Spain storms back in a convincing fashion, World Cup Qualifiers standings

By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net

The sluggish start created a deficit of 14 points but Spain was the clear winner, 86-64, against the Netherlands playing at Almere’s Topsportcentrum Saturday night.

Unicaja’s Dario Brizuela dropped 13 points pushing the team coached by Sergio Scariolo to 5-1 in Group L of the 2023 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers. Naturalized Lorenzo Brown, a new player for Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv at the club level, tallied 11 points, five rebounds, and three assists in just under 16 minutes putting up a strong display in his young career at La Roja.

Three NBA players for Spain, all stepping in the last game before the 2022 EuroBasket. Usman Garuba of the Houston Rockets finished with ten points and six rebounds in 21 minutes. Willy Hernangomez of the New Orleans Pelicans added ten points and four rebounds in 12 minutes. Juancho Hernangomez of the Toronto Raptors recorded five points, four rebounds, and two assists in 21 minutes.

The hosts jumped to a 14-point lead but getting out-muscled produced an unmanageable distance of 25 points. The 39-point swing and the loss at home worsened the W-L tally to 0-6. With four games remaining, the team coached by Maurizio Buscaglia is all but eliminated from the World Cup.

Heroes Den Bosch newcomer Jito Kok scored a game-high 16 points in the latest losing effort. Experienced swingman Worthy de Jong followed with 11 points.



More 2023 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers action

Elsewhere in Group L, Italy edged Georgia.

In Group K, Lithuania and Hungary logged respective wins. Bosnia-Herzegovina later outlasted France in the second overtime.

2023 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers

Group I
1. Latvia 9 (4-1)
2. Greece 8 (3-2)
3. Belgium 8 (3-2)
4. Serbia 7 (2-3)
5. Turkey 7 (2-3)
6. Great Britain 6 (1-4)

Remaining schedule:
28/8: Great Britain – Latvia
28/8: Greece – Belgium
28/8: Turkey – Serbia
10/11: Greece – Latvia
10/11: Turkey – Belgium
10/11: Great Britain – Serbia
13/11: Latvia – Great Britain
13/11: Belgium – Greece
13/11: Serbia – Turkey
24/2: Turkey – Latvia
24/2: Great Britain – Belgium
24/2: Greece – Serbia
27/2: Latvia – Greece
27/2: Belgium – Turkey
27/2: Serbia – Great Britain

Group J
1. Germany 13 (6-1)
2. Finland 13 (6-1)
3. Slovenia 12 (5-2)
4. Israel 10 (3-4)
5. Sweden 9 (2-5)
6. Estonia 9 (2-5)

Remaining schedule:
28/8: Germany – Slovenia
28/8: Estonia – Finland
28/8: Israel – Sweden
10/11: Germany – Finland
10/11: Israel – Slovenia
10/11: Estonia – Sweden
13/11: Finland – Estonia
13/11: Slovenia – Germany
13/11: Sweden – Israel
24/2: Israel – Finland
24/2: Estonia – Slovenia
24/2: Germany – Sweden
27/2: Finland – Germany
27/2: Slovenia – Israel
27/2: Sweden – Estonia

Group K
1. Lithuania 15 (7-1)
2. France 14 (6-2)
3. Montenegro 13 (5-3)
4. Bosnia-Herzegovina 12 (4-4)
5. Hungary 12 (4-4)
6. Czech Republic 11 (3-5)

Remaining schedule:
11/11: Lithuania – France
11/11: Czech Republic – Montenegro
11/11: Bosnia-Herzegovina – Hungary
14/11: France – Bosnia-Herzegovina
14/11: Montenegro – Lithuania
14/11: Hungary – Czech Republic
23/2: Czech Republic – France
23/2: Bosnia-Herzegovina – Montenegro
23/2: Lithuania – Hungary
26/2: France – Lithuania
26/2: Montenegro – Czech Republic
26/2: Hungary – Bosnia-Herzegovina

Group L
1. Spain 11 (5-1)
2. Italy 11 (5-1)
3. Georgia 9 (3-3)
4. Iceland 8 (3-2)
5. Ukraine 6 (1-4)
6. Netherlands 6 (0-6)

Remaining schedule:
11/11: Italy – Spain
11/11: Iceland – Georgia
11/11: Netherlands – Ukraine
14/11: Spain – Netherlands
14/11: Georgia – Italy
14/11: Ukraine – Iceland
23/2: Iceland – Spain
23/2: Netherlands – Georgia
23/2: Italy – Ukraine
26/2: Spain – Italy
26/2: Georgia – Iceland
26/2: Ukraine – Netherlands

*The top three teams of each group clinch a berth in the World Cup

Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL