Portugal's Return to EuroBasket
RIGA (Latvia) - Portugal is making a triumphant return to the continental basketball stage, having secured a spot in the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 after a 14-year absence. This marks their fourth appearance in the tournament, the last being in 2011.
Portugal's journey to qualification included tough matches in Group A, where they faced formidable opponents such as Slovenia, Israel, and Ukraine. Despite struggling in previous qualifiers, they turned their fortunes around, achieving their first win in over seven years against Ukraine in the opening window of the qualifiers.
How They Qualified
- Gameday 1: POR 70-72 ISR
- Gameday 2: UKR 77-79 POR
- Gameday 3: POR 82-74 SLO
- Gameday 4: SLO 83-82 POR
Upcoming Fixtures:
- Gameday 5: ISR vs POR
- Gameday 6: POR vs UKR
Key Players in the Qualifiers
The standout players for Portugal have been Travante Williams and Miguel Queiroz. Both veterans played pivotal roles, averaging double figures throughout the qualifiers. Additional contributions came from Diogo Brito, who excelled with a remarkable performance against Slovenia, scoring 16 points. Other noteworthy players included Diogo Ventura and Rafael Lisboa, who provided solid playmaking support.
A Glimpse into the Past
For a whole generation of Portuguese fans, this return is monumental. Portugal's last participation in EuroBasket saw them finish 21st in 2011, with their best performance being a 9th place finish in 2007. The only other appearance was back in 1951, where they placed 15th. Now, under the guidance of Coach Mario Gomes, they look forward to making a mark in the upcoming tournament.
Best finish: 9th - 2007
FIBA
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