Poles misplaced to Finland and misplaced their probability on the Olympic Video games – Eurosport

It was already recognized earlier than the sport that it could not be simple to defeat the Polish rival. Of the final 5 video games, Suomi gained three video games towards us, together with the 2017 European Championships in Helsinki 90:87 after two overtimes and 5 years later on the Eurobasket in Prague 89 :59.

This time, nonetheless, the chief of the Finns, Lauri Markkanen, who performs within the NBA league, was lacking. In the meantime, our workforce included San Antonio Spurs basketball participant Jeremy Sochan.

The dynamic participant was within the high 5 of the White and Reds, together with captain Mateusz Ponitka, Michał Sokołowski, Aleksander Balcerowski and AJ Slaughter, who changed Andrzej Mazurczak, in comparison with the sport towards the Bahamas.

The Poles began the match with nice ambition and the need to battle. Our leaders Ponitka and Sochan received the primary factors. After the workforce captain’s three factors, we took the primary lead 7:4. The sport was very tight and honest. The primary quarter ended with a 24:24 draw.

Within the second a part of the scene, the Poles pace up. After three minutes of the sport and Slaughter’s three factors, we took the lead at 32:26. It was even higher after Sochana’s shot from behind the arc (43:35). The Poles, enjoying with enthusiasm in protection and assault, led 47:38 on the break. White and Reds followers had causes to be glad.

We began the second 20 minutes with a bang. Two kills made three factors, Sochan was additionally very lively on either side of the court docket and we took a 15 level lead, 59:44.

Nonetheless, the gamers of the coach Igor Milicic needed to focus on a regular basis, as a result of their rivals had been continuously attacking one another with three factors. The Poles strongly attacked the opponents’ basket, however their drawback was that they missed many free throws. Regardless of momentary issues, 10 minutes earlier than the top of the sport we had been nonetheless main 71:60.

Initially of the fourth quarter, the Finns had been nonetheless hitting three factors, and the Poles elevated their benefit after going to the basket. With the rating at 80:72, coach Milicić determined to name a timeout to calm his feelings. Sadly, it did not assist a lot. We could not shoot a basket, and Alexander Madsen scored twice from behind the arc and abruptly it was solely 80:78!

The match was very fierce, and each level turned troublesome. With lower than 3 minutes left, the Poles had been main solely 83:82. The battle was basket for basket and the lead modified arms. After Aleksander Dziewa’s basket, we had been main 88:87 with a minute left. In response, Madsen scored two factors from a free throw and we misplaced by one level. There have been 18.3 seconds left and the coach Milicić referred to as for a trip.

After the break, Slaughter determined to take a half distance shot. He misplaced, and the revisions had been additionally ineffective. We misplaced 88:89. Goals of the Olympics in Paris disappeared like a cleaning soap bubble. We misplaced by one level, lacking 14 free throws in the complete recreation.

The profitable Spaniards await the Finns within the semi-final of the Olympic {qualifications}. Solely the winner of the championship in Valencia shall be eligible to begin in Paris.

Poland – Finland 88:89 (24:24, 23:14, 24:22, 17:29)

Poland: AJ Kill 21, Jeremy Sochan 20, Mateusz Ponitka 17, Micał Sokołowski 10, Aleksander Dziewa 6, Jarosław Zyskowski 4, Michał Michalak 3, Igor Milicić 3, Andrzej Mazurczak 3, Aleksander Balcerzemysowski 1.