By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Recovering from a sluggish start, Victor Wembanyama bounced back leading France to the win, 72-59, over the Czech Republic in Enteria Arena Thursday.
In his third cap at the senior level, Wembanyama dropped a 22-point, 17-rebound double-double to go with six blocks, four steals, and one assist over 29 minutes in France’s penultimate 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers showing.
A brilliant performance, his best since becoming a member of Les Bleus confirming his growing status with the national team of his country and overall in the world of basketball heading to the 2023 NBA draft as the most likely candidate to be selected first overall.
France, coached by experienced tactician Vincent Collet, had already punched in a ticket for the next summer’s World Cup. In contrast, the hosts were already eliminated going into the Group K game in Pardubice but jumped to a 19-point lead in the first half. The rest of the game was a totally different story.
Facing elimination in Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegovina prevailed, 74-66, versus Montenegro elsewhere in Group K. However, the losing side controls its own destiny and can make it to the World Cup by defeating the Czech Republic in Podgorica Sunday.
In Klaipeda’s Svyturio Arena, Lithuania made short work of Hungary, 89-64. Mindaugas Kuzminskas tallied 14 points, six rebounds, and two assists.
Georgia seeks third advancing slot in Group L
On the top of consecutive trips, Tornike Shengelia logged 25 points behind 7/11 field goals leading Georgia to the key win, 88-80, against the Netherlands in Almere’s Topsportcentrum. Giorgi Shermadini chipped in 22 more points for the team coached by Ilias Zouros.
Visiting Reykjavik’s Laugardalsholl, Spain topped Iceland, 80-61. Miquel Salvo scoring an international individual-high 18 points stood out in a balanced offensive display. Surrendering to the reigning EuroBasket champions, the home side is heading to Tbilisi for a win-or-go-home matchup opposite Georgia Sunday.
Slipping out of the race for the coveted third seed, Ukraine fell to Italy, 85-75, in PalaLivorno. Nico Mannion carried the hosts with 28 points, a new personal best at the senior level.
2023 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers
Group I
| STANDINGS | PTS |
| 1. q-Latvia | 15 (7-1) |
| 2. Serbia | 13 (5-3) |
| 3. q-Greece | 13 (5-3) |
| 4. e-Turkey | 11 (3-5) |
| 5. Belgium | 11 (3-5) |
| 6. e-Great Britain | 9 (1-7) |
Remaining games:
Turkey – Latvia (24/2, 18:00 CET)
Greece – Serbia (24/2, 18:00 CET)
Great Britain – Belgium (24/2, 20:30 CET)
Latvia – Greece (27/2, 18:30 CET)
Serbia – Great Britain (27/2, 20:00 CET)
Belgium – Turkey (27/2, 20:30 CET)
Group J
| STANDINGS | PTS |
| 1. q-Germany | 18 (8-2) |
| 2. q-Finland | 18 (8-2) |
| 3. q-Slovenia | 17 (7-3) |
| 4. e-Sweden | 15 (5-5) |
| 5. e-Israel | 13 (3-7) |
| 6. e-Estonia | 12 (2-8) |
Remaining games:
Israel – Finland (24/2, 13:30 CET)
Estonia – Slovenia (24/2, 16:00 CET)
Germany – Sweden (24/2, 19:30 CET)
Finland – Germany (27/2, 17:30 CET)
Slovenia – Israel (27/2, 18:00 CET)
Sweden – Estonia (27/2, 19:05 CET)
Group K
Thursday
Lithuania – Hungary 89-64
Czech Republic – France 59-72
Bosnia-Herzegovina – Montenegro 74-66
| STANDINGS | PTS |
| 1. q-France | 20 (9-2) |
| 2. q-Lithuania | 20 (9-2) |
| 3. Montenegro | 17 (6-5) |
| 4. Bosnia-Herzegovina | 17 (6-5) |
| 5. Hungary | 16 (5-6) |
| 6. e-Czech Republic | 14 (3-8) |
Remaining games:
France – Lithuania (26/2, 18:00 CET)
Montenegro – Czech Republic (26/2, 19:00 CET)
Hungary – Bosnia-Herzegovina (26/2, 19:00 CET)
Group L
Thursday
Netherlands – Georgia 80-88
Iceland – Spain 61-80
Italy – Ukraine 85-75
| STANDINGS | PTS |
| 1. q-Spain | 17 (8-1) |
| 2. q-Italy | 16 (7-2) |
| 3. Georgia | 14 (5-4) |
| 4. Iceland | 13 (4-5) |
| 5. e-Ukraine | 12 (3-6) |
| 6. e-Netherlands | 9 (0-9) |
Remaining games:
Georgia – Iceland (26/2, 17:00 CET)
Ukraine – Netherlands (26/2, 17:00 CET)
Spain – Italy (26/2, 18:00 CET)
-Top three teams of each group qualify for the World Cup
q-clinched a berth in the World Cup
e-eliminated
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL