The European Championships have started today in Krakow, Poland, and the first matches of the group stage are played in the men’s field. Here’s how it went in the men’s field.
In the first match of men’s group A great balance and continuous emotions between Serbia and Estonia. The Serbs got off to a better start, going first up 2-0 and then up 4-2, but Estonia reacts, first impacting on 5-5, then going ahead 7-9. We continue to fight point by point, with Serbia returning to +2, the Estonians respond by tying and going ahead, then the Serbs take the lead again when entering the last minute. Two free throws by Robin Kivi with 30 seconds to go gives the decisive +2 to theEstonia, shortens Serbia, but not enough to avoid the 17-16 knockout, despite Marko Milakovic’s 9 points. Emotions and final sprint also between Germany and Poland. The Poles start better at 3-1, the Germans respond, but in the middle of the match Poland is still ahead by two points. An unleashed Zamojski and Szlachetka give the Poles the maximum advantage on +6 4′ from the end, but here the red and white team gets stuck. Two baskets from beyond Hecker’s arc reopened the game, then Agyeman scored the -1 with 2′ to go. Poland reacts, goes up 18-20 with 1’27” to go through Zamojski, but fails to close it and in the last minute Hecker, Geske and Agyeman overturn everything with Germany which imposes itself 21-20. Top scorer defeated Zamojski with 10 points.
In the second round of matches, Germany looks for an encore against a Serbia desperately chasing their first victory in the tournament. And the Germans hurt from beyond the arc, with three goals that give the initial 6-2. Another bomb from Agyeman is worth 8-3, then the Serbs react up to -2, but yet another shot from beyond Geske’s arc is worth Germany’s new +5. Germans who can thus control the advantage in the final match and Germany that conquers the second victory imposing itself 19-16, with 9 points from Agyeman. Finally, the last match of the day saw Poland and Estonia in the field, with the Poles chasing their first success and Estonia for an encore. Balanced start, then Estonia which from beyond the arc tries to stretch, first on +3, then on 9-4. Poland shortens, the Estonians lengthen, but then Zamojski and Rduch impact on 10-10. With 4’23” to go, the first advantage for Poland, Estonia struggles now, the Poles who go up +3 with two shots from beyond the arc of the usual Zamojski, run away and close it 2′ from the end, with the Poland winning 21-17. Top scorer Boducki and Puidet with 8 points.
Match without history for the debut of men’s group Bwith Lithuania dominating Romania from the outset, gradually stretched, with the Romanians not having the chance to mend the rift and, in the end, it was Ignas Vaitkus’ basket that closed the game for the final 22-13 for Lithuania. Vaitkus also top scorer with 9 points. Instead, Austria needs half the match to get rid of a combative Switzerland, which fights point by point up to 12-11, then a 6-0 run makes the Austrians who struggle to close the match in the final, but then find the basket from beyond the arc for 22-16with Matthias Linortner top scorer with 10 points.
Romania and Switzerland were looking for the first victory in the second round of challenges for group B. Romania started better, which seems to be able to dominate the challenge and runs away on 11-3 after 3 and a half minutes of play. But Switzerland doesn’t want to raise the white flag, they know they have to win and with a 9-0 run they take the lead in just over two minutes. Now we play point to point, but it’s Switzerland that gives a new break for +4 and gets to one point away from victory. Once again, however, everything still has to be decided and Romania closes to -1 with a minute to play. Solopa misses two free throws which would have meant overtaking, then Gavriloaia scores the 21-20 for Romania which closes the match. Top scorer Vladislav Solopa with 9 points. In the last match of the day for the men’s group B, Lithuania and Austria were on the field, winners on their debut. Absolutely exciting and balanced challenge, between two teams that find the basket very easily and where, therefore, it is the attacks that dominate the defenses. A basket from beyond Kraemer’s arc is worth the Austrian overtake with 2’41” to go and Austria which at that point stays ahead, with Lithuania fighting to reopen the games, but first Kraemer signs the +2 and, on the siren , Trmal closes it with a basket from beyond the arc for the final 22-18 for Austria. Top scorer Kraemer, Kaltenbrunner and Vaitkus with 6 points.
EUROPEAN GAMES – MEN’S BASKETBALL 3X3 – RESULTS
Lithuania-Romania 22-13
Austria-Switzerland 22-16
Romania-Switzerland 21-20
Lithuania-Austria 18-22
Serbia-Estonia 16-17
Germany-Poland 21-20
Serbia-Germany 16-19
Poland-Estonia 21-17
Photo: FIBA
2023-06-21 15:58:57
#Basketball #3×3 #European #Games #Austria #Germany #start #strong
