By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Two teams with a regular presence the last years at Eurobasket championships seem to be in trouble after five game days in the qualifiers for the 2013 competition. In a Tuesday’s night game Israel – with NBAer Omri Casspi (photo) scoring 23 points – beat Serbia 89-76 and the Balkans now count two defeats in five games, while Turkey after failing to prevail at Czech Republic (82-64) have two loses in four games.
The first two teams of each group and the four best third placed teams will qualify for Eurobasket 2013. The host country Slovenia, France, FYROM, Great Britain, Greece, Lithuania, Russia and Spain have already qualify to the competition.
Group A
Slovakia – Montenegro 81-94
Iceland – Estonia 67-86
Israel – Serbia 89-76
STANDINGS (5 games)
1. Montenegro 5-0
2. Israel 3-2
3. Serbia 3-2
4. Estonia 3-2
5. Iceland 1-4
6. Slovakia 0-5
Group Β
Sweden – Luxemburg 111-74
Azerbaijan – Germany 68-85
STANDINGS (5 games)
1. Germany 4-0
2. Sweden2-2
3. Bulgaria 2-2
4. Azerbaijan 2-2
5. Luxemburg 0-4
Group C
Hungary – Cyprus 77-64
Austria – Croatia 75-82
STANDINGS (5 games)
1. Croatia 4-0
2. Ukraine 3-1
3. Hungary 2-2
4. Austria 1-3
5. Cyprus 0-4
Group D
Holland – Georgia 91-88
Latvia – Romania 89-53
STANDINGS (5 games)
1. Bosnia 3-1
2. Georgia 3-1
3. Latvia 2-2
4. Holland1-3
5. Romania 1-3
Group Ε
Switzerland – Finland 60-89
Belgium – Albania 97-59
STANDINGS (5 games)
1. Finland 4-0
2. Belgium 3-1
3. Poland 2-2
4. Switzerland 1-3
5. Albania 0-4
Group Ζ
Czech Republic – Turkey 82-64
Portugal – Belarus 75-82
STANDINGS (5 games)
1. Ιtaly 4-0
2. Czech Republic 3-1
3. Turkey 2-2
4. Belarus 1-3
5. Portugal 0-4