The Portuguese Basketball Team guaranteed, on Wednesday, the passage to the round of 16 of the European Championship by beating Estonia 68-65. It is only the second time Portugal reaches this phase of the competition.
The moment!
– Sports Cab (@cabinesport)
In the last round of Group A, the “Orals” were forced to win to move on. The challenge began complicated: at break, the team was at a five -point disadvantage and, in the second half, Nehemiah Queta was expelled after double technical missing. Despite this, Portugal reacted in an exemplary way, became the scorer and entered the last period in advantage.
Estonia also threatened with a recovery, even questioning the determination, but the Portuguese response was decisive. In the final minute, already losing three points, Rafael Lisboa shone: tied with a triple and then converted four free throws that sealed the triumph.
With this result, Portugal will be present again in the phase to be eliminated from a European, something that had only happened in 2007, when it ended in ninth place. In the remaining appearances, in 1951 and 2011, the national team was through the group stage.
