2023-06-24 21:21:04
Belgium qualified for the first final in their history in a major competition by beating France 67-63 (half-time 44-30) in the semi-finals of the Women’s Basketball Euros on Saturday in Ljubljana, Slovenia .
The Belgian Cats have indeed dismissed France, vice-champion of Europe for the last five editions, after having already eliminated Serbia, defending champion, in the quarter-finals.
Carried by Emma Meesseman (24 pts, 6 rebounds, 5 assists) and Julie Vanloo, (18 pts, 5 rebounds, 4 assists) the Belgians are imposed 67-63 and will play in the final on Sunday (5:00 p.m.) against Spain victorious in the Hungary (69-60) in the other semi-final.
Already qualified for the pre-Olympic tournaments for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Belgian Cats are assured of a third medal after bronze in the 2017 and 2021 editions of the Euro.
The big standoff was immediate between the two teams with a big defense on both sides. Kyara Linskens was counted at two faults after 3 minutes, a blow for the Belgians but the aggressiveness of Bethy Mununga (6 rebounds in the first quarter) would compensate. Emma Meesseman on her way scored 12 of the first 14 Belgian points and imperceptibly the Belgian Cats created a first gap (18-8, 10th).
France came back to 19-14 pushing Rachid Meziane to timeout, but Julie Vanloo planted her third bomb (25-16, 14th) followed by a 4th (28-19, 15th), she was however also counted at 2 faults.
The French, forced to chase after the score, came back in fits and starts (28-23), but the Belgians kept their distance (32-23, 16th).
A three-pointer from Emma Meesseman (her 18th point of the evening) even allowed the Belgians to lead by 12 units (35-23, 17th). Those of Julie Allemand and Antonia Delaere were 41-24 a minute later. Maximum gap in the first period finally whistled at 44-30 on a 5th bomb from Julie Vanloo (16 pts before the break) while Mununga had captured 8 rebounds.
Linskens maintained the gap on the restart, but suffered his third foul as France began their comeback (47-38, 15th) on Gruda’s 15th point. Bethy Mununga, the x-factor on the Belgian side, was 51-38 (16th). France had placed the debate on the physical plane and Belgium suffered but still passed in front at the half hour (54-46), despite a 3rd quarter settled at 10-16.
German responded to Vukosavljevic at long distance to approach the home stretch. At 61-51 (34th), Linskens had 4 faults, Lisowa too. Les Bleues were inexorably approaching with Fauthoux (63-58, 37th). The standoff had changed direction on Meesseman’s third fault while Rachid Meziane bet to revive Linskens.
Meeseman, served by German, made 65-53 with two minutes left to play, but France still toughened the game to come back to 2 points (65-63) with one minute remaining. 30 seconds from time, the Belgian possession was missed. At 14 seconds, that of France too. With 0.4 seconds left to play, Julie Allemand’s two shots were converted to send Belgium into the final.
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