By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
The action spilled into overtime and Nikos Rogkavopoulos registered a new career-best in points at the senior level pushing Greece to the overtime win, 97-92, against Serbia in Athens Friday.
Rogkavopoulos, 21, poured 28 points with 8/12 field goals, including 5/7 from behind the arc in Gameday 11 of the FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers. Enjoying a crazy long-distance buzzer-beater to end the third period, Dimitris Moraitis added 23 points, also a new career high beyond junior international action. Besides the bilateral eruptions, the crowd support at Ano Liosia Olympic Hall was another key for Greece staying close and finally storming back down the stretch.
The visitors missed the chance to punch in a ticket to the World Cup despite Nikola Milutinov dominating inside the paint and logging 24 points to go with nine rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block in the penultimate Group I contest. The team coached by Svetislav Pesic holds one more chance to advance back home in Belgrade with a potential win against Great Britain Monday.
Sidelined from the race to the World Cup, Great Britain went on the wrong end of a blowout. Belgium delivered the convincing win, 88-59, in Vertu Motors Arena. The Lions require one more win with Turkey traveling to Mons on Gameday 12 and the British assistance to make the World Cup field.
Confirming first place in Group I, Latvia held on to defeat eliminated Turkey, 83-74, in Tofas Arena. A 21-point lead shrinking to six points in the fourth quarter failed to budge Luca Banchi’s side.
Kristian Kullamae stuns Slovenia
With all qualifying teams already determined in Group J, 23-year-old guard Kristian Kullamae upped the excitement by beating the buzzer for Estonia and deciding the tight battle versus Slovenia, 79-78, in Unibet Arena.
More international action with Germany holding on to defeat Sweden, 73-66, in Frankfurt’s Suwag Energie Arena.
Earlier in Tel Aviv’s Shlomo Group Arena, Finland outlasted Israel, 97-95, in overtime.
The last international window centering on the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers opened Thursday.
2023 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers
Group I
Friday
Turkey – Latvia 74-83
Greece – Serbia 97-92 OT (80-80)
Great Britain – Belgium 59-88
| STANDINGS | PTS |
| 1. q-Latvia | 17 (8-1) |
| 2. q-Greece | 15 (6-3) |
| 3. Serbia | 14 (5-4) |
| 4. Belgium | 13 (4-5) |
| 5. e-Turkey | 12 (3-6) |
| 6. e-Great Britain | 10 (1-8) |
Remaining games:
Latvia – Greece (27/2, 18:30 CET)
Serbia – Great Britain (27/2, 20:00 CET)
Belgium – Turkey (27/2, 20:30 CET)
Group J
Friday
Israel – Finland 95-97 OT (83-83)
Estonia – Slovenia 79-78
Germany – Sweden 73-66
| STANDINGS | PTS |
| 1. q-Germany | 20 (9-2) |
| 2. q-Finland | 20 (9-2) |
| 3. q-Slovenia | 18 (7-4) |
| 4. e-Sweden | 16 (5-6) |
| 5. e-Israel | 14 (3-8) |
| 6. e-Estonia | 14 (3-8) |
Remaining games:
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 clinch a berth in the World Cup
q-qualified for the World Cup
e-eliminated