Britain’s Historic Win at EuroBasket
In an exhilarating EuroBasket tournament matchup, Britain’s national basketball team triumphed over Montenegro with a score of 89-83, marking their first win in 12 years at this prestigious event. Myles Hesson starred in this contest, contributing significantly with 25 points and seven rebounds, while Akwasi Yeboah added another 23 points to the team’s total. This victory was especially crucial as it dashed Montenegro’s hopes of making it to the knockout stage, given that they needed to win to advance from Group B.
Montenegro’s Struggles
Despite their combined efforts, Montenegro, led by Chicago Bulls’ center Nikola Vucevic who scored 31 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists, could not compensate for their 18 turnovers. As a result, both teams have been eliminated from the tournament, allowing Sweden to progress to the knockout rounds for the first time, despite their loss against Lithuania (74-71). Meanwhile, Germany maintained their perfect record in the group, defeating Finland 91-61, as Finland secured third place just behind Lithuania to also advance.
Upcoming Knockout Phase
The knockout phase is set to commence in Riga, Latvia, starting Saturday.
Portugal’s Narrow Victory
In another exciting development, Portugal ensured their progress from Group A with a narrow 68-65 victory over Estonia. This win was secured despite the ejection of Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta in the third quarter after receiving two technical fouls. His exit came while Portugal was holding a slim lead, but Rafael Lisboa rose to the occasion, scoring a crucial 17 points and hitting key shots down the stretch, including a game-tying three-pointer and subsequent free throws.
Portugal will now face Germany in the quarterfinals. On the sideline, Latvia showcased a dominant performance by defeating the Czech Republic 109-75 in a match that captivated local supporters, including President Edgars Rinkēvičs. The Bertans brothers led Latvia with standout scores of 20 points each, as Kristaps Porzingis added 16 points and seven rebounds, pushing them forward into a matchup with Lithuania in the last 16.
Turkey’s Victory Over Serbia
Turkey emerged victorious in their clash against Serbia, edging out with a 95-90 win, thus clinching the top spot in Group A. Center Alperen Sengun delivered an impressive performance, recording 28 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists. The game tightened in the dying minutes, but Sengun’s crucial free throws helped secure the win. Nikola Jokic led the Serbian squad with 22 points, nine rebounds, and three steals. Both Turkey and Serbia will return to action on Saturday, with Turkey facing Sweden and Serbia set to meet Finland.
