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23 November, 2017
21 August, 2019
9 Jonathan Tabu (BEL)
13/09/2018
Game Report
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More madness: Belgium barely hang on against Portugal

PEPINSTER (FIBA EuroBasket 2021 Pre-Qualifiers) - A crazy day continued, as new-look hosts Belgium almost allowed Portugal to come all the way back from -17, only holding on, 66-65.

Turning point: The last defense for Belgium. Down by one point, Portugal handed the ball to their most experienced player Joao Gomes. But the Portuguese legend only learned why the Belgian basketball community is excited about Hans Vanwijn's future. The 23-year-old played perfect defense, forcing a turnover which protected the win for Belgium.

Game hero: Dario Gjergja. The Croat has won everything on club level with his Oostende squad, and his opening tenure with the national team was a success for Belgium. They've done it in typical Gjergja fashion, nobody stepping up big time, but everybody contributing, ending up with four players in double figures, and Vanwijn nearby with 9 points. Gjergja could be the perfect coach to put Belgium back on the right track.

Stats don't lie: Hard to erase a 17-point deficit, even if you are Portugal and have a history and a habit of doing it. Belgium won the rebounding battle 41-33, and held Portugal to 9 three-pointers, two below their Pre-Qualifiers-high average of 11.5 per game.

Game notes: Game 8 against Portugal, win number 8 against Portugal. Belgium protect their perfect record in this matchup, look forward to the next date, this time away from home in December.

They said: "Happy with the victory, but we still made it difficult for ourselves, but the coach had warned us - Portugal never gives up but luckily the important win came for Belgium"- Belgium player Hans Vanwijn.

FIBA