Switzerland is a continental foreign country that has not been involved in the Middle East for several decades. In September this year, Poland finished fourth in the European Basketball Championship. She was sent to the second preliminary round of the upcoming tournament due to her previous failure in the first qualifying round for the World Championships. And during the competition, she learned that she would be a co-host for the final tournament.
The result of the Poland-Switzerland match in theory does not matter much, although the defeat should be called a disgrace. After the first half there was such a threat, because, although the hosts started to lead 10-0, they went to the dressing room at 37:32 for the guests. In the third quarter, Piao Zeroni managed to knock out the opponent in a ratio of 27:8, and then they maintained their advantage until the end of the match.
However, even losing the first half is a shameful outcome, because the human resource potential of both sides is definitely different. Yes, the Poles played without their leaders from EuroBasket, Mateusz Ponitka and AJ Slaughter, but eight other members of the European fourth team appeared. Aleksander Balcirovsky and Mishaw Sokowski have been doing very well in club competitions in recent weeks. In front of the Helvetians they threw 13 points, but they did not like it, for example last weekend in the Spanish and Italian leagues.
The lower ranked Swiss were also incomplete. Not only without Clint Capelli from the NBA (we’re on par here, because Jeremy Susan couldn’t come from the best league in the world), but also several important national team figures from recent years. It cannot be said that any of the players in Greek coach Elias Papatiodor’s team are of the average European level. Despite this, they can intimidate the Poles.
The positive news is certainly the debut of the two sons of Polish basketball legends, namely Andrzej Plota (son of Andrzej) and Szymon Wojcic (son of the late Adam). The first was the second, he scored 3 points and gave 5 assists. His tallest friend on the field eventually appeared for less than two minutes and managed to throw two points.
The outcome of this match, while not significant, may still have some significance. Only the winner of Group E will make it to the main qualifying stage (Poland will play “out of competition”). Poland’s opportunity to participate). However, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) announced that “after the end of the second round, the Board of Directors will re-analyze the situation and decide further directions of action regarding the exact path for Poland to the EuroBasket.”
In this case, of course, it is better to take first place. The most important step towards achieving this goal will be the away match against Croatia with a greater margin than losing at home in the second leg. In August, the Poles lost 69:72 at home, and on Sunday, November 13, they will play in Zagreb. The opponent will be much weaker than in Warsaw, because without players from the NBA and Euroleague. But Piao Ziruni too…
Pre-preparation Middle East 2025
second round
group E.
Poland – Switzerland 79:64 (17:15, 15:22, 27:8, 20:19)
Poland: Michał Sokołowski 13, Aleksander Balcerowski 13 (6 sets), Łukasz Kolenda 10, Michał Michalak 9, Aleksander Dziewa 4 – Jakub Garbacz 8, Jarosław Zyskowski 8, Dominik Olejniczak 6 (7 sets), Andrzej Plutaio 3 0
Switzerland: Roberto Kovac 16 (4×3), Jonathan Dupas 11, Slim Fofana 8, Elliot Kobler 2 (6 sets), Kilian Martin 0 – Paul Gravett 8, Michel Ovec Nzegi 7 (6 sets), Yuri Solka 5, Noah Borrell 5, Noah Anaber 2
Another match of the third round: Austria-Croatia 75: 100
ZP Team Points Small Points
1. Croatia 3–0 6 256: 197
2- Poland 2-1 5239: 191
3- Switzerland 1-24 191: 227
4. Austria 0-3 3 194: 265
Previous matches: Poland – Croatia 69:72, Switzerland – Austria 74:64, Austria – Poland 55:91, Croatia – Switzerland 84:53.
Remaining matches: November 13: Croatia – Poland, Austria – Switzerland, 23.2: Poland – Austria, Switzerland – Croatia, 26.2 Switzerland – Poland, Croatia – Austria.
According to the regulations, one team will advance to the main elimination stage. The others should play in the third qualifier
source:Sports review
Created Date: Today 21:34
Journalist at Przegląd Sportowy Onet
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