2015 EuroBasket (First Qualification Round)

[Demarr]

It will be interesting to see what the outcome of this situation will be, but as the things stand the moment, we simply do not deserve to qualify.

I'm really disappointed with the way we have performed so far. We've been absolutely clueless, with no sharpness on offense what so ever. Not to mention the poor physical state of the team, which some of the former coaches have also pointed out. Yeah, sure, we've had our share of bad luck with injuries too, but we still should be playing better. Last summer some of these guys put in some really good performances againt Serbia and Israel, while this year - just utter crap.

[JRS Bonnet]

Day 4

Romanian starting PG Adrian Tudor dished-out 11 assists on a surprise win against Bulgaria.

Kristjan Kangur returned to action against Holland. Result: an Estonian win and 14 rebounds for the Siena player! For the Dutch, backup PF Mohamed Kherrazi (one of the tournament’s pleasant surprises) DNP (are both Kherrazi and Cunningham «naturalized» players?) and Craig Osaikhwuwuomwan had his NT official debut (don’t quote me on this) – we desperately need a nickname for him; I suggest «Wu-Wuo».


Team of the day (sorry, no centers)

G Branko Mirkovic (BUL) – 26 pts, 4 reb, 5 ast.
SG Worthy De Jong (HOL) – 16 pts, 12 reb, 3 st.
SF Dusan Mladjan (SUI) – 26 pts, 9 reb.
F Mihai Silvasan (ROM) – 21 pts, 8 reb, 4 ast.
PF Sammy Picard (LUX) – 22 pts, 7 reb.

[toliver]

FIBA has made the decision that the Dutch are probably going to appeal.

NETHERLANDS INCUR PENALTY
14.08.2013
PRESS RELEASE
The Netherlands have been voided of two wins in the EuroBasket 2015 1st Qualification Round for playing two naturalised players.
In their games at home against Estonia on 1 August and away to Portugal on 7 August, the Netherlands were cited as having two naturalised players on their 12-man roster.
This was in violation of Article 88.3 of the regulations of FIBA Europe which clearly states that: "a national team participating in an international competition of FIBA Europe may have only one (1) naturalised player."
As a consequence, the results of both games have been subsequently overturned with the result no going in the favour of the Netherlands' opponents, by a score of 20-0 in both instances.
The Netherlands have seven days in which they have the right to contest the ruling.

This means now that Estonia will take the first place in the group thanks to yesterday's win against Portugal regardless of the outcome of the last match between Holland and Portugal.

[UMUT_FB_LAL]

FIBA has made the decision that the Dutch are probably going to appeal.



This means now that Estonia will take the first place in the group thanks to yesterday's win against Portugal regardless of the outcome of the last match between Holland and Portugal.

LOLL quite a turn of events for you guys

[JRS Bonnet]

Day 5

The Slovak Republic, which I thought would be one of the tournament’s worst team – no Anton Gavel, none of the Rancik brothers – won 2 games already and can still reach the semi-finals. Most of the credit goes to an undersized PF – Peter Dorazil (13.7 pts, 9.7 reb) – and an obscure center – Michal Bakta (16.7 pts, 6.3 reb). BTW, why are «pocket-sized» PF’s so fashionable these days?

FIBA Europe’s decision on the «Cunningham-Kherrazi» blunder: two 20-0 losses for Holland. It seems that the Dutch Basket Federation is being run by a bunch of morons… Holland should have followed Portugal’s example and only suck on court.

Taking advantage of their superior heat-adaptation skills, Estonia trashed Portugal in the scorching-hot city of Coimbra and advanced to the semi-finals. As for Portugal... see you next year


Team of the day

G Branko Mirkovic (BUL) – 15 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast, 3 st.
SG Rain Veideman (EST) – 18 pts, 3 ast, 4/6 3P.
SG Jón Stefánsson (ISL) – 32 pts, 7 reb, 4 st, 5/6 3P.
PF/C Janar Talts (EST) – 16 pts, 11 reb, 4 ast.
PF/C Rasid Mahalbasic (AUT) – 34 pts, 6 reb, 6 ast.

[JRS Bonnet]

If you are a die-hard basketball fan with OCD issues (I’m not naming names), you probably notice that several players that are taking part in these qualifiers were not on the preliminary rosters posted a few weeks ago. Here they are now:

Denmark: Frederik Nielsen (PG, 1.80, 1988) – Bakken Bears Aarhus
Denmark: Morten Sahlertz (PF, 1.98, 1989) – Bakken Bears Aarhus
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Hungary: Martin Pongó (PG, 1.80, 1992) – KTE Kosárlabda
Hungary: Jozsef Lekli (C, 2.06, 1987) – Albacomp Fehérvár
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Iceland: Stefan Torfason (PF, 2.00, 1994) – Snaefell Stykkishólmur
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Luxemburg: Pablo Genevo (C, 2.08, 1988) – California State-San Bernardino (NCAA 2)
Luxemburg: Laurent Majerus (PF/C, 2.03, 1990) – Musel Pikes
Luxemburg: Joé Biever (SG, 1.91, 1990) – Basket Esch
Luxemburg: Dominique Benseghir (G, 1.83, 1985) – AS Souleuvre
-----
Slovak Republic: Maros Rendla (SG/SF, 1.95, 1988) – SKP Banská Bystrica
Slovak Republic: Marek Jass (SG/SF, 1.94, 1990) – BC Prievidza
Slovak Republic: Oliver Tot (PG, 1.98, 1994) – ČEZ Basketball Nymburk B (CZE) / MBK Karlovka Bratislava
Slovak Republic: Marek Kozlik (SG, 1.87, 1986) – MBK Rieker Komarno
Slovak Republic: Maurizio Galata (F, 2.03, 1992) – ČEZ Basketball Nymburk B (CZE) / BSC Bratislava


Please note:
1. VASILE STEFAN (ROM) is listed in the FIBA Europe’s page as Adrian Stefan; JONAS ZAHORE (DEN) as Jonas Bergstedt and JAIRO DELGADO (LUX) as Jairo Ferreira.
2. For the Danish, I wrongly listed Jacob Jensen (C, 2.11, 1994 – Værløse BBK) as Jakob Enevold.

[trash can]

What is your prediction about Austria vs Switzerland game?
Any injuried players?
If not, I guess Switzerland will win this or lose by less than 7, they advantage in rebounds and atleticism comparing to Austria is really big.

[JRS Bonnet]

What is your prediction about Austria vs Switzerland game?
Any injuried players?
If not, I guess Switzerland will win this or lose by less than 7, they advantage in rebounds and atleticism comparing to Austria is really big.

Big game today, but, as you have pointed out, Swiss athleticism (Kazadi, Dubas, Capella, …) will probably outweight the Austrian «big three» of Mahalbasic (5), Lamesic (4) and Dietrick (3). So, a Swiss narrow-win is expected.

BTW, Swiss starting SF Dusan Mladjan (1.98, 1986) just got a contract with KK Radnički Kragujevac (Eurocup team).

Oh... and welcome to the forum.

[JRS Bonnet]

Big game today, but, as you have pointed out, Swiss athleticism (Kazadi, Dubas, Capella, …) will probably outweight the Austrian «big three» of Mahalbasic (5), Lamesic (4) and Dietrick (3). So, a Swiss narrow-win is expected.

Austria won 97-96. Idiot

[JRS Bonnet]

Day 6

Austria (5-1), Iceland (2-2), Slovakia (2-2) and even Denmark (2-4) did O.K.
Romania (1-3), Hungary (1-3) and Portugal («forged» 2-2) disappointed and Holland (1-3) stupidly blew it.

For the Portuguese, João Santos announced his retirement from NT play and should be followed by Carlos Andrade and Miguel Miranda.

Semi-finals match-ups:

BULGARIA – SWITZERLAND (this should be interesting...).
BELARUS – ESTONIA (advantage: Estonia).


Team of the day

PG Thomas Schreiner (AUT) – 22 pts, 7/8 3P.
SG Worthy De Jong (HOL) – 17 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast, 6 st.
SF Dusan Mladjan (SUI) – 31 pts, 8 reb.
SF Aliaksei Trastsinetski (BLR) – 21 pts, 6 reb, 6 ast.
PF Titus Nicoara (ROM) – 16 pts, 11 reb.

[toliver]

Siim-Sander Vene has joined the Estonian NT again, but it is still unclear if he is actually fit enough to play against Belarus due to recent injury problems.

The match-up is made more interesting by the fact that former Estonian star Martin Müürsepp is the assistant coach of the Belarus NT. He may give some useful advice to their players. Belarus beat Estonia in a friendly preparation tournament last month.

[xmarcinx]

I can't find boxscore from that game (77 - 87).Where there any absences in that game? In my opinion it shuld be very even game in Belarus.

[JRS Bonnet]

I can't find boxscore from that game (77 - 87).Where there any absences in that game? In my opinion it shuld be very even game in Belarus.

For the Belarusian team, you can find all the stats here:

http://www.bbf.by/ru/news/tovarischeskie-matchi-nacionalnoy-muzhskoy-sbornoy-v-portugalii.htm

For the Estonians, limited information can be found here:

http://www.basket.ee/?news_id=15382&mid=1286

Siim-Sander Vene DNP.

[toliver]

Here's the boxscore of that match (in Estonian).

http://www.basket.ee/index.php?mid=1023&section=boxscore&gid=2014093004

Kangur and Vene did not play for Estonia.

[Demarr]

The deceisive game between Estonia and Bulgaria today in Tallinn. Tickets are almost sold out, so there should be a good attendance today (probably over 7000 people) and hopefully it won't put any additional pressure for the home team.

The game will be shown here, although seems like it won't be available for people from abroad. If thats the case, I hope there will be some other streams around too.