Dramatic Comebacks Mark FIBA World Cup Qualifying Action
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – Several thrilling contests unfolded across FIBA World Cup qualifyingโ groups today, highlightedโฃ by a stunning Serbian rally and โa dominant Turkish victory. The qualifying tournaments areโ underway toโ determine the field for the 2027 World Cup, set to beโฃ hosted in Qatar from August 27 to September โ12. Qatar has already secured โขa spot butโ is participating in qualifying play.
In Group D, โฃformer Latvian national team coach Luka Banki debutedโฃ as head coach โof Italy, but his team suffered anโข 81-76 loss to Icelandโ (21-21, 13-17, 20-23, 22-20).Elvar Fridriksson led Iceland with 29 points and 5 assists, while Davide โKasarins scored 19 for Italy.
group C witnessed a remarkable comeback byโฃ Serbia, overcoming โa 23-point deficitโ to defeat Switzerland 90-86 (20-30,โ 14-27, 25-13, โ31-16). Nuลกanโ Ristic led theโ Serbian scoring with 24 points, and Stefan Miljenoviฤโ nearly recorded a triple-doubleโข with 23 points, 9 assists, โขand 8 steals, finishing with an โขefficiency rating ofโ 32.Alexander Schumacher paced Switzerland with 19 points, โand Selim Fofana โaddedโค 15.
Turkey โsecured a decisive 93-71 victory (29-20, 17-25, 21-13, 26-13) over Bosnia and Herzegovina โขinโฃ another Group C matchup. Tarik โขBiberoviฤโฃ contributed 20 points for Turkey, supported by ลehmusโ Hazer’s 18, while Amar Alibegoviฤโฃ led Bosniaโ and โคHerzegovina with 18โข points.
The qualifying process will see European teams vying for 12 spots, Asian and Oceanian teams competing for seven, African teams for five, and American teams for seven places inโ the 2027 World Cup final tournament.