial Shayok: 15 points; Nuni Omot: 12 points; Bul Kuol: 12 points; Peter Jok: 11 points.
• Puerto Rico: Jose Alvarado: 26 points, Tremont Waters: 18 points, George Conditt IV: 13 points, Gian Clavell: 11 points.

Despite an injury scare in the second quarter, Alvarado returned to the court and continued to play. However, Puerto Rico could not overcome South Sudan’s strong finish.

South Sudan’s win marks a significant achievement in its Olympic journey, showcasing the team’s talent and determination.