MUNICH (Germany) - Belarus and Portugal both secured victories on Saturday to ensure they advance to the next phase of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European Pre-Qualifiers.

There was no stopping Belarus making it four wins from four in Group A as they brushed aside Cyprus for an emphatic 89-53 success as four players hit double figures.

Andrei Rahozenka led the rout with a game-high 17 points, while Artsiom Parakhouski posted 11 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double.

 
Portugal followed suit as they completed a second victory in the bubble in Matosinhos in overcoming Albania, 88-70, behind a team-high 16 points from Pedro Bastos.

The hosts had a double-digit cushion early in the third before seeing Albania close to a one-possession game, though they would finish strong to see off the challenge.

Meanwhile, in Group B, Kosovo have dropped from pole sitters to outside the top two spots as they suffered their second consecutive defeat, at the hands of Iceland. Hordur Vilhjalmsson stepped up with 22 points in the 86-62 victory with Jon Axel Gudmundsson adding 13 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists.

Slovakia missed the chance to join Iceland on a 3-1 record as they suffered a surprise 77-73 defeat at the hands of Luxembourg in Bratislava.

Clancy Rugg starred with 23 points and 8 rebounds with Thomas Grun weighed in with 17 points as the duo helped keep their hopes of advancing alive with a first win.

All four teams in the group will battle it out to join Belarus and Portugal in the Second Round of the European Pre-Qualifiers, in the final window - scheduled to take place in February 2021.

FIBA