LAUSANNE (Switzerland) - All of the hard work the Switerzland basketball leaders have put into their youth program in recent years paid off on Day 2 of the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025 as the host nation won their first game in the competition's history.
Switzerland's victory was the first on the global stage for a men's team since the country beat Ireland and Iraq at the 1948 Olympics.
The only victory by the country in a FIBA world event since then was the Swiss women beating Cuba 17-5 at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 1953.
Switzerland fought off Dominican Republic 80-76 as they were inspired by a boisterous Lausanne Arena crowd, including Swiss stars Clint Capela, Kyshawn George and Thabo Sefolosha sitting courtside.
The stars were out for the Swiss team
Switzerland, who lost 102-77 in the opening game to Israel, took a 15-point cushion in the first half and the fought off the Americas side in the final 20 minutes - especially thanks to some hot three-point shooting in the final two quarters. The biggest of them was 17-year-old Dario Cokara hitting from the corner for a 78-72 lead with 78 seconds to go. Cokara added a free throw with 7.1 seconds to play to ice the game.
"No words, really. It's an impossible feeling. We came here as underdogs and I know that we have a great team and we can compete with anybody. And we showed it today with our team energy. I am really proud of the team. They gave me confidence for the shot at the end," Cokara said.
Dayan Nessah led the way with 23 points, Oliver Sassella had 19 points and Andrin Njock scored 15 points for the host team, which is making their debut in the junior global championship.
"This means that basketball is alive and when we put it together and give the fans a show, they come out in numbers," Sefolosha said. "It was good to experience that here in Switzerland with the fans and the team that had a good win today."
A total of 4,576 fans came out for the game - a number that was also inspiring for Cokara.
"It was incredible. The atmosphere was just crazy. I have never played in front of so many people and it was an honor to play in front of them," Cokara said.
And the youngster was moved to think about Swiss royalty of the likes of Sefolosha, Capela and George among the fans.
"I grew up watching them so it was crazy that they are courtside at my game watching me. It was a dream come true for me," Cokara added.
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