By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Spain improved to 3-0 in Group G of the 2023 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers after defeating Ukraine, 71-42, at Cordoba’s Palacio Municipal de Deportes Vista Alegre on Thursday evening, merely a few hours after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine resulted in a war. Xabier Lopez-Arostegui and Quino Colom stood out with 15 and 14 points, respectively, for the team coached by Sergio Scariolo. On the opposite end, Jerome Randle scored a game-high 21 points.
After squandering a 14-point advantage, Iceland earned a double-overtime win, 107-105, against Italy in Hafnarfjordur’s Ithrottamidstod Asvellir. Tryggvi Hlinason posted a monster 34-point, 21-rebound double-double along with five blocks lasting over 43 minutes. In the other Group H matchup, Russia defeated the Netherlands, 80-69, at Perm’s Molot, and went up to 3-0. Artem Komolov of UNICS Kazan connected five triples en route for a game-high 17 points.
Louis Labeyrie generated 15 points as France dominated Portugal, 94-56, in Dijon. In the other Group E affair, Vladimir Mihailovic powered Montenegro to the 83-67 victory versus Hungary in Debrecen’s Fonix Hall. The Mornar Barsko zlato point guard hit 10/12 from the field for a game-high 27 points. For the losing side, Zoltan Perl had 14 points, seven assists, and four rebounds.
In Group F, Osvaldas Olisevicius scored 18 points as Lithuania edged Bosnia-Herzegovina, 78-77, at Mejdan. The battle of 0-2 sides saw Bulgaria beat the Czech Republic, 79-70, to get off the mark. Dee Bost stared at Arena Botevgrad tallying 24 points, six assists, five rebounds, and one steal.
Giorgi Shermadini dominated banking in 20 points, 15 rebounds, and six assists as Georgia prevailed, 91-70, over North Macedonia. Thad McFadden scored a game-high 26 points in the Group G contest held at Tbilisi Sports Palace. Bojan Krstevski posted an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double in the losing effort.
The meeting between Belarus and Great Britain, initially scheduled to be held Wednesday in Minsk, was postponed.
2023 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers (first round):
Group A
Serbia – Slovakia (25/2, 20:30 CET)
Belgium – Latvia (25/2, 20:30 CET)
Standings
1. Belgium 4 (2-0)
2. Latvia 3 (1-1)
3. Serbia 3 (1-1)
4. Slovakia 2 (0-2)
Group B
Greece – Turkey (25/2, 17:00 CET)
Belarus – Great Britain PPD
Standings
1. Belarus 3 (1-1)
2. Turkey 3 (1-1)
3. Greece 3 (1-1)
4. Great Britain 3 (1-1)
Group C
Finland – Slovenia (25/2, 17:30 CET)
Croatia – Sweden (25/2, 18:30 CET)
Standings
1. Slovenia 4 (2-0)
2. Sweden 3 (1-1)
3. Finland 3 (1-1)
4. Croatia 2 (0-2)
Group D
Israel – Germany (25/2, 13:30 CET)
Estonia – Poland (25/2, 18:00 CET)
Standings
1. Israel 4 (2-0)
2. Germany 3 (1-1)
3. Estonia 3 (1-1)
4. Poland 2 (0-2)
Group E
Hungary – Montenegro 67-83
France – Portugal 94-56
Standings
1. France 6 (3-0)
2. Montenegro 5 (2-1)
3. Hungary 4 (1-2)
4. Portugal 3 (0-3)
Group F
Bulgaria – Czech Republic 79-70
Bosnia-Herzegovina – Lithuania 77-78
Standings
1. Lithuania 6 (3-0)
2. Bosnia-Herzegovina 5 (2-1)
3. Bulgaria 4 (1-2)
4. Czech Republic 3 (0-3)
Group G
Georgia – North Macedonia 91-70
Spain – Ukraine 88-74
Standings
1. Spain 6 (3-0)
2. Georgia 5 (2-1)
3. Ukraine 4 (1-2)
4. North Macedonia 3 (0-3)
Group H
Russia – Netherlands 80-69
Iceland – Italy 107-105 2OT (94-94, 85-85)
Standings
1. Russia 6 (3-0)
2. Iceland 5 (2-1)
3. Italy 4 (1-2)
4. Netherlands 3 (0-3)
-Top three teams of each group advance to the next round
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL