Teams have final tune-ups before Pre-Qualifiers
TRENTINO (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Pre-Qualifiers) - The Netherlands have been building up steam ahead of their FIBA EuroBasket World Cup 2019 European Pre-Qualifiers.
Playing at the Trentino Cup over the weekend, the Dutch won against Ukraine, 70-65, on the opening day before falling to hosts Italy in a hotly-contested battle for first place, 66-57.
Toon van Helfteren, the Netherlands coach, lost combative big man Jito Kok after he got into a fight with Italy's Danilo Gallinari. Both players were ejected though Italy, who are preparing for FIBA EuroBasket 2017, came off worse with Gallinari breaking the first metacarpal on his right hand.
The thumb injury will keep NBA star Gallinari out of FIBA EuroBasket. The Netherlands will take on Albania and Austria in the Pre-Qualifiers.
Excuses aan een ieder van #Gallinari na opstootje met Jito Kok. Hand van Italiaan is gebroken, uitgeschakeld voor EK https://t.co/MsCXOSBOqJ pic.twitter.com/9JRyocqFOK
— OranjeBasketball (@OranjeBasketbal) July 31, 2017
Sweden won their last warm-up game, beating Estonia 82-77. Viktor Gaddefors, Tobias Borg and Alexander Lindqvist poured in 16, 14 and 12 points, respectively, for the Swedes, who seized the initiative in the third quarter when they outscored the visitors, 23-16.
När @Gaddeen kommer fri på fast break så vet ni vad som väntar... 💥💥💥 pic.twitter.com/voY0Yda9s9
— Basket.se (@basketse) July 31, 2017
Sweden host Bosnia and Herzegovina in their first Pre-Qualifier game on Wednesday in Norkopping.
Bulgaria, who go up against Portugal and Belarus in Group D of the Pre-Qualifiers, beat the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (MKD) in their last friendly, 96-74.
Dee Bost, who excelled for Basketball Champions League Final Four side AS Monaco this past season, had 17 points for the Bulgarians. Bost and his teammates are now headed to Portugal, where they will start their Pre-Qualifiers campaign.
Travel day all day . Sofia ✈️Frankfurt 6hour layover then ✈️ Lisbon Portugal then bus 🚌 1hour plus 😒👀🤦🏾♂️😱😤 🤦🏾♂️
— Dee Bost (@1DBost) July 31, 2017
MKD have Basketball Champions League MVP Jordan Theodore in their team and he had 14 points.
Portugal finished off their preparations with a 68-59 defeat to a Tunisia national team that is now led by their former boss, Mario Palma. The Portuguese had beaten the Tunisians, 70-62, the previous night in Vila Real.
FIBA
