Who was the MVP for each team in the November window?

MUNICH (Germany) - Eight more countries advanced to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 during Window 5 of the European Qualifiers. The two Gamedays saw a number of outstanding performances in the second window of the Second Round.

We've analyzed each nation to decide their MVP from the November window as the stakes grew even higher. A total of nine European teams have now booked their tickets to next year's global tournament.

Group I

Latvia 

Janis Timma - SF / 2.03m / 1992
Statistics: 14.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.5 APG

Timma certainly stepped up in his first action in the European Qualifiers for the Latvians. The 30-year-old veteran poured in 17 points including 3 three-pointers to go with 4 rebounds in Latvia's win over Greece which secured their first berth to the World Cup. It was Timma's first game of the season as he has not signed with any club yet for 2022-23. Timma followed that with 11 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists in Latvia's win over Great Britain.

Serbia 

Dusan Ristic - C / 2.13m / 1995
Statistics: 15.5 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 100% 3PT

Ristic has been one of the main leaders of Serbia's European Qualifiers campaign, playing in eight of the 10 games, and Ristic came up big in Window 5. He collected a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds in Serbia's sluggish win at Great Britain and then buried a perfect 4-of-4 three-pointers for 16 points to go with 4 rebounds in the thrilling win over Turkey - both times the 26-year-old setting a new personal high in European Qualifiers scoring.

Greece 

Giannoulis Larentzakis - SG / 1.96m / 1993
Statistics: 20 PTS, 4 REB, 4 STL

Larentzakis played just one game in Window 5 but what a game it was as Greece prevailed in a thriller over Belgium to lock up a spot in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. Larentzakis drained four three-pointers in scoring a team-high 20 points and also had 4 rebounds, 4 steals and 1 assist. He had totalled just 4 points and 4 steals in his previous five games in the European Qualifiers. On top of that, Larentzakis drew the offensive foul on Retin Obasohan in the dying seconds to secure the win.

Turkey 

Onuralp Bitim - SF / 1.96m / 1999
Statistics: 18.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.5 APG

Bitim showed in Window 5 what he can do with the Turkish national team if he is just given an opportunity to shine. The 23-year-old was one of the best performers on the whole continent over the two games - as he helped Turkey with a win over Belgium before losing a heartbreaker against Serbia. Bitim collected 19 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists against Belgium and then tallied 18 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal versus Serbia. He played 24 and 34 minutes in the two games after having totalled just 42 minutes in his four previous qualifiers.

 

Belgium 

Retin Obasohan - SG / 1.86m / 1993
Statistics: 30 PTS, 3 REB, 4 AST

Obasohan missed his first game of the European Qualifiers - a blowout loss to Turkey - and then came back and nearly guided Belgium past Greece. He drained 10-of-15 shots including a trio of three-pointers in torching Greece for 30 points while also chipping in 4 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals. But it was not enough and Obasohan was called for an offensive foul in the final seconds with the game on the line.

Great Britain 

Gabe Olaseni - C / 2.10m / 1991
Statistics: 17.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG

Olaseni has been the rock of the Great Britain team in European Qualifiers with eight games played. And the 30-year-old showed why he one of the country's best with 20 points and 7 rebounds in a hard-fought loss to Serbia. Olaseni then totalled 14 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal against Latvia with their World Cup dreams already over.

Group J

Germany 

David Kramer - PG / 1.90m / 1997
Statistics: 20.0 PPG, 68% FG, 2.0 APG

Kramer bounced back from the disappointment of not being called for the June-July window and being one of the final cuts for FIBA EuroBasket 2022 with an outstanding two games. He scored 19 points with 3 assists and 2 rebounds in a win over Finland which qualified Germany for the World Cup. Kramer then tallied 21 points with 1 rebound, 1 assist and 1 steal in a loss to Slovenia.

Finland 

Mikael Jantunen - PF / 2.04m / 2000
Statistics: 15.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 2.5 APG

Jantunen has played all 10 games in the European Qualifiers and the 22-year-old had a strong Window 5. He picked up 6 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals in a loss to Germany. Jantunen then stepped it up in a convincing win over Estonia with 24 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists.

Slovenia 

Jordan Morgan - C / 2.03m / 1991
Statistics: 17.0 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.5 APG

Morgan returned to the Slovenia national team for the first time since the November 2020 window for FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Qualifiers, and he dominated in two victories to help Slovenia get back to the World Cup. The 31-year-old big man collected 12 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block in a win over Israel and then tallied 22 points with 13 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal versus Germany.

Sweden 

Ludvig Hakanson - PG / 1.87m / 1996
Statistics: 26.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 4.0 APG

Hakanson shined as one of the continent's best players in the window in helping Sweden grab two victories and lock up fourth place in their group. The 26-year-old was a force against Estonia with 24 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals and then he poured in 29 points against Israel to go with 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.

Israel 

Rafael Menco - SF / 1.98m / 1994
Statistics: 11.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG

Window 5 wound up a major disappointment for Israel as they were eliminated from contention for the World Cup with two losses. Menco was one of the few bright spots. He picked up 5 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal against Slovenia before going off for 17 points with four three-pointers as well as 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal versus Sweden.

Estonia 

Kristian Kullamae - PG / 1.94m / 1999
Statistics: 17.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 4.5 APG

Estonia came into the window already eliminated but that didn't stop Kullamae from fighting. He filled the statsheet with 24 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists in a loss to Sweden and then tallied 11 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists against Finland.

 

Group K

France 

Victor Wembanyama - PF / 2.19m / 2004
Statistics: 19.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.0 BPG

The Victor Wembanyama Show lived up to its billing as the 18-year-old star prospect did not disappoint in his senior national team debut. In a road game against Lithuania, Wembanyama scored 20 points to go along with 9 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal - wowing fans with his enticing skillset. He followed that with 19 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

Lithuania 

Mindaugas Kuzminskas - SF / 2.06m / 1989
Statistics: 10.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.0 BPG

Kuzminskas and his experience was a major help for Lithuania in their attempt to finish the deal and lock up their spot in the World Cup during Window 5. The 33-year-old's 7 points and 4 rebounds against France were not enough in a loss, but Kuzminskas scored 13 points to go with 3 rebounds and 1 block in beating Montenegro to reach the World Cup.

Montenegro 

Dino Radoncic - F / 2.02m / 1999
Statistics: 9.0 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 1.5 APG

Montenegro remained on course to reach their second World Cup by grabbing at least a win over Czech Republic - and Radoncic had a solid performance in the window. The 23-year-old scored 11 points with 9 rebounds and 1 assist in the victory over the Czechs. He then had 7 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal in Montenegro's loss to Lithuania. In total, Radoncic played 70 minutes and did not commit a single turnover.

Bosnia and Herzegovina 

Kenan Kamenjas - C / 2.05m / 2000
Statistics: 20.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 86% FG

Kamenjas continues to show he is a major part of Bosnia and Herzegovina's future with two strong games in the window. The 22-year-old, who has played in all 10 European Qualifiers games, had a monster double-double of 20 points and 14 rebounds in a win over Hungary. Kamenjas then picked up 20 points and 4 rebounds in a loss to France.

Hungary 

Marko Filipovity - F / 2.04m / 1996
Statistics: 16.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 58% 3PT

Filipovity helped Hungary stay alive for the World Cup with his best two games in the European Qualifiers. The forward poured in 17 points with 3 rebounds in a bitter loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina, but he collected 15 points, 5 rebounds and 1 block in a victory over Czech Republic. Filipovity had totalled just 13 points in his four previous qualification games.

Czech Republic 

Ondrej Balvin - C / 2.17m / 1992
Statistics: 9.0 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 3.5 APG

The window was a major disappointment for the Czechs who were eliminated from World Cup contention with two more losses. Balvin did give the Czech fans something to be happy about. The big man had 8 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block against Montenegro and followed that up with 10 points, 17 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks in a defeat to Hungary.

Group L

Spain 

Jaime Fernandez - G / 1.84m / 1993
Statistics: 18.0 PPG, 4.5 APG

Fernandez was the hero for Spain in the team's big game in the window against Italy as he scored 28 points including 18 in the last five minutes of regulation and overtime. Fernandez also had 2 rebounds and 2 assists. In Spain's second win over Netherlands, the veteran chipped in with 8 points, 7 assists and 2 steals.

 

Italy 

Marco Spissu - PG / 1.84m / 1995
Statistics: 13.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 6.0 APG

Spissu is slowly building quite a reputation for magic with Italia on his chest. The playmaker nearly helped Italy beat Spain as he collected 12 points,  4 assists, 2 rebounds and 1 block in an overtime loss. The 27-year-old then buried four three-pointers for 15 points to go with 8 assists, 6 rebounds and 2 steals in a thrilling win over Georgia to get Italy to the World Cup.

Georgia 

Tornike Shengelia - PF / 2.02m / 1991
Statistics: 21.0 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 5.0 APG

Shengelia nearly carried Georgia to two fantastic wins in the window but a massively important victory over Iceland will have to do for the country's star. Shengelia was too much for Iceland with 27 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 block as Georgia grabbed the road victory. The eastern Europeans almost snatched a home win over Italy but Shengelia's basket was ruled just after the buzzer. The power forward ended the game with 15 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block. 

 

Iceland 

Tryggvi Hlinason - C / 2.15m / 1997
Statistics: 19.5 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 1.5 BPG

Iceland came into the window with such high hopes but finished as one of the biggest losers - dropping a heartbreaker at home to Georgia and then losing against Ukraine. Hlinason did all he could for Iceland with two big double-doubles. He had 15 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks against Georgia and followed that with 24 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 block in the loss to Ukraine.

Ukraine 

Illya Sydorov - PG / 1.82m / 1996
Statistics: 16.5 PPG, 4.5 APG, 50% 3PT

Ukraine remained in the battle to reach the World Cup with a great window as they won at Netherlands and then grabbed a victory over Iceland. And Sydorov played a major role in those wins. The playmaker hit four three-pointers in scoring 25 points to go with 5 assists and 1 steal against Netherlands. He then picked up 8 points, 4 assists and 2 rebounds in fending off Iceland.

Netherlands 

Keye van der Vuurst - G / 1.91m / 2001
Statistics: 13.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 5.5 APG

Van der Vuurst continues to show he might be one of the most underrated young point guards on the continent with two more outstanding showings - albeit in two more losses for winless Netherlands. The 20-year-old playmaker gave Ukraine headaches with 19 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds and then picked up 12 points, 5 assists and 2 rebounds against Spain.

FIBA