Down go 2022 champs: Gillet gives Belgium close shave win over Spain

MUNICH (Germany) - In a low scoring affair in Charleroi, Belgium were held to just 19 first-half points, but coach Dario Gjergja found a hero in Pierre-Antoine Gillet, whose three-pointers led the Lions to a memorable win over the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 champions.

The final score, 58-53, sent Belgium to 2-0 in Group C, while title-holders Spain dropped to 0-2 after the first window of the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers. 

Turning point: Spain opened up a 10-point lead early on in the second half, torturing Belgium with their physical defense and contesting everything from outside the arc. But once Gillet made back-to-back three-pointers to get Belgium back in the game, the crowd started believing an upset was possible.

The teams went back-and-forth from that moment until the end. When it was time to break the deadlock, it was razor sharp Gillet shooting which made the difference, another big three-pointer, paired with Retin Obasohan's drives made this a six-point game with less than 30 seconds to play.

There was no coming back from that deficit for the continental champs.

Game hero: Retin Obasohan was a leader with 19 points, but shot just 6-of-16 from the field. That's why it was key to have somebody with a hot shooting hand to help him out offensively, and Gillet delivered.

The Filou Oostende star finished with 15 points, knocking down 3-of-7 from deep, which felt like a 7-of-7 in a game with such low shooting percentages on both sides. The equation always remains the same in Belgium: Gjergja coaching + Pierre-Antoine Gillet shooting = success.

Stats don't lie: Spain's 16 turnovers aren't that bad, but 10 of those were also Belgium steals, meaning they had a wide open area to operate and get a 12-1 edge in points from turnovers.

 

 

Bottom line: Belgium are once again living their dream in the Qualifiers, a 2-0 start pushes them top of the group next to Latvia.

Meanwhile, Sergio Scariolo and Spain have all to work for when they return in November. Dario Brizuela's 14-point effort goes to waste for the defending champs, who need to go 2-0 in their next Window in a doubleheader against Slovakia.

They said:

FIBA