Penultimate Day of the Group Stages in Sarajevo
ECMWA 2025
ISR 53-58 NED (M) (overtime)
An absolute thriller between 4th (Netherlands) and 5th (Israel) in Group B saw both teams so evenly matched it would take a full 50 minutes and 2 periods of overtime to decide with no team leading by more than 8 at any point in the contest. Israel took an early lead as they went up 6 in the first behind 4 early points from Amit Vigoda. Arie Twigt and the Netherlands answered back in the second quarter as the lead switched back and forth with nothing separating the two teams as they headed into the second half tied at 21 apiece.
The third quarter saw more of the same as both teams responded, and Ibrahim Baho put Israel up 2 to end the quarter. The battle continued in the fourth and with the score level, the teams headed to overtime. With Israel down 1 in the first period Amit Vigoda went 1 of 2 from the foul line with 1.6 seconds to tie and head into a second overtime where the Netherlands pulled away to take a hard fought 58-53 victory.
Robin played the full 50 minutes on the floor for the Netherlands and finished with 4 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists as Arie Twigt added 12 off the bench.
For Israel Radi Dagamin had 24 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists.
TUR 79-74 POL (M)
A dazzling triple-double from Mateusz Filipski handed Poland a crucial 79-74 victory over Türkiye in their final Group A encounter.
Filipski had 35 points, 11 rebounds, and 15 assists in a titanic battle that was ultimately decided in the last five minutes, when he scored six points in a two-minute spell to put the Turks to the sword.
Before that, both exchanged leads at numerous times in a pulsating encounter. Andrzej Macek added 19 points, and Dominik Mosler enjoyed his double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Ahmet Efetürk had 24 points for Türkiye, who play Austria in their final Group A game tomorrow (Tuesday).
GER 38-65 NED (W)
The Netherlands moved to 3-0 after a 65-38 victory against Germany, setting up a battle for the top of the standings when they face the also unbeaten Great Britain tomorrow. A lower scoring first quarter for both teams gave way as Germany opened the second with a 4-0 run and Roli-Ann Neubauer crashing the glass on her way to 9 first half rebounds, before the Netherlands regrouped after a time out. Jitske Visser had the hot hand for the Dutch in the first half, putting up 8 of her 12 points as they took a 34-16 lead at halftime.
A back and forth third quarter saw both teams match each other blow for blow as Germany’s Lilly Sellak set her trademark screen to create looks for her teammates before the Netherlands went on a 17-9 run in the fourth, showcasing their offensive flow.
Bo Kramer led the way for the Netherlands with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists, Mariska Beijer added 10 points and 6 rebounds off the bench.
For Germany Mareike Miller finished with 9 points and 10 rebounds.
AUT 47-83 GER (M)
In Thomas Böhme’s record-setting 331st game, Germany were made to battle hard but eventually defeated Austria 83-47 to set up a winner-take-all showdown with Spain in Group A.
Despite the win, the Germans faced an Austrian side playing with nothing to lose, and as a result, they took the game to their opponents and led for portions of the first half.
But Germany turned the screw in the third quarter, gradually easing clear, before holding Austria to just nine points in the final ten minutes, thanks to the Lammering brothers, Julian and Maxi, who went for 12 and 15 points, respectively. Bhome had eight points, all in the first quarter, as head coach Jan Haller spread the minutes.
Mehmet Hayirli led all scorers for Austria with 31 points and eight rebounds.
FRA 17-77 GBR (W)
Great Britain made it 3 wins from 3 with a strong performance over France. France, with their best start in the competition so far took an early 1 point lead after Eva David converted at the foul line and Louisa Dookun-Leber grabbed 4 rebounds, but Great Britain’s inside presence helped them pull away as Katie Morrow and Lucy Robinson combined for 29 of Great Britain’s 41 points at the half.
Great Britain continued to score in the second half surpassing their highest points total of the tournament finishing with a 77-17 win.
Katie Morrow led all scorers with 27 points and 7 rebounds for Great Britain while Jade Atkin finished with 16 points and 9 rebounds.
For France Dooken-Leber had 8 points and 8 rebounds, her top performance across 4 games.
ITA 81-64 FRA (M)
Italy moved to 3-1 as they bagged an 81-64 victory over France to all but assure their place as runners-up in Group B.
With the exception of the two teams exchanging baskets in the early going, Italy were in front for the majority, with its lead peaking at 21 points. France rallied, but was unable to get within single digits at any stage of the final period.
The Italians were led by a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds from Filippo Carossino, who also dished out eight assists. Andrea Giaretti added 14.
Nicolas Jouanserre paced France with 19 points, as they fell to 2-2.
ESP 99-39 BIH
Spain remains undefeated in group A at the European Championship for Men in Sarajevo.
The Spanish team is off with a strong start (30-6) and leads the match throughout the whole game against host Bosnia & Herzegovina, closing the match at 99-39.
Top scorer of the match was Bosnian Naziv Arnaut, with 23 points made and 7 total rebounds. On the Spanish side, Ignacio Ortega scored 15 points.
Before the beginning of the game, a minute of silence was observed for Bosnian artist Halide Bešlić.
GBR 97-42 SUI (M)
Great Britain all but secured top spot in Group B after comfortably dispatching Switzerland 97-42 to go 4-0.
The European champions led from start to finish with a 23-6 first quarter, holding the Swiss to just two field goals in the opening ten minutes, setting the tone for a routine victory.
GB shot 68 percent from the floor, with Abdi Jama leading the way with 18 points off the bench. Oscar Knight added 17 on 7-for-8 shooting.
Husein Vardo amassed a game-high 21 points for Switzerland, who stay winless after four games.
wrap ups: Caroline Bullock, John Hobbs
photo: Mansoor Ahmed
