Was it the best game day in #EuroBasketWomen Qualifiers history?
MUNICH (FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2019 Qualifiers) – The action last Saturday was compelling and here are just some of the reasons it was one of the best FIBA Women's EuroBasket Qualifiers game days in memory.
Super Slovenia surprising France
ZMAGAA! Padle so evropske podprvakinje!! Bravo punce!
— Košarkarska zveza SI (@kzs_si) February 10, 2018
🏆Kvalifikacije za @EuroBasketWomen
🏀🇸🇮:🇨🇵 68:62
🎯 @tejaoblak3 18; Gruda 24@EuroBasketWomen @ffbasketball pic.twitter.com/K0xO6POq5D
For Slovenia to beat France in any game would be special, but they did it without two of their injured EuroLeague Women leaders in Nika Baric and Eva Lisec. They are showing they are the real deal and can live up to their billing as a nation on an exciting upward trajectory. It was a Final Round re-match from Prague last year too, so this was payback for Slovenia, but most important of all, showed they have a little more depth, talent and resolve than even some of their biggest admirers might have actually given them credit for. What will the return game be like on French soil and could it decide the fate of who takes the Group? What a mouth-watering prospect!
Ukraine coming so close to toppling Spain
We asked the question heading into Saturday of whether Ukraine could upset the champions – just like they did in the last Qualification campaign when they beat holders Serbia not once, but twice. They didn't quite pull it off this time around as they were edged out 68-72, but like Slovenia, they provided a reminder that European basketball has some dangerous teams in it and even the very best can be pushed to the limit. It was an absorbing contest to watch and can Ukraine put on a similarly impressive showing on the road in Spain in November's window?
Thriller in Podgorica
There were thrillers all over the place on Saturday, one of them being in Podgorica as Montenegro were pipped 72-73 on their home floor by Slovak Republic. This has to be filed under surprise win, no, a shock in fact, since most people had expected Montenegro to take pole position in relative comfort. The result was more dramatic because it looked like the hosts had it under control, but snatched defeat from the jaws of victory! Will this prove costly to Montenegro, was it a one-off or does it signal a change in fortunes for Slovak Republic?
Thriller in Tel Aviv and the unstoppable Clark
Naturalized Israel star Alysha Clark is such a joy to watch and has brought pleasure for fans of CCC Polkowice all season, as well as for viewers of EuroLeague Women. Now she is flexing her muscles in the international game again and she was a colossus with 27 points, 16 boards, 6 assists and 4 steals for her adopted country as they took down FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018 participants Greece 65-63 in yet another thriller. Can Israel follow it up and make it a window double against Great Britain, in what is surely the most intriguing Group in the competition – proving two is company and three [Israel, Great Britain and Greece] is a crowd?
Green shoots of recovery for Czech Republic
Everyone doubted Czech Republic after hosting FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017, when they crashed out early and waved goodbye to yet more veteran players. Everyone then seemed to question Stefan Svitek jumping into the hot-seat from his Hungary national team role. Well, hit that fast-forward button six months and you will find Czech Republic already easing their Final Round pain from last year. Whisper it quietly, but they are not only on track, but looking in great shape at 3-0 after they also claimed the scalp of a FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018 competitor in Belgium, by winning a nail-biting one 53-48. So, have we spoken too soon, or can Svitek and Co continue to show those impressive green shoots of recovery?
Italian heart and all that potential of Andre
.@Italbasket 🇮🇹 travel back home with a 69-47 win, as @basketse 🇸🇪 cannot afford another slip up in their backyard in the FIBA #EuroBasketWomen 2019 Qualifiers.
— #EuroBasketWomen (@EuroBasketWomen) February 10, 2018
📊 https://t.co/NaZvWMiMhM pic.twitter.com/5ZdiFXSAuz
We asked if Italy's hopes would go up in smoke on their trip to Sweden, but they picked themselves up off the canvas in the wake of their home loss to Croatia last November and showed true heart. They delivered what could be a knockout blow to Sweden with a sensational 47-69 victory and it was made even more exciting by another mature display from rising star Olbis Andre. The young frontcourt ace is a big hope for Italy in the paint where they have really struggled to regularly find top drawer players. She posted 8 points from 4-of-5 shooting and grabbed 9 boards before fouling out. She has every hope of continuing to develop into a major player at senior level and is athletic and exciting for the neutrals too.
Because we got a load more to stuff the highlights reel
.@chan2211 of @gbbasketball really does love hitting a big shot on a @EuroBasketWomen Game Day! It's a 4⃣-point play on the Q1 buzzer ⏱️ #EuroBasketWomen #BritishBasketball pic.twitter.com/1uhMmtQc3Y
— Paul Nilsen (@basketmedia365) February 10, 2018
You have to love that every game day of the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2019 Qualifiers is rammed with plays for the highlights reel. Things never slowed down on Saturday and we can't wait for the next batch to arrive!
Now attention turns to Wednesday’s game day – one you can follow via our Live Updates.
FIBA
