By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Moving past the bottom half of Gameday 5 of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in Europe, four berths in the next round await their holders. Montenegro, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Ukraine all got the job done Friday evening.
Nemanja Radovic hit the game-winning shot as Montenegro upset France, 70-69, in Podgorica. The UCAM Murcia forward recorded a team-high 15 points and naturalized Jonah Radebaugh added 12 more points. Vincent Poirier packing an 18-point, 12-rebound double-double failed to prevent Les Bleus’ first loss in Group E. Clinching alongside Montenegro, Hungary edged Portugal, 69-68.
In Group F, Sasha Vezenkov posted a 29-point, 11-rebound double-double but Bulgaria fell narrowly short at home losing, 72-70, to Lithuania. His side is now heading to a do-or-die situation against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Sarajevo Thursday. Making it to the next round, the Czech Republic rolled Bosnia-Herzegovina, 93-81.
Vyacheslav Bobrov and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk combined for 33 points leading Ukraine to the clinching win, 79-66, against Georgia. For the losing side, Thad McFadden and Tornike Shengelia recorded 22 and 21 points, respectively, in Riga. Elsewhere in Group G, Spain dominated North Macedonia, 80-44.
Tryggvi Hlinason dropped a 20-point, 11-rebound double-double and Elvar Mar Fridriksson scored 20 more points as Iceland held on to defeat the Netherlands, 67-66, in the lone Group H affair. Worthy de Jong led the visitors combining 15 points with 11 rebounds.
2023 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers Friday results and standings:
Group A
1. y-Latvia 9 (4-1)
2. y-Belgium 8 (3-2)
3. y-Serbia 8 (3-2)
4. x-Slovakia 5 (0-5)
Group B
1. y-Greece 7 (3-1)
2. y-Turkey 4 (1-2)
3. y-Great Britain 4 (1-2)
4. x-Belarus (withdrawn)
Group C
1. y-Finland 9 (4-1)
2. y-Slovenia 8 (3-2)
3. Sweden 7 (2-3)
4. Croatia 6 (1-4)
Group D
1. y-Germany 9 (4-1)
2. Poland 7 (2-3)
3. Israel 7 (2-3)
4. Estonia 7 (2-3)
Group E
Hungary – Portugal 69-68
Montenegro – France 70-69
1. y-France 9 (4-1)
2. y-Montenegro 8 (3-2)
3. y-Hungary 8 (3-2)
4. x-Portugal 5 (0-5)
Group F
Bulgaria – Lithuania 70-72
Czech Republic – Bosnia-Herzegovina 93-81
1. y-Lithuania 10 (5-0)
2. y-Czech Republic 7 (2-3)
3. Bosnia-Herzegovina 7 (2-3)
4. Bulgaria 6 (1-4)
Group G
Ukraine – Georgia 79-66
Spain – North Macedonia 80-44
1. y-Spain 8 (4-0)
2. y-Georgia 8 (3-2)
3. y-Ukraine 6 (2-2)
4. x-North Macedonia 5 (0-5)
Group H
Iceland – Netherlands 67-66
1. y-Iceland 7 (3-1)
2. y-Italy 5 (2-1)
3. y-Netherlands 3 (0-3)
4. x-Russia (withdrawn)
y-clinched a berth in the next round
x-eliminated
The 24 qualified teams will carry results from the first round and split into four new groups. The top three teams of each group will clinch a berth in the World Cup.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL