By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The FIBA World Cup Qualifiers have provided many players with the opportunity to get significant time with their countries’ national teams. Some found themselves having a first-time protagonist’s role while others debuted with the senior squad of their country.
Many of them haven’t only helped their national teams to already advance to the World Cup but have also shown that they might deserve a spot when their head coaches will choose the player that will travel to China. Thus, here are eight cases of players who have had an impact for their countries in the Qualifiers and we might see them appearing in the 2019 World Cup as well.
Quino Colom (Spain)
Quino Colom has never played with the senior Spanish national team at a major tournament. Considering how he has performed so far during the World Cup Qualifiers, you can pretty much expect this to change and see him earning a spot with the “La Roja” next year in Japan.
In the absence of the bulk of the team’s stars, especially during, Colom pretty much emerged as the leader for Spain. He has been the leading scorer (14.8 points) and passer (5.0 assists) for his team, having participated in all eight World Cup Qualifiers games thus far.
Paul Lacombe (France)
France needs one more win to secure a spot in the World Cup and it will be considered a major surprise if the team doesn’t get the result it wants in the upcoming Window (vs. the already-qualified Czech Republic on the road and Finland in France). Paul Lacombe has been a key factor for the 7-1 record of the Les Bleus thanks to his diverse, two-way contribution that goes beyond the 9.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2 assists he has averaged so far.
Robin Benzing (Germany)
One of the main main reasons behind Germany’s undefeated streak in the Qualifiers that has led to an early World Cup ticket, is Robin Benzig’s performances. The 29-year-old forward made sure that his team will finish the First Round at a pole position, averaging 18 points in six games. Perhaps more importantly, he had key displays in the two wins over powerhouse Serbia, with a team-high 17 points in the first match, plus 16 points in the second.
Benzing’s top game arrived in the 112 – 98 victory over Israel, where he had 27 points and seven rebounds on the night his team mathematically advanced in the World Cup.
Eimantas Bendzius (Lithuania)
Eimantas Bendzius debuted with the Lithuanian national team in the EuroBasket 2017 and he can expect to find himself in the 2019 World Cup roster as well. After all, he has earned his keep during the World Cup Qualifiers, averaging 12 points (on a fine 59.3 percent from the field) and 2.6 rebounds over just 17.7 minutes per game. Bendzius’ game-winning impact is also reflected on the +11.4 that his team has had with him on the floor, during the unscathed 8-0 run so far.
Stevan Jelovac (Serbia)
Stevan Jelovac had never played for the Serbian national team prior to the World Cup Qualifiers but might become a staple for the squad considering not only his performances in the tournament so far but also how well he does overall in this stage of his career. The 29-year-old forward has produced 13 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, including a 21-point game in a win over Austria. Serbia still has some way to go to secure a World Cup spot but, if they do, Jelovac may be seriously considered by Sasha Djordjevic.
Dogus Balbay (Turkey)
It won’t be easy given the opponents, (Spain at home, Montenegro on the road) but the Turkish national team might find itself with possession of a World Cup ticket when this Window is completed. Apart from the usual suspects such as Cedi Osman or Furkan Korkmaz, Dogus Balbay has once again been a key player for the “12 Giant Men” throughout the Qualifiers so far, as the team’s defensive anchor. Balbay’s numbers (2.5 points, 3 rebounds, 2.9 assists) might not look impressive but his energy and motor have been one of the factors that Turkey is 6-2 and one step away from the World Cup.
Giannoulis Larentzakis (Greece)
One thing that the Greek national team has been missing for a long time, is the absence of a cold-blooded shooter who can bank open 3-pointers at ease. Giannoulis Larentzakis has shown time and again during the World Cup Qualifiers that he can be this player and, why not, make his major tournament debut next year in the World Cup. The AEK BC wing posted 8.7 points shooting 8/15 from beyond the arc during the First Round of the Qualifiers to help Greece finish the stage with a 6-0 record. It was the first step towards securing a World Cup ticket with another pair of wins in the Second Round.