European qualifiers for local referees
Following the men's world championships held in Japan and won by Spain, who beat Greece in the final, two weeks ago, FIBA Europe national team competitions returned almost immediately in full swing
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Following the men's world championships held in Japan and won by Spain, who beat Greece in the final, two weeks ago, FIBA Europe national team competitions returned almost immediately in full swing.
September is, after a decision taken by FIBA to safeguard both the national and respective club teams, the official month dedicated solely to national team games.
The qualifying games for the FIBA European Men Championships 2007 to be held in Spain, in fact, commenced late last week.
Local international basketball referee, Bernard Vassallo, will referee the men's international match, from Group B, between Holland and Albania to be played in Nijmegen, Holland, on Saturday, 16 September.
Vassallo was nominated by FIBA to be the main referee (first time for a local referee in such qualifiers) of the game with his partner being Fabrizio Pizio from Switzerland. Pole Leszek Rakozky will be the FIBA commissioner for the same game.
Holland are presently joint leaders in the group with 2 wins from three games after victories over the other leaders Slovakia 71-63 (home) and over Belarus 74-61 (away). The Dutch lost away to Great Britain last Saturday.
On the other hand, Albania lost their initial two matches, away to Slovakia 88-101 and at home to Belarus 73-78.
Despite that the women's world cup is being played right now, the female European qualifiers also started. The other local international referee, Gordon Barbara, will officiate the Group B women's game between Slovenia and Israel in Kranjska Gora also on September 16.
Croat Milan Cankovic will be the main referee in this match whilst Italian Pietro Tallone will be the FIBA commissioner.
These two sides have already met last week in Israel with Slovenia emerging winners 79-59.