Portugal's Basketball Triumph
What a time for basketball fans in Portugal as the men's team has successfully qualified for FIBA EuroBasket 2025, ending a 14-year drought since their last appearance. This achievement comes just weeks after the women's team also made history by qualifying for the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 for the first time ever.
"We started at the bottom of Europe and now we're in EuroBasket," expressed Diogo Ventura, one of the team's veterans. Rafael Lisboa, another key player, shared his pride, stating, "Everybody should be proud of both teams. We did an amazing job."
Historic Milestone
This will mark the fourth appearance for the men's national team in EuroBasket history, following their participations in 1951, 2007, and 2011. Coach Mario Gomes leads the team, which is currently the lowest-ranked European squad at 28th in Europe and 55th globally. Only co-hosts Cyprus are lower ranked.
Celebrating Achievement
The qualification was secured before the match against Israel, thanks to Slovenia's victory over Ukraine earlier in the day. Although Portugal lost to Israel with a score of 84-78, the mood was celebratory.
Coach Gomes remarked, "We have been fighting for this for a long time and I think we deserve this. Most of all, this group of players deserve it."
A Long Journey
The qualification journey began in February 2020 during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European Pre-Qualifiers. Despite a tough start, the team progressed to the EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers and ultimately secured their spot in the main qualifiers.
Key Victories
Portugal's road to EuroBasket included a crucial 79-77 victory against Ukraine, which was their first EuroBasket Qualifiers win in over seven years. They also shocked the 2017 continental champions Slovenia with an 82-74 win at home.
Personal Connections
Ventura recalls his first experience at EuroBasket in 2007, where he attended with his father. This moment has motivated him throughout his career. Alongside him, Anthony da Silva, whose father played in previous EuroBasket tournaments, expressed pride in their historic achievement.
Miguel Queiroz, the team captain, who has been part of the national team since 2013, highlighted the hard work and dedication that led to this moment, stating, "I have been fighting for this goal so hard, and we finally did it."
This qualification is not just a personal victory for the players but a significant milestone for Portuguese basketball, showcasing their growth and resilience on the international stage.
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