From November 23 to 29, national team matches were held around the world as part of the 2023 World Cup qualification. 39 players and 4 coaches from the United League teams took part in these qualifying meetings. How did they play their matches?
The Russian national team began its journey to the World Cup with two wins in St. Petersburg – over Italy (92:78) and Iceland (89:65). Zoran Lukic, who made his debut in these games as the head coach of the national team, involved 15 basketball players – all of them represent the United League teams. Nizhny Novgorod forward Anton Astapkovich became the most resultative at the end of two games, scoring 15.5 points average. The best assistant became UNICS guard Viacheslav Zaitsev with 6.0 assists on average.
PARMA-PARIMATCH head coach Kazys Maksvytis made his debut as a coach of the Lithuanian national team with wins over Bulgaria (89:69) and the Czech Republic (74:66). Forward of the Perm Krai team Eigirdas Zhukauskas became one of the best in the Lithuanian national team in rebounds (5.5) and efficiency (14.0) with 10 points on average per game. Zenit player Mindaugas Kuzminskas joined the national team before the game with the Czech Republic and scored 13 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds, scoring a spectacular buzzer-beater at the end of the game:
The Canadian national team beat the Bahamas twice (115:73, 113:77). Avtodor guards Kenny Chery and Philip Scrubb played a significant role in these wins: Chery averaged 14.5 points and 7 assists, Scrubb – 8.5 points and 7 assists.
CSKA forward Tornike Shengelia helped the Georgian national team defeat Ukraine (88:83). Tornike scored a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds, adding 3 assists with 23 eff. points.
The Kazakhstan national team with Astana head coach Darko Russo was stronger than Syria in both games (84:74, 81:71). 7 Astana players took part in the games, Maxim Marchuk was the most resultative among them: 14.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.5 steals. Astana captain Rustam Murzagaliyev made an average of 6 assists per game, and his teammate Nikolay Bazhin was the best on the rebound (9.5).
The national team of Belarus, which is based on Tsmoki-Minsk players, is leading its group. The national team led by Rostislav Vergun beat Turkey (84:70) and lost to Greece (67:77). In both games, PARMA-PARIMATCH center Artsoyom Parakhouski averaged 15.5 points and 12 rebounds. Uladzislau Bliznyuk stood out among Tsmoki players: 12.5 points, 4.5 assists and 1.5 steals.
Mareks Mejeris from PARMA took part in the Latvian national team games against Serbia (100:101) and Slovakia (74:82). The forward spent 21 minutes on the floor on average, scoring 2.5 points, 2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks.
The Estonian national team beat Germany on the road (69:66) and lost to Israel at home (69:79). In these games, 3 Kalev players participated: Rauno Nurger (5.5 points and 4.0 rebounds), Kristjan Kitsing (7.5 points and 2.0 rebounds) and Martin Dorbek (2.5 assists).
The Polish national team lost in both games to Israel (61:69) and Germany (69:72). PARMA guard Marcel Ponitka has an average of 3.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Also in these games, Zielona Gora players Jaroslaw Zyskowski (9.5 points and 2.0 rebounds) and Andy Mazurschak (2.0 points and 3.0 assists) played.
