FIBA Basketball

    Meesseman passion, Cruz surprise, Lisec looking up, Maltsi and more

    MUNICH (FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2019 Qualifiers) - It will be a pivotal FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2019 qualifying window and we've been scanning social media to see which players are excited by it.

    MUNICH (FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2019 Qualifiers) - It's going to be a pivotal FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2019 qualifying window this month and we've been scanning social media to see which players are excited heading into their respective camps.

    There was a clear thumbs up from Emma Meesseman as she prepared to meet up with her Belgium colleagues and that is not surprising.


    The WNBA and EuroLeague Women star has passed up the chance to play with Washington Mystics this year to focus on taking Belgium to the Final Round and putting in a great show at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018.

    There was a surprise return recently to Spanish national team action for veteran Laia Palau and the playmaker got to see her former teammate Anna Cruz.


    The Dynamo Kursk guard is ruled out with injury but made an unexpected call into camp to see Palau on her re-integration.

    Sweden have been paying tribute to one of their leading performers, Farhiya Abdi and particularly how she has seen quite a bit of the globe so far in an eventful career.


    She will be a driving force behind Sweden's attempts to punch their ticket after missing out on the Final Round in 2017.

    Eva Lisec is still injured for the ambitious Slovenia and won't make this window, but she gave the squad a good news message by showing she is on the road to recovery.


    After her serious Achilles injury last year, she is on the mend and that is something to celebrate as she was one of the form players in Europe prior to getting hurt. Although Slovenia will have to step up in the meantime as they also don't have Nika Baric of UMMC either.

    Greece are sitting pretty at 2-0 and the mood was uplifting as they congregated.

    ...

    Although is it likely to be anything other than upbeat with the infectious enthusiasm of the legendary 'golden oldie' Evina Maltsi?

    There was bitter-sweet news for Great Britain who have lost EuroLeague Women standout and team leader Johannah Leedham-Warner, but did get a boost as well.


    There is much excitement at the arrival of Los Angeles Sparks hopeful and Stanford graduate Karlie Samuelson, who will give an injection of quality to their ranks.

    Finally, we have been whetting the appetite for this next window by looking back on last November's red-hot action.


    So sit back and enjoy some spectacular action and we're confident there will be another barrage of buzzer-beaters and highlight reel fillers to savor starting Saturday!

    FIBA