Thread by @cesaremilanti

What happened yesterday in International basketball? A spectacular match between Serbia and Greece, the usual Luka Doncic, excellent games by Markkanen and Porzingis. Also, interesting challenges in Asia and the Americas. Let's find out more in this thread, a RT is appreciated!

🇰🇿-🇨🇳 Almost perfect in the first phase, Kazakhstan starts off on the wrong foot in the initial game of this second round. China won 56-68 thanks to the usual giant performance of Qi Zhou (19+11). Rustam Murzagaliyev’s 14+4+5 is not enough.

🇧🇭-🇦🇺 Australia started well (very well!) this second phase and destroyed Bahrain 50-104. Dominant performance from start to finish for the Boomers, who score more than 25 points every quarter. 22 points by Vasiljevic, Travers with 17+9+4. 7-0 for them.

🇮🇷-🇯🇵 One of the most balanced matches of the day saw Iran beating Japan 79-68. Extraordinary performances by Yakhchali (30 points in 38 minutes) and Kazemi (12+17), double double also by captain Haddadi (13+10). Yudai Baba’s 27 points are not enough.

🇯🇴-🇮🇳 Dar Tucker continues to play masterfully for Jordan and, aided by Abu Hawwas and Al Dwairi (11+12), leads his team to the 80-64 win against India with an 18+8+8. No victory for the Indians between first and second phase so far, Jordan up in Group E.

🇸🇦-🇳🇿 No problems for New Zealand, which beats Saudi Arabia 65-80 and reaches the 5-0 record. Five double-digit players for the Tall Blacks, including former Treviso and Reyer Venezia Isaac Fotu. For the hosts, only Almarwani and Abdel-Gabar are promoted.

🇱🇧-🇵🇭 A Jordan Clarkson (who closes with an excellent 27+6+7) in addition does not help the Philippines to overtake Lebanon, which continues to play a wonderful basketball, dragged by its star Wael Arakji: 24 points for the MVP of the last FIBA Asia Cup.

🇧🇬-🇨🇾 Bulgaria overwhelms Cyprus in what is the game that sums up Sasha Vezenkov's career, who grew up at APOEL Nicosia. The leader of Olympiacos finished with 24 points and 8 rebounds, helping his team to break through 88-55 with ease. Full game here:

🇷🇴-🇵🇹 A good Patrick Richard (13+7+4) isn't enough for Romania to have his say against Portugal, who won 59-75 in the away match in Ploiesti. Excellent test of Neemias Queta: 20+10 with 10/18 from the field. Full game here:

🇸🇰-🇳🇴 No problems for Norway in this second qualifying round for #EuroBasket 2025. Slovakia is beaten 68-87, thanks to a crazy performance by Harald Frey: 37 points with 12/20 from the field for the BG Göttingen player. Full game here:

🇵🇱-🇭🇷 Thrills for Croatia in this #EuroBasket 2022 preview against Poland. Zubac (19+10) and Bogdanovic (16+8+4) lead their teammates to the 69-72 victory, but Mateusz Ponitka is in great shape: 26+6+6 for the new Reggio Emilia player. Full game here:

🇩🇰-🇲🇰 Despite a comeback attempt by Denmark in the 2H, North Macedonia resisted and won 70-73 on the road in Naestved. Nenad Dimitrijevic, on loan from Valencia to UNICS Kazan in 2022/2023, played amazingly: he finished with 29 points. Full game here:

🇨🇭-🇦🇹 "High altitude" game between Switzerland and Austria, with the hosts having the best 74-64. Many trips to the FT line for Ilias Papatheodorou's team: 21/27. Only three players in double digits for guests, who start badly in Group E. Full game here:

🇫🇮-🇮🇱 Lauri Markkanen is unstoppable and Israel realizes it immediately. Finland's leader finished with 28 points (20 in the first half) and 9 rebounds, dragging his team to the final 79-73. Difficult game for Avdija, Sorkin with 14+8.

🇱🇻-🇹🇷 Devastating game by Latvia! Luca Banchi's team, pushed by its public in Riga, gets the 111-85 win over Turkey, with Porzingis ending with a gigantic 22+14. The 30 points combined by Larkin and Osman are not enough, Ergin Ataman seeks new solutions.

🇸🇪-🇩🇪 All easy for Franz Wagner’s (16+5+5) Germany, who won 50-67 effortlessly in Sweden and also welcomed back Dennis Schröder. 2/22 from the perimeter for the hosts, who run into a crooked shooting evening. Only Pantzar goes over 10 points.

🇷🇸-🇬🇷 How beautiful is the game of basketball? Undefined answer, but a good degree of precision is given by Serbia and Greece. A SUPERB match, won in OT by Jokic (29+8+6) and teammates. Giannis with a enormous 40+8+5. If you haven’t done it yet, watch it.

🇧🇪-🇬🇧 Good performance for Belgium, who won 72-57 at home against Great Britain. Protagonist Ismael Bako (17+7), newcomer to Virtus Bologna, who dominates under the basket, Obasohan helps with 15 points. The Soko-Hesson duo combined for 30 points.

🇸🇮-🇪🇪 This phenomenon with jersey number 77 has started to get quite boring. Luka Doncic (25+11+8) dominates again and drags Slovenia to a 104-83 win against a stoic Estonia. Excellent tests also by Goran Dragic, Klemen Prepelic and Vlatko Cancar.

🇧🇸-🇻🇪 Hield (19+6+3) and Kai Jones (20+10+4) have fun with the Bahamas, but they are not enough for the hosts to overcome a Venezuela that wins 81-86 and continues its unstoppable march in Group E. Excellent tests by Sojo and Carrera, with 17 points each.

🇩🇴-🇵🇦 Physical game with many mistakes from 3pts line between Dominican Republic and Panama: the hosts win 70-61 thanks to a monstre performance of Angel Delgado (18 points and 11 rebounds). For the guests, the 19+9 of Akil Mitchell needs to be underlined.

🇵🇷-🇧🇷 Despite the absence of Jose Alvarado, Puerto Rico managed to beat Brazil 75-72, leading to a single win away in Group F. A spectacular Tremont Waters is decisive with 29 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists. Very few minutes for Yago Santos and Felicio.

🇺🇸-🇺🇾 A somewhat reduced version of the USA is enough to overwhelm Uruguay 105-71. In Las Vegas, the hosts walk around thanks to the 22 points of John Jenkins and the 18 points of Langston Galloway. The former "Italian" Batista closes with 14 points.

🇨🇦-🇦🇷 High level basketball displayed in Victoria, in a game full of superstars. Canada, dragged by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (23+4+8) and Kelly Olynik (21+7), beat Argentina despite an amazing Nicolas Laprovittola (30 points) and Facundo Campazzo (17+7+8).

🇲🇽-🇨🇴 A thrilling and close match between Mexico and Colombia, with guests winning 89-93 after an overtime. The new Galatasaray player Braian Angola is decisive with a 21+9 display. The fearsome Mexican guards Gutierrez and Pako Cruz are not enough.

Today's schedule in the 2023 #FIBAWC African QF:

🇬🇳-🇨🇻 15:00, E: Guinea - Cape Verde
🇨🇩-🇨🇲 17:30, F: Congo DR - Cameroon
🇦🇴-🇺🇬 18:00, E: Angola - Uganda
🇪🇬-🇹🇳 20:30, F: Egypt - Tunisia
🇨🇮-🇳🇬 21:00, E: Ivory Coast - Nigeria
🇸🇳-🇸🇸 23:30, F: Senegal - South Sudan

Enjoy!