By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
A brilliant defensive effort for Belgium turned the tables on Spain.
The Lions went from an eight-point deficit to a five-point lead with 13 unanswered points and ended up with a win, 58-53, in Charleroi’s Dome on Sunday evening.
Dropping nine of a game-high 19 points in the fourth period before fouling out, 30-year-old guard Retin Obasohan delivered a key contribution for the team coached by Dario Gjergja. Scoring all eight team points in the second quarter kept his side alive en route to a 2-0 start in Group C of the 2025 EuroBasket Qualifiers.
Pierre-Antoine Gillet piled up 15 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and one assist in a low-scoring yet exciting Gameday 2 contest. A game-high eight rebounds for the 32-year-old forward boosted yet another game-high, an efficiency rating of 22. Ismael Bako threw in eight points, five rebounds, three blocks, one assist, and one steal.
Despite leading for nearly 27 minutes, the team guided by Sergio Scariolo suffered a second straight loss in the Qualification Round. An uphill battle in next season’s international windows to defend the 2022 championship in the 2025 EuroBasket. With Latvia among the four hosts of the tournament, La Roja must overcome the sluggish start to punch in a ticket by ranking over at least one of Belgium and Slovakia.
In Charleroi, Dario Brizuela recorded a team-high 14 points behind 11 points after the break. Joel Parra followed with ten points to his name.
Postgame press conference
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL