By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Five national teams moved to 2-0 in their Groups on Monday’s games of Day 2 of the European Qualifiers for the 2023 FIBA World Cup: Spain, Russia, Lithuania, France and Bosnia. Italy got its first victory after surviving a close battle vs. The Netherlands.
The first Window of the Qualifiers is over and the competition will resume on February 24.
Spain – Georgia 89 – 61
The Spanish side proved to be too much for Georgia that had to cope without leader Tornike Shengelia (leg injury). Sergio Scariolo’s players led from start to finish and were even up 33 points in a display of strength that puts them at 2-0 in Group G.
Xabi- Lopez Arostegui scored 14 points, Jaime Fernandez added 13 points while Yankuba Sima produced 17 points and 10 rebounds for Spain that shot 28-40 on 2-pointers while finishing with 24 assists overall.
Giorgi Shermadini (21 points, nine rebounds), Thad McFadden (14 points, five rebounds, five assists) and Beka Burjanadze (14 points, five boards) scored in double figures for Georgia that is now 1-1.
Italy – The Netherlands 75 – 73
Stefano Tonut made a big 3-pointers for the 72 – 69, Nikola Akelele followed with a layup after the offensive rebounds and Italy managed to bring down the Dutch team at home for its first win.
Akelele finished the game with 18 points and six rebounds, Tonut had 13 points plus six assists while Amedeo Tessitori scored 13 as well. Shane Hammink dropped 19 points for winless Netherlands.
Czech Republic – Lithuania 66 – 74
Defense was the word for Lithuania against Czech Republic. After trailing 23 – 19 in the first quarter, the visiting squad forced their opponents to just 43 points in 30 minutes to get the victory.
Mindaugas Kuzminskas (13 points), Martynas Echodas (12 points, 11 rebounds) and Eigirdas Zukauskas (11 points, eight rebounds) were Lithuania’s top contributors. Tomas Kyzlink led the Czech team with 21 points.
Montenegro – Portugal 83 – 69
Justin Cobbs scored 22 points and Vladimir Mihailovic added 16 as Montenegro grabbed its first win by subduing Poland at their home court. Zoran Nikolic took care of business inside the paint for the winning side with 11 points plus 11 boards.
Daniel Relvao led Portugal with 16 points
Hungary – France 54 – 78
After preventing an upset to Montenegro in the last quarter, this time France took over the game early and dominated completely vs. Hungary. The French big men went to work: Louis Labeyrie scored 19 points on perfect (7-7 from the field, 3-3 free throws) shooting and grabbed six rebounds while Mam Jaiteh added 15 points without missing a shot (7-7 2-pointers) as well.
From Hungary, Szilard Benke scored 14.
Russia – Iceland 89 – 65
Andrey Zubkov (14 points, seven rebounds) led a balanced Russian force that made short work of Iceland in St. Petersburg. The hosts were unstoppable and shot 13-28 3-pointers on their way to win.
Iceland even fell behind by 41 points before reducing the deficit in the fourth period. Elvar Fridriksson (13 points, seven rebounds) was their top scorer.
Bulgaria – Bosnia 75 – 85
Bosnia outplayed Bulgaria behind Miralem Halilovic’s 21 points and six rebounds, plus Dzanan Musa’s 17 points, to begin the Qualifiers with 2-0. Chavdar Kostov had 13 points and nine boards for Bulgaria.
Ukraine – North Macedonia 78 – 61
Ukraine used a 29 – 14 final period to make things simple down the stretch against their opponents. Artem Pustovyii’s effectiveness of 18 points on 8-9 shots (plus his five rebounds) was of big help to the hosts in a game where both teams rarely visited the line (six free throw attempts apiece).
Bojan Krstevski had 14 points for North Macedonia.
Latvia – Slovakia 82 – 74
Rihards Lomazs and his 28 points led Latvia’s offense for the team’s first win against competitive Slovakia. Vladimir Brondziasky posted 21 points and six rebounds for Slovakia.
Standings:
Group A
1. Belgium 4 (2-0)
2. Serbia 3 (1-1)
3. Latvia 2 (1-1)
4. Slovakia 2 (0-2)
Group B
1. Belarus 3 (1-1)
2. Turkey 3 (1-1)
3. Greece 3 (1-1)
4. Great Britain 3 (1-1)
Group C
1. Slovenia 4 (2-0)
2. Sweden 3 (1-1)
3. Finland 3 (1-1)
4. Croatia 2 (0-2)
Group D
1. Israel 4 (2-0)
2. Estonia 3 (1-1)
3. Germany 3 (1-1)
4. Poland 2 (0-2)
Group E
1. Hungary 3 (1-1) France 4 (2-0)
2. Montenegro 3 (1-1)
3. Hungary 3 (1-1)
4. Portugal 2 (0-2)
Group F
1. Lithuania 4 (2-0)
2. Bosnia and Herzegovina 4 (2-0)
3. Czech Republic 2 (0-2)
4. Bulgaria 2 (0-2)
Group G
1. Spain 4 (2-0)
2. Georgia 3 (1-1)
3. Ukraine 3 (1-1)
4. North Macedonia 2 (1-1)
Group H
1. Russia 4 (2-0)
2. Iceland 3 (1-1)
3. Italy 3 (1-1)
4. Netherlands 2 (0-2)