FIBA WC Qualifiers: Win for Croatia, defeats for Austria and Slovenia

In Group E of the FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers, Croatia have demonstrated power, as they have edged out Cyprus at home in Gradski vrt Sports Hall in Osijek. The hosts have been a dominant force throughout the game, as they have been ahead by 20 points already after the opening quarter and afterwards kept cruising towards the win in the end with the final score of 100:60. For Croatia, Mario Hezonja has been the most efficient with 25 points scored, while Roko Badžim added 11 points.

On the road in Polsat Plus Arena in Gdansk, Austria have suffered a defeat in the opening game of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers. It has been a game, where the hosts have been in front throughout the playing time and managed to get away with a comfortable 90:78 win in the end. For Austria, Sylven Landesberg led the way in scoring with 20 points on his record, while Erol Ersek added 19 points.

At home in Bonifika Arena in Koper, Slovenia have survived almost survived overtime thriller against Estonia, as they were up by 4 points with 13 seconds to go in the overtime, but Estonians managed to score 5 points in the following 10 seconds while the last bucket by Alen Omić on the other side came too late and Estonia prevailed with the final score of 94:93. For Slovenia, it has been Gregor Hrovat that led the way in scoring with 23 points, while Miha Cerkvenik and Žiga Samar followed with 15 points scored apiece.

FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers Round 1 Group E, Friday, November 28, 2025:

CROATIA – Cyprus 100:60 (28:8, 19:19, 28:23, 25:10)
Hezonja 25, Badžim 11 | Tigkas 14, Stylianou 9.

Group F:

POLAND – Austria 90:78 (22:18, 21:21, 26:21, 21:18)
Harding 32, Ponitka 17 | Landesberg 20, Ersek 19.

Group H:

Slovenia – ESTONIA 93:94 (20:19, 18:20, 20:26, 21:14, 14:15)
Hrovat 23, Samar and Cerkvenik 15 | Drell 29, Kullamae 24.