Qualifiers Tracker: Croatia, Israel, Belgium and Greece remain undefeated
MUNICH (Germany) - Another FIBA EuroBasket qualifying mission started on Thursday, with 32 teams searching for 24 tickets to Czech Republic, Georgia, Germany and Italy.
Don't miss a beat with our Qualifiers Tracker.
Gameday 2 (Monday)
Israel, Croatia, Belgium and Greece joined Italy, Georgia and Hungary as the only unbeaten teams of the FIBA EuroBasket 2021 Qualifiers. But, the craziest game of the entire campaign was played in Bulgaria.
By far the craziest game of the entire #EuroBasket 2021 Qualifiers window... π
β FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) February 24, 2020
π§π¬ end up with the 110-104 πΌ over @basketbols π±π» in a π±πΌππ―πΉπ²-π’π§ thriller!
πΉ Can't miss the HL! β€΅οΈ pic.twitter.com/9sXHqvmqiQ
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Headlines |
Along with Bulgaria defeating Latvia in double OT, there was plenty of drama elsewhere, including the game in Great Britain where the hosts made sure Germany fell to 1-1;Β Experience is the key: Roko Ukic led Croatia to 2-0 in a close one in Netherlands, Evangelos Margaritis played a huge part to send Greece to 2-0 in Bosnia and Herzegovina; Amath M'Baye won the dunk contest in France v Montenegro; Jonathan Tabu flirted with a triple-double, Belgium had no trouble in Denmark |
| Game Reports, Features |
- Deni Avdija is an amazing player and it's easy to understand why the Israeli crowd loves him so much; - The date is quite symbolic, Lithuania made it even more so by using a 24-2 run on 24/02 to climb back from -9 and defeat Czech Republic; - Nearly 11,500 fans were in the stands to witness Sweden defeat Turkey in the biggest upset of the day |
| Daily Top Performers | Jonathan Tabu (BEL) - 22 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, efficiency 30 Eimantas Bendzius (LTU) - 26 points, 6-of-9 from three-point range, efficiency 29 Mareks Mejeris (LAT) - 20 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, efficiency 26 Deni Avdija (ISR) - 21 points, 8 rebounds, efficiency 25 Luke Nelson (GBR) - 26 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 0 turnovers, efficiency 25 |
| Daily Highs | Martins Meiers (LAT) - 27 points Miralem Halilovic (BiH) - 12 rebounds Dee Bost (BUL) - 8 assists Bugrahan Tuncer (TUR) - 8 assists Ludvig Hakanson (SWE) - 8 assists Dogus Balbay (TUR) - 4 steals Pavle Marcinkovic (CRO) - 4 steals Roko Rogic (CRO) - 4 steals Moustapha Fall (FRA) - 3 blocks Gabriel Olaseni (GBR) - 3 blocks Berkan Durmaz (TUR) - 3 blocks |
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Gameday 2 (Sunday)
It was a tough day for juggernauts like Serbia and Spain, who could not convert home court advantages into 2-0 records, allowing Georgia and Poland to seize the day. Meanwhile, Hungary are at 2-0 thanks to a Rosco Allen game-winner.
Rosco Allen FOR THE WIN for @Hunbasket1 ππΊ! #EuroBasket
β FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) February 23, 2020
πΊ https://t.co/4gh8fctysX pic.twitter.com/W9OkHYx79o
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Headlines |
Igor Kokoskov had a packed house on his home debut with Serbia, but Thad McFadden hit a clutch three-pointer to give Georgia a win in Belgrade; Sergio Scariolo is not used to defeats at home, as Spain went 6-0 in their arenas during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers, but they drop their first game in Zaragoza, losing to Poland; Finland were down by 18 in Switzerland, but Sasu Salin gave them a comeback win; Italy and Hungary stay perfect with wins in Estonia and Ukraine, respectively; Russia gets on the board by holding off North Macedonia |
| Game Reports, Features |
- A.J. Slaughter leads Poland to a wild win in Spain, powered by 50 points in the second and third quarter; - Georgia defeated Serbia to go to 2-0, after overtime win against Switzerland and a close one in Belgrade; - Defending champs get off the mark |
| Daily Top Performers | Thad McFadden (GEO) - 33 points, 7 assists, efficiency 31 Giorgi Shermadini (GEO) - 23 points, 11 rebounds, efficiency 29 Ognjen Jaramaz (SRB) - 22 points, 6 assists, 3 steals, efficiency 29 Vitaly Fridzon (RUS) - 23 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, efficiency 29 Sasu Salin (FIN) - 25 points, 7 rebounds, efficiency 26 |
| Daily Highs | Thad McFadden (GEO) - 33 points Sebastian Saiz (ESP) - 12 rebounds Natan Jurkovitz (SUI) - 12 rebounds Carlos Alocen (ESP) - 9 assists Michal Sokolowski (POL) - 3 steals Simone Fontecchio (ITA) - 3 steals Ognjen Jaramaz (SRB) - 3 steals Jeremy Jaunin (SUI) - 3 steals Arnaud Cotture (SUI) - 3 blocks |
Gameday 1 (Friday)
Belgium stole the show on the second day of Gameday 1, blowing out Lithuania by 21 points. Netherlands made it a Benelux party with their upset win away from home, silencing the crowd in Turkey.
Kloof-led @OranjeBasketbal π³π± shock πΉπ·! π² #EuroBasket
β FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) February 21, 2020
π https://t.co/uPon0pMyLl
Highlights! pic.twitter.com/jYFkbt3AdC
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Headlines |
Along with that Belgium win, the Netherlands and Bosnia and Herzegovina won on the road, upsetting Turkey and Latvia, respectively; Czech Republic survived a late comeback by Denmark to claim their first win; Croatia dished out 23 assists - more than in any of their 12 games in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers - to defeat Sweden with ease in Zagreb; Montenegro enjoyed a warm atmosphere in Podgorica to keep Great Britan at bay |
| Game Reports, Features |
- Kloof shines to hand Turkey an unlikely defeat in Ankara; - Greece opted for a team with nobody younger than 25, and the option proved to be a winning one, holding off Bulgaria in Patras; - Robin Benzing knocked down 5 three-pointers, two more than France to lead Germany to a comfy win in the Classic; - Dario Gjergja and Belgium power through against Lithuania |
| Daily Top Performers | Charlon Kloof (NED) - 27 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, efficiency 28 Lefteris Bochoridis (GRE) - 19 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block, efficiency 23 Joshiko Saibou (GER) - 19 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, efficiency 22 Jaromir Bohacik (CZE) - 17 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, efficiency 22 Retin Obasohan (BEL) - 21 points, 3 assists, 3 steals, efficiecny 22 |
| Daily Highs | Charlon Kloof (NED) - 27 points James Metecan Birsen (TUR) - 13 rebounds Justin Cobbs (MNE) - 8 assists Roko-Leni Ukic (CRO) - 8 assists Dee Bost (BUL) - 8 assists Mateo Dreznjak (CRO) - 4 steals Jean-Marc Mwema (BEL) - 4 steals Teddy Okereafor (GBR) - 4 steals Dee Bost (BUL) - 4 steals Semih Erden (TUR) - 3 blocks |
Gameday 1 (Thursday)
An eight-game day saw close games and packed stands all over the continent, and the first triple-double in the FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers in over five years. FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 winners Spain got off to a winning start, FIBA EuroBasket 2017 winners Slovenia had a tough pill to swallow in Hungary.
#Estonia πͺπͺ dominate on the road against @Makbasket π²π°!
β FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) February 20, 2020
Highlights!#EuroBasket pic.twitter.com/8yOnjscRNw
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| Headlines | Jonathan Kazadi had 22 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for Switzerland, but could not prevent an overtime defeat in Georgia. The last man with a triple-double in Qualifiers was Israel's Gal Mekel back in 2014. Kristian Kullamae is still a 20-year-old, but he is ready to lead Estonia to new heights - 31 points en route to an 81-72 win in North Macedonia, which could prove decisive in the battle for the Final Round since the remaining two teams in the group are strong favorites Italy and Russia. Israel got 18 assists out of Tamir Blatt and Gal Mekel, more than enough for a 75-71 win on the road in Poland. Thomas Schreiner hits the shot of the day for Austria. |
| Game Reports, Features |
- Slovenia had a 5-point lead with 100 seconds to go in Hungary, but hometown hero Zoltan Perl came up big in Szombathely to hand the defending champs a losing start. - Igor Kokoskov's reign began with a comfy win for Serbia in Finland; Kokoskov is trying to become the first man to win back-to-back FIBA EuroBasket titles with different teams. - Speaking of winning coaches, Sergio Scariolo had a new look Spain pick up a double digit win in Romania. - Italy shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc, hand Russia a 19-point defeat. - Feeling like you know a lot about this event? Test your knowledge in our FIBA EuroBasket Quiz. |
| Daily Top Performers | Kristian Kullamae (EST) - 31 points, 12-of-17 shooting, 5-of-9 from three, 5 assists, efficiency 31 Jonathan Kazadi (SUI) - 22 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, efficiency 30 A.J. Slaughter (POL) - 29 points, 8-of-11 from three, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, efficiency 28 Emanuel Cate (ROU) - 19 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, efficiency 27 Miroslav Raduljica (SRB) - 19 points, 6-of-8 shooting, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, efficiency 26 |
| Daily Highs | Kristian Kullamae (EST) - 31 points Emanuel Cate (ROU) - 13 rebounds Giorgi Shermadini (GEO) - 13 rebounds Marco Spissu (ITA) - 10 assists Gal Mekel (ISR) - 10 assists Jonathan Kazadi (SUI) - 10 assists Sasu Salin (FIN) - 4 steals Aaron Cel (POL) - 4 steals Damian Kulig (POL) - 4 blocks |
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