First six tickets to China 2019 World Cup off the board in September
The first qualifying slots in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 were filled during the September window, with Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Nigeria and Tunisia all booking their places for next summer's 32-team competition.
The undefeated Lithuania became the last team to punch its ticket by holding on for a 95-93 double-overtime victory against the Netherlands on Monday, taking their tally to 8-0 in Group J of the European Qualifiers.
The three other European teams - Czech Republic, Germany and Greece - confirmed their place in China on Sunday.
It was a historic moment for the Tomas Satoransky and Jan Vesely-led Czech Republic, who qualified for the FIBA Basketball World Cup for the first time in the country's history following an 85-80 triumph against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.
The latest developments in the September window leave 8 of 12 qualification spots in Europe open for the remaining teams. All three slots are still available in Group I, while there are two each in Groups J and K and just one in Group L.
Although most of the newly qualified teams come from Europe, the first dominoes actually fell in Africa, as Nigeria and Tunisia booked their spots in Saturday.
The continent's basketball powerhouses both improved to 9-0 records in the window, snatching up the first pair of tickets to China and leaving three more for other African teams.
The tournament hosts China are the only qualified team in Asia, who are set to provide seven more countries to the Final Round. Seven more teams will arrive to the World Cup via the Americas Qualifiers.
There comes a drubbing for the New Orleans Pelicans who will not have their star Zion Williamson available for the decisive Play-In game against the Sacramento Kings that is worth the eighth playoff spot. The player led the Pelicans in tonight's game against the Los...
Great signing for Barcelona, which finds the confirmation of Jabari Parker: the U.S. player has renewed his contract with a new two-year contract valid until the end of the 2025/26 season. Arriving in the summer and in his first experience in Europe, there was...
Nico Mannion has been officially announced as a new player of Pallacanestro Varese. According to the club's press release, the 22-year-old point guard signed a deal until the end of the next season. Mannion is coming back to Italy after a short sting...
Jalen Cannon has signed a 1+1 deal with Vanoli Cremona in the italian second division, the team announced. Cannon last played with Derthona Basket in LBA, and in the last season he put 5.2 points per game with 64.8% from 2pts, and 4.8 rebounds in 17...