The group stage came to an end for all of the teams at EuroBasket 2022 on Thursday.
EuroBasket: Greece and Serbia win groups undefeated, Czech Republic advances
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Group C: Greece wins group undefeated, Croatia downs Ukraine, Italy rolls in fourth against Britain
Croatia outlasted Ukraine on Thursday, 90-85, and managed to end ahead in the standings as the win also favored it in the tiebreaker. Bojan Bogdanovic led the winners with 27 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Dominik Mavra added 13 and two-time EuroLeague champ Krunoslav Simon contributed 11 including three triples without miss. For Ukraine, Volodymyr Herun led the losing effort with 21 points, while Issuf Sanon of Prometey Slobozhanske added 11. The first quarter was a constant back-and-forth for both sides, and it was only in the second period when Mavra's layup made it 30-21 for Croatia that they found some breathing room, but Ukraine never gave up and was already trailing by just three, 45-42, at the break. Things stayed close and Vyacheslav Bobrov's three with 44 seconds to go in three made it 65-67 for Ukraine. With 81-79 and four minutes to go, Croatia had a 5-0 run as the clock ticked away that would be decisive, when Bogdanovic secured the gap to come out on top in the end. Poland will now play Ukraine in the Round of 16, and Croatia will face Finland.
Greece ended the groups phase undefeated as Group C champ with a new win, this time over Estonia, 69-90. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the winners with 25 points, and Olympiacos Piraeus's Kostas Sloukas chipped in with 11 in a game when all but one of Greece's players scored at least 2 points. Greece will now play the Czech Republic in the Round of 16. For Estonia, Siim-Sander Vene led the way with 19 points. Georgios Papagiannis of Panathinaikos Athens hit hte first basket in the game and Greece never looked back, as there were no lead changes for the rest of the game. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul's Nick Calathes closed the opening 0-8 run for Greece and fter 10 minutes it was 21-27. Greece soared in the second quarter to lift the lead to double digits and beyond, 36-51 at the break. In the third period the scenario persisted, and Greece led by as many as 29 points. For the last quarter, Greece eased up a little and Estonia even managed to win the quarter, but it was all said and done with the final 21-point lead.
In the last game of the group, Italy stormed over winless Great Britain, 56-90, and took is third win to tie with Ukraine (3-2), but losing the tiebreaker due to having lost in their direct duel. Italy will now play Serbia in the Round of 16. Former Baskonia and ALBA player Simone Fontecchio led the winners with 18 points, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan's Luigi Datome added 13 and his teammate Nicolo Melli posted 11. Myles Hesson led Britain with 18 points. Italy dominated the fourth quarters and was 54-67 after 30 minutes, but a complete meltdown of the British team in the final quarter allowed for a 2-23 that saw Italy cruise to the win, making the final score the biggest lead for them in the game.
Group D: Serbia wins group undefeated, Finland takes second place, Czech Repubic advances
Finland took a 88-67 over the already eliminated Netherlands on Thursday, and earned second place in Group D, which means it will be playing Croatia in the Round of 16. Finland won the first three quarters with authority and only gave up in the last, when the win was already sealed. Lauri Markkanen led the winners with 22 points and Shawn Huff added 14. For the losing side, which ends its EuroBasket participation without a single win, Worthy De Jong had 21 points. At the halftime break the score was already 48-31 and the lead never changed sides from the start. Finland managed to lead by 29 points at one point, 78-49, and stayed in the driver's seat comfortably until the final buzzer.
The Czech Republic managed to qualify for the Round of 16 with a 88-77 decision over Israel in a win-or-go-home game. Vojtech Hruban led the winners with 25 points, FC Barcelona's Jan Vesely added 16 plus 7 rebounds and Tomas Satoransky, also of Barca, contributed a double-double of 14 points and 11 assists. For Israel, Yam Madar of Partizan NIS Belgrade led the way with 16 points and Tomer Ginat of Hapoel Tel Aviv contributed 15 plus 6 rebounds. The game started off to a frantic pace with constant lead changes, but an 11-0 run by the Czechs made it 24-14. At the break the score was 53-37 but Israel reacted in the third quarter with a 0-9 run that allowed the to win the period, 14-25, for a 67-62 situation after 30 minutes. Things stayed close until 6 minutes to go in the game, when Deni Avdija hit a layup for Israel to make it 83-77, but those were the last points Israel would score, and the Czech Republic managed to secure the win with a few free throws for the final 88-77. The Czechs will now play Group C champ Greece in the Round of 16.
In the last game of the group, Serbia thrashed Poland on Thursday, 96-69, and clinched first place in Group D undefeated. Serbia will now play Italy in the Round of 16. Nikola Jokic led the winners with 19 points, Nikola Milutinov added 16 and Fenerbahce's Marko Guduric posted 15. For Poland, Michal Michalak led the lsoing effort with 17 points. Ths first quarter ended 28-14 and it was a clear clue of how the game would go. Serbia ended with an 11 of 20 from beyond the arc, so Poland's job became even more difficult. Serbia's lead escalated to 91-55 in the last period, as the team rolled to the first place in the group.