By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Five more teams qualified on Saturday for the Eurobasket 2022 with Latvia and Montenegro missing the cut and missing the chance to play in the final tournament.
Turkey defeated Sweden, 88-80, on Saturday at Istanbul but needed a favoring result in the other Group D game to seal its EuroBasket berth. Youngster Alperen Sengun left his mark on the Qualifiers affair with a 24-point, 12-rebound double-double to go along with three assists, two steals, and one block. Jonas Jerebko in his national team return scored a team-high 21 points for the visitors.
In the second BJK Akatlar Arena match, the Netherlands beat Croatia, 65-57, earning a spot in the EuroBasket final stage for themselves and Turkey, while Sweden was eliminated. Yannick Franke was responsible for 15 points and Keye van der Vuurst de Vries added 11. Zeljko Sakic posted a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double for the previously clinched Croatians.
France clinched in Group G with a late run, 14-4, to overcome Montenegro, 73-71, at Podgorica. Isaia Cordinier powering a clutch three-point play and Thomas Heurtel with a team-high 16 points were the main contributors. Petar Popovic sank a game-high 17 points and Marko Simonovic added 15 points for the knocked-out hosts.
Earlier, Luke Nelson banked the game-winner for Great Britain in the win, 83-81, against Germany that following the above result shot the Brits in the final stage. The former UC Irvine player finished with 17 points trailing only teammate Gabriel Olaseni and his 20 points.
Belgium punched in its ticket off the victory, 88-65, over Denmark at Vilnius. Retin Obasohan stood out with 19 points, five rebounds, and two assists. He was 8/11 from the field, including 3/3 from beyond the arc in the Group C game.
Vaidas Kariniauskas registered a team-high 15 points as Lithuania approached the remaining Group C advancing slot by downing the Czech Republic, 94-74. The bubble hosts will collide with Denmark on Monday with a EuroBasket berth hanging in the balance.
At Riga, two late free throws by Aleksandar Yanev pushed Bulgaria over Latvia, 66-65, and in the Group H advancing field. Dee Bost with a game-high 18 points led the way for the visiting team. Janis Timma logged a team-high 14 points as his side was taken out of contention.
The first Group H match featured two sides already progressed with Bosnia and Herzegovina getting the best of Greece, 84-60. Emir Sulejmanovic packing a 23-point, 13-rebound double-double was the top performer.
In a similar matchup, Ukraine beat Slovenia, 70-65, in the only Group F game of the day at the Kiev bubble. Jerome Randle got 24 points for the hosts.
Group A
1. y-Israel 10 (5-0)
2. y-Spain 8 (3-2)
3. y-Poland 7 (2-3)
4. x-Romania 5 (0-5)
Group B
1. h-Italy 9 (4-1)
2. y-Russia 8 (3-2)
3. Estonia 6 (2-2)
4. North Macedonia 4 (0-4)
Group C
Belgium – Denmark 88-65
Czech Republic – Lithuania 74-94
1. y-Belgium 9 (4-1)
2. Lithuania 8 (3-2)
3. Denmark 7 (2-3)
4. h-Czech Republic 5 (1-4)
Group D
Turkey – Sweden 88-80
Croatia – Netherlands 57-65
1. y-Croatia 9 (4-1)
2. y-Netherlands 8 (3-2)
3. y-Turkey 7 (2-3)
4. x-Sweden 6 (1-4)
Group E
1. h-Georgia 9 (4-1)
2. y-Serbia 8 (3-2)
3. y-Finland 7 (2-3)
4. x-Switzerland 6 (1-4)
Group F
Ukraine – Slovenia 70-65
1. y-Slovenia 10 (4-2)
2. y-Ukraine 8 (3-2)
3. y-Hungary 7 (3-1)
4. x-Austria 5 (0-5)
Group G
Germany – Great Britain 81-83
Montenegro – France 71-73
1. y-France 9 (4-1)
2. y-Great Britain 8 (3-2)
3. x-Montenegro 7 (2-3)
4. h-Germany 6 (1-4)
Group H
Greece – Bosnia and Herzegovina 60-84
Latvia – Bulgaria 65-66
1. y-Bosnia and Herzegovina 9 (4-1)
2. y-Greece 8 (3-2)
3. y-Bulgaria 7 (2-3)
4. x-Latvia 6 (1-4)
y-clinched EuroBasket berth
h-among EuroBasket hosts
x-eliminated
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL