By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
After the eight-game action on February 24th, the 2023 FIBA World Cup qualifiers continued with as many matchups the following day. The highlight was the clash between Greece and Turkey with the former getting a close 72-71 win in the final moments of the game.
Although Turkey was up 71-68 with two minutes remaining, in the low-scoring finish, Georgios Papagiannis made the dunk and Kostas Papanikolau scored two free throws to hand Greece the win.
Papanikolau was fouled by Samet Geyik with three seconds remaining as he was trying to start the transition after a defensive rebound. Shane Larkin had the final shot but he fell short from the corner.
Papagiannis and Dimitrios Agravanis led the scorers of the winning team with 14 points each while Papanikolau and Vasilis Mouratos scored ten each. For Turkey, Melih Mahmutoglu had 21 and Larkin ten points.
Meanwhile, Germany got a 71-67 win over Israel thanks to Justus Hollatz who logged 16 points and eight assists, as well as Robin Benzing who scored 17 points.
Sasu Salin exploded for Finland in an 86-76 win over Slovenia. He banked in 25 points on 7-11 shooting from three. Zoran Dragic tried to respond for the losing side with 25 points as well.
Estonia got a 75-71 win over Poland while Sweden got the better of Croatia with 70-64 on the scoreboard. Both teams on the losing end are now in major trouble with 0-3 records in their respective groups and will have to step up big time if they wish to avoid elimination.
Lastly, Serbia dropped Slovakia to 0-3 with a 75-63 win behind Aleksa Avramovic’s 14 points. Marko Jagodic-Kuridza scored 13, as did Jovan Novak. In the same group, Latvia got the better of Belgium barely with 66-65 as the three teams hold the same 2-1 records.
2023 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers (first round):
Group A
Serbia – Slovakia 75-63
Belgium – Latvia 65-66
Standings
1. Belgium 5 (2-1)
2. Latvia 5 (2-1)
3. Serbia 5 (2-1)
4. Slovakia 3 (0-3)
Group B
Greece – Turkey 72-71
Belarus – Great Britain PPD
Standings
1. Greece 5 (2-1)
2. Turkey 4 (1-2)
3. Belarus 3 (1-1)
4. Great Britain 3 (1-1)
Group C
Finland – Slovenia 86-76
Croatia – Sweden 64-70
Standings
1. Sweden 5 (2-1)
2. Finland 5 (2-1)
3. Slovenia 5 (2-1)
4. Croatia 3 (0-3)
Group D
Israel – Germany 67-71
Estonia – Poland 75-71
Standings
1. Israel 5 (2-1)
2. Germany 5 (2-1)
3. Estonia 5 (2-1)
4. Poland 3 (0-3)
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