BOLA – Portugal adds the third classification in the qualification for the 2023 World Cup (Basketball)
Portugal lost to France, in Dijon, by (56-94), this Thursday, in the third qualifying match for the 2023 Basketball World Cup and saw qualifying for the final stage getting more difficult.
The national coach, Mário Gomes, was replaced by Nuno Manarte in charge of the national team, as he tested positive for Covid-19, as well as the athlete Rafael Lisboa and did not travel to France. The selection itself with a different presented French team that is Olympic runner-up.
Portugal entered the match strong and got an eight-point lead on the scoreboard (9-17). France, on the other hand, entered slowly, tempted by the intention of two, but the Portuguese team was the first to win by points, 15. The balance marked the second quarter, the home team reached the lead, for the first time, at (24-23). Portugal managed to nullify the French advantage on two occasions (31-31) and (33-33), but France went into the break to win by four points, 37-33.
The gases will be placed from the Portuguese, they scored 27 points to accelerate, while the arrival points only scored 27, while they never recovered in the marker, 20 points from the fourth to the difference, 644. In the fourth last, Portugal continued without being able to counter the game of France, who scored 30 points in the last quarter and closed the game 94-56.
Diogo Brito was the best scorer on the Portuguese side (15 pts, 3 res, 4 ast) and on the French side it was Louis Labeyrie (15 pts, 5 res, 1 ast) who stood out.
Portugal follows only with the last defeats in the qualification and is in 4th and place, with three points. France remains at the top of Group E with six points. The two teams will meet again next Sunday, in Matosinhos.