On February 22 last international window games took place, there were qualification games to continental championships and pre-qualification games to the World Cup-2023.
58 VTB League representatives selected in National teams for qualification games
Russian National team qualified to Eurobasket-2022 pleasing fans with the victories over Macedonia (94:77) and Estonia (75:52). Joel Bolomboy (CSKA) had the best performance among Russians against Macedonia – 19 points, 3 rebounds and 18 efficiency points.
Artem Komolov, Anton Astapkovich (both – Nizhny) and Anton Kvitkovskikh debutes were important as well for the team. Komolov scored 11 points against Macedonia, after it Russia qualified to Eurobasket, and Astapkovich and Kvitkovskikh debuted against Estonia.
By the way, Estonian National team also qualified to Eurobasket. In the decisive game against Macedonia they lost (84:86) but outpaced them in personal meetings. Sten Sokk (Kalev) was one of the best that game – 13 points, 7 assists.
Lukasz Koszarek (Zielona Gora) and Marcel Ponitka (PARMA) helped Polish National team qualify to Europe tournament. Koszarek scored 3 points and 3 assists against Spain (88:89) and Ponitka in the same game scored 11 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. In the game against Romania (88:81) Marcel became the top assistant among the Polish players – 5 assists.
Croatia with Zeljko Sakic (Avtodor) qualified to Eurobasket in Autumn, thus games against the Netherlands (57:65) and Turkey (78:84) in Istanbul weren’t so crucial, losing both games they won group D anyway. Sakic was one of the brightest Croatian players in the bubble: he collected double-double against Netherlands (17 + 10 rebounds) and scored 10 points against Turkey.
Lithuania with Mantas Kalnietis and Mindaugas Kuzminskas (both – Lokomotiv-Kuban) won the last ticket to Eurobasket. They qualified on last seconds of qualification: Kalnietis blocked potential game-winner by the Dane and his team won – 77:76. Mantas became the most efficient player in this game: 11 points, 4/7 from the field and 6 assists.
Despite 8 United League representatives (7 players and 1 coach), Latvia couldn’t qualify Eurobasket. The key factor was defeat from Bulgaria (65:66). Janis Timma’s (Khimki) 14 points couldn’t save Latvia, 11+8 by Mareks Mejeris (PARMA) and Rolands Freimanis (3/3 field goals, 9 points) did neither.
Canadian National team headed by Gordie Herbert (Avtodor) won both games against Virgin Islands and qualified America championship. Canada has never missed this tournament in 42 years.
One more America championship team-participant is Puerto-Rican National team. Gian Clavell (Avtodor) helped his team outclass Mexico (80:70) and Bahamas (102:97) becoming the top scorer in both games, 26 and 23 points. By the way, Clavell is third best qualification scorer averaging 20 points per game. The top scorer is former Zenit player Walter Hodge with 26 points per game.
In Asiabasket qualification games Kazakhstan National team spent 3 games in 5 days and took 3 dominating wins, over Sri-Lanka (107:37, 111:52) and Palestina (93:56). Recall, in Kazakhstan roster there were 9 Astana players and also head coach Emil Rajkovikj.
Belarussian National team qualified to second stage of WC 2023 qualification earlier, thus Cyprus games were more like practices. Nevertheless, Yauheni Beliankou (Tsmoki-Minsk) had a career-high National team night scoring 26 points against Albania (93:72). And against Portugal two more Tsmoki players debuted, Vadzim Stubeda and Uladzislau Bliznyuk.
Zan Tabak (Zielona Gora) led Slovak National team to next pre-qualification stage of WC 2023 via the victory over Kosovo (77:73) in final game.
