After the "summer stage", in August in the municipal pavilion of Guifões with two friendly matches against Ireland that were won in an uncontested way, the Senior National Team returned last week to Matosinhos - "the House of Selections" - for the preparation and the first game of the 2nd qualifying round for Eurobasket 2023
In a game not suitable for the heart of hearts, Portugal, playing at home and with the stands of the Sports and Congress Centre full, given that on the same day, 24 November, and minutes before the end of the first game of the Portuguese National Team in the World Cup, missed the victory by a "black nail" and after overtime against Great Britain.
The Portuguese team went into the locker room at half time with a 31-29 lead but the thrill was saved for the last moments, when the "das Quinas" team won, with the British opposition tying the game (60-60) for overtime and finally finding the way to the basket and winning the match by seven points difference (69-76).
The game, which had in the intervals the entertainment of the young athletes from Guifões S.C, G.D. Basquete de Leça and the young dancers of Just4Dance and Dance4Kids, as well as live broadcast by FPBtv and Youtube on the FIBA channel for the whole world, was attended by several national basketball personalities, including Manuel Fernandes and Manuel Albano, President and Vice-President of FPB, with Vasco Pinho and Carlos Mouta, Councillor for Sports and Vice-President of the Municipality, and also Henrique Calisto, Director of Matosinhos Sport.
Portugal, who faced and beat Estonia in Tartu (52-76), keeps the second place of Group G, 2 points behind the leader, Greece.
The winners of the 10 groups will advance to the final phase, as well as the four best runners-up.
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