The match between Serbia and the Belgian Lions in the World Cup preliminary round was definitively discontinued yesterday, because there was little light in the hall in Nis due to a technical problem. Belgium had hoped for a flat win, but still has to work tonight.
After the stunt victory at home against Serbia, the Belgian Lions actually needed a new stunt in Serbia to maintain realistic hopes for the 2023 Basketball World Cup.
The Belgian Lions also started the match well with a three-pointer from De Zeeuw and a score and bonus free throw from Obasohan. But after just over 2 minutes, the lights went out in Nis after a mistake by De Zeeuw.
A technical problem was the cause and could not be solved quickly. After more than an hour of waiting, the referees had no choice but to stop the match. A fortress victory for the Belgians beckoned, but at midnight there was still no white smoke.
No flat-rate win for the Belgian Lions
“Nothing has been decided yet”, Belgian Lion Hans Vanwijn said yesterday. “It was first suggested by Serbia to replay the match on Monday. But normally it is a forfeit for us.”
But the Serbian federation announced on Sunday evening that the match will be played today at 7 p.m. and that has since been confirmed by the International Basketball Federation FIBA.
The final match of the group face in the first qualifying round will be finished tonight at 7 pm. There is still 7’54” on the clock in the first quarter with a 3-6 score in favor of the Belgians.
Result still important for next round
After Thursday’s victory in Bergen against Slovakia, the Belgian Lions were already certain of qualification for the second preliminary round. The same was true for Serbia and Latvia, which won 60-93 on Sunday against Slovakia, which had already been eliminated.
But the game against Serbia is still important, because the results of the matches against the Serbs and the Latvians are preserved in the second preliminary round.
In the second heat, which will be completed between next month and February 2023, the Lions will also meet three countries from group B in their group: Greece, Turkey and Great Britain.
From that group of six places, the first three eventually qualify for the World Cup, which will be organized from August 25 to September 10, 2023 in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.
