Aleksandar Vezenkov carved through Romania's defence with surgical efficiency, posting 36 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists on 13-of-19 shooting in Bulgaria's 103–86 victory in Group D. The forward's shooting line told the story of a man in complete control: 4-of-8 from three, 6-of-7 from the line, and crucially, zero turnovers across 34 minutes. He moved the ball, cleaned the glass and stayed disciplined in the post — the kind of all-around night that shifts a game decisively one direction. Bulgaria's 17-point margin away from home was built on that foundation. Vezenkov's poise and accuracy in the second half allowed his team to pull clear when the contest remained competitive, and he never forced the issue despite the scoring opportunities available to him.
Daron Russell carried Romania to an 89–78 road victory over Denmark in Group D of the EuroBasket Pre-Qualifiers, dropping 34 points on 8–17 shooting with an immaculate 13–13 at the line. The guard added 6 assists and 2 steals across 30 minutes, though 5 turnovers tempered an otherwise authoritative display. Russell's 5–10 three-point night provided the perimeter punch Romania needed to pull clear in the second half. His free-throw shooting—a near-flawless capstone—proved decisive with Denmark pressing late. The 11-point margin understates how thoroughly he controlled the tempo and shot selection down the stretch. Denmark kept pace through stretches but never built the defensive pressure required to disrupt Russell's rhythm. The gap between his efficiency inside the arc (7–7 FT) and willingness to attack from range (5–10 3PT) left Denmark's defense in difficult rotations all evening.
Niels Van Den Eynde ran the offense with precision as our Lions dispatched Czechia 92–81 at home in Group G, the playmaker finishing with 13 points, 11 assists and just 2 turnovers across 28 minutes. He shot 3-for-7 from the field but made it count from three, going 3-for-5 from deep and a perfect 4-for-4 from the line — the kind of efficient night that keeps the game moving in rhythm. With an 11-point margin, Van Den Eynde's ball movement and decision-making were the backbone of a controlled performance. He did not need to carry the load offensively; instead, he created space and flow for teammates, the hallmark of a guard thinking one pass ahead. Next up: our Lions' next Group G assignment.
Our Lions held firm control throughout to beat Czechia Nt 92–81, never trailing and building a commanding 21-point lead late in the fourth quarter. The margin narrowed in the final stretch — Czechia outscored us 29–22 in the fourth — but the result was never in genuine doubt once we'd established our rhythm. A 10-0 run midway through the first quarter set the tone early. Belgian Lions raced to 19–5 and never looked back, leading 24–13 after one. The pace slowed considerably in the second: Czechia trimmed the gap with a 20-point frame to our 21, but we still took a 45–33 halftime advantage into the break. The third quarter proved decisive — another 25-point effort stretched the lead to 70–52 with one period remaining. When Czechia mounted a fourth-quarter push, we had enough cushion to absorb it. Vincent Kesteloot led the scoring with 22 points on efficient 8-of-12 shooting, grabbing 7 rebounds. Andy Van Vliet added 16 points and knocked down 4 threes on 6 attempts. Niels Van Den Eynde orchestrated the offense with 11 assists against just 3 rebounds and 13 points, shooting 3-for-5 from deep. Richard Balint led Czechia with 20 points on tougher 7-of-18 accuracy. Our Lions travel to Norway on Thursday 26 November in the next Group G fixture.
Our Lions tip off against Czech Republic in the EuroBasket Pre-Qualifiers in moments. This is a chance to build on whatever form we bring into this window — the kind of fixture where consistency matters more than theatrics. Czech Republic will test our execution early. How our guys handle the pace, particularly in transition and on the glass, will set the tone for the first half. Watch the ball movement; in these qualifiers, a team that swings it cleanly and limits the standing-around possessions usually has the edge. Get behind the lads. Tip-off is imminent.
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