2011 European Basketball Qualifying Round eight matches were played today. Even though, Georgian national team was not playing its chances of qualifying decreased significantly after today’s round match-ups. Results that would give Georgia some hope of qualifying were not recorded.
In Group C both fixtures ended with dramatic home wins. It was expected that the game between Poland and Bulgaria would be a tough one however there were few people who predicted a close match between Belgium and Portugal.
Team Belgium that did not leave any chance for the Georgian side in Tbilisi three days ago were on the edge of defeat at home against Portugal. Portuguese were leading 27 seconds before the end of the game however Belgium managed to win this one 68:63 but not without referees’ help and lucky shots. Belgian players were feeling support from the referees throughout the whole game. Moreover, during the last seven minutes Portuguese were hoping to be fouled as the hosts were over the foul limit but referees regretted to give a foul call.
Anyhow, Portugal produced a great team play and it will be very difficult for Georgia to overcome them on August 26th, including the fact that Mancho Lopez’s team is currently in top form. One positive side is that Portuguese players might be overtired while Georgian players had a time to rest.
After Belgium today’s victory Georgia has no more chance of finishing on a top position of the group however there will be a huge battle for the second place. In order to end up in the second sport Georgia should win both upcoming matches and hope that Belgium wins both its matches.
The other thing is that second place would not be enough for our team. There is practically no chance for teams in Group A and B to finish with 4 defeats after Italy, Israel, and Macedonia celebrated victories today. In case of point equality between Georgia and the other second placed teams, ball difference will be the main criteria in deciding which teams are going to qualify for the European Championship. Georgia has the worst ball difference among all the other potential second placed national teams.
Nevertheless, with or without theoretical chance Igor Kokoshkov’s team needs to win the remaining two fixtures. Our team will travel to Portugal on August 24th while the game is scheduled two days later in a city close to Guimaraes – Fafe. The first game between these teams finished in favor of Georgia 73:57.
2011 European Basketball Championship Qualifying Round. A Division
Group A
Italy 71 - 79 Israel
Montenegro 96 - 66 Latvia
Finland 60 - 74 Montenegro
Latvia 69 - 68 Italy
Israel 110 - 88 Latvia
Italy 82 - 73 Finland
Montenegro 71 - 62 Italy
Finland 84 - 83 Israel
Latvia 87 - 67 Finland
Israel 77 - 73 Montenegro
Israel 76 - 81 Italy
Latvia 84 - 90 Montenegro
Italy 109 - 93 Latvia
Montenegro 91 - 71 Finland
Finland 83 - 85 Italy
Latvia 56 - 92 Israel
1. Montenegro 5 1 495:420 11
2. Italy 4 3 558:544 11
3. Israel 4 2 517:453 10
4. Latvia 2 5 543:632 9
5. Finland 1 5 438:502 7
August 26th
Israel – Finland
Italy – Montenegro
August 29th
Finland – Latvia
Montenegro – Israel
Group B
Hungary 82 - 91 Great Britain
Ukraine 58 - 71 F.Y.R. of Macedonia
Bosnia and Herzegovina 86 - 76 Ukraine
F.Y.R. of Macedonia 78 - 44 Hungary
Great Britain 104 - 96 F.Y.R. of Macedonia
Hungary 74 - 70 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ukraine 80 - 71 Hungary
Bosnia and Herzegovina 80 - 84 Great Britain
Great Britain 90 - 76 Ukraine
F.Y.R. of Macedonia 70 - 56 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Great Britain 66 - 64 Hungary
Macedonia 71 - 55 Ukraine
Ukraine 87 - 69 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Hungary 85 - 82 Macedonia
Bosnia and Herzegovina 73 - 64 Hungary
Macedonia 75 - 56 Great Britain
1.Macedonia 5 2 543:458 12
2. Great Britain 5 1 491:473 11
3. Hungary 2 5 484:540 8
4. Bosnia and Herzegovina 2 4 434:455 8
5. Ukraine 2 5 432:458 9
August 26th
Hungary – Ukraine
Great Britain – Bosnia and Herzegovina
August 29th
Ukraine – Great Britain
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Macedonia
Group C
Georgia 84 – 65 Poland
Portugal 59 – 67 Bulgaria
Poland 86 - 64 Portugal
Belgium 74 – 64 Georgia
Portugal 69 - 78Belgium
Bulgaria 74 - 70 Poland
Georgia 73 – 57 Portugal
Belgium 74 - 69 Bulgaria
Bulgaria 79 - 83 Georgia
Poland 93 - 73 Belgium
Bulgaria 103 - 64 Portugal
Poland 67 - 58 Georgia
Georgia 63 - 86Belgium
Portugal 85 - 84 OT Poland
Poland 75 - 71 Bulgaria
Belgium 68 - 63 Portugal
1. Belgium 5 1 453:421 11
2. Poland 4 3 540:509 11
3. Bulgaria 3 3 463:425 9
4. Georgia 3 3 425:428 9
5. Portugal 1 6 461:559 8
August 26th
Bulgaria – Belgium
Portugal – Georgia
August 29th
Georgia – Bulgaria
Belgium - Poland
Dato Manjavidze
