By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Turkey overcame a sluggish start to prevail, 84-67, over Great Britain at Sinan Erdem Arena, Istanbul. Naturalized Shane Larkin produced 22 points shooting 7/10 from the field on Sunday evening. His fifth international cap additionally featured eight assists, four rebounds, two blocks, and one steal. Bugrahan Tuncer and Metecan Birsen posted double-doubles, 17 points and 12 assists, and 11 points and 12 rebounds, respectively. Daniel Clark led the visitors with 17 points.
Elsewhere in Gameday 2 of the FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers, Belgium locked down Serbia in the fourth quarter to earn the win, 73-69, at Mons Arena. The visitors were outscored, 19-6, in the final ten minutes. Sam Van Rossom hit seven of his 20 points in the fourth period. Ismael Bako posted a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double plus five assists and two steals. For Serbia, Aleksa Avramovic logged a team-high 19 points.
Klemen Prepelic poured a game-high 30 points with 7/14 from the field, including 4/8 from beyond the arc, and also dished out eight assists for Slovenia in the win, 94-89, against Sweden, at Bonifika Arena, Koper. Jaka Blazic chipped in 23 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. Ludvig Hakanson posted a 21-point, 14-rebound double-double in the loss.
Upstart Edon Maxhuni tapped 15 points and veteran forward Shawn Huff added 14 points as Finland made 14 triples in the 77-71 victory over Croatia. For the losing side falling to 0-2 in Group C, Filip Bundovic finished with 16 points at Espoo Metro Arena.
Dimitris Agravanis and Leonidas Kaselakis filed in 14 points apiece as Greece beat Belarus, 77-67, at Nick Galis Hall with legend Nick Galis himself in attendance. Maksim Salash and Uladzislau Blizniuk sharing the game-high 17 points fell short of the win in Thessaloniki.
Israel doubled up with the win, 79-69, against Estonia at Tallinn’s Saku Suurhall. Nimrod Levi, Gal Mekel, John DiBartolomeo, and Rafi Menco all got to ten points. Mikk Jurkatamm punched in 14 points for the hosts.
Germany narrowly held on to secure the win, 72-69, versus Poland at Lublin’s Globus Arena. David Kramer starred packing 24 points. For the losing side, Jakub Schenk had 17 points.
Sunday results and standings:
Group A
Belgium – Serbia 73-69
1. Belgium 4 (2-0)
2. Serbia 3 (1-1)
3. Latvia 1 (0-1)
4. Slovakia 1 (0-1)
Group B
Greece – Belarus 77-67
Turkey – Great Britain 84-67
1. Belarus 3 (1-1)
2. Turkey 3 (1-1)
3. Greece 3 (1-1)
4. Great Britain 3 (1-1)
Group C
Finland – Croatia 77-71
Slovenia – Sweden 94-89
1. Slovenia 4 (2-0)
2. Sweden 3 (1-1)
3. Finland 3 (1-1)
4. Croatia 2 (0-2)
Group D
Estonia – Israel 69-79
Poland – Germany 69-72
1. Israel 4 (2-0)
2. Estonia 3 (1-1)
3. Germany 3 (1-1)
4. Poland 2 (0-2)
Group E
1. Hungary 2 (1-0)
2. France 2 (1-0)
3. Portugal 1 (0-1)
4. Montenegro 1 (0-1)
Group F
1. Lithuania 2 (1-0)
2. Bosnia and Herzegovina 2 (1-0)
3. Czech Republic 1 (0-1)
4. Bulgaria 1 (0-1)
Group G
1. Spain 2 (1-0)
2. Georgia 2 (1-0)
3. Ukraine 1 (0-1)
4. North Macedonia 1 (0-1)
Group H
1. Russia 2 (1-0)
2. Iceland 2 (1-0)
3. Netherlands 1 (0-1)
4. Italy 1 (0-1)
-Top three teams of each group advance to the next round
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL