WC Qualifiers: Romania and Bosnia and Herzegovina Secure Wins, Serbia and Montenegro Come Up Short

The latest window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers brought high drama, momentum swings, and statement performances from national teams across the region. With Serbia, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro all in action.

Serbia’s back-to-back clash with Turkey ended in disappointment, as the hosts completed the double with a 94–86 victory in Istanbul. After already losing the first meeting in Belgrade, the Serbian side found themselves playing catch-up for most of the night, facing a double-digit deficit late into the contest.

Turkey controlled the tempo through long stretches, opening the floor with confident perimeter shooting and punishing defensive lapses in transition. The home side’s offensive balance proved decisive, as multiple scorers stepped up to maintain the gap whenever Serbia threatened to close in.

Serbia showed resilience in the second half, with strong ball movement and improved defensive intensity, bringing brief momentum shifts. However, the final push never fully materialized, allowing Turkey to secure the top spot in the group. The absence of several NBA stars was felt, but the bigger takeaway was the efficiency and cohesion of the Turkish rotation, which proved too stable to break down over 40 minutes.

Romania finally got off the mark in Group B with a thrilling 101–96 victory over Portugal in a game that felt more like a playoff duel than a qualification fixture. The contest swung wildly from one possession to the next, featuring constant lead changes and no breathing room for either side.

The hosts leaned heavily on elite shot-making from the perimeter, with timely three-pointers swinging momentum in the closing minutes. Romania’s composure late in the fourth quarter made the difference, as they punished defensive breakdowns and capitalized on second-chance opportunities.

Portugal had their moments of control, driven by aggressive attacking from the backcourt and strong individual scoring bursts, but could not deliver the defensive stops needed down the stretch. For Romania, the win was more than just points in the standings — it was a confidence booster and a reminder that they can compete in high-pressure environments.

Bosnia and Herzegovina delivered a commanding road performance, dismantling Switzerland 91–60 to strengthen their position in the qualification race. From the opening tip, the visitors imposed their physicality and pace, gradually stretching the lead with disciplined defense and fluid offense.

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s early control of the boards set the tone, allowing them to dictate tempo and prevent Switzerland from settling into any offensive rhythm. By halftime, the margin was already significant, and the second half turned into a demonstration of composure and depth.

The final quarter summed up the story of the night: relentless defensive pressure and efficient scoring left Switzerland with little room to respond. The victory secured Bosnia and Herzegovina a perfect window, keeping them firmly in the hunt and showcasing the growing maturity of a squad that looks increasingly comfortable in big away games.

Montenegro’s strong home-court reputation was tested as Greece returned the favor for their recent defeat in Athens with a convincing 79–65 win in Podgorica. The visitors started sharper, finding an early rhythm from deep and controlling the pace with confident ball movement.

Montenegro battled back through energy plays and improved defensive rotations, trimming the deficit before halftime and briefly injecting belief into the arena. Still, Greece maintained its composure, reasserting control after the break with better shot selection and more physical defense in the paint.

As the game wore on, Greece’s structure and depth became decisive, slowly pulling away in the final period. For Montenegro, the loss was a reminder of how thin the margins are at this level — especially against disciplined opponents who can punish every short spell of hesitation.

FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Qualifiers, First Round Group B, Round 4, Monday, 2 March 2026:

Montenegro – GREECE 65:79 (18:22, 17:22, 18:13, 12:22)
Drobnjak 14, Radončić 13 | Toliopoulos 27, Moraitis 9.

ROMANIA – Portugal 101:96 (27:22, 23:31, 26:20, 25:23)
Russell 29, Maciuca 21 | Williams 33, Monteiro 17

Group C:

TURKEY – Serbia 94:86 (28:21, 20:23, 28:19, 18:23)
Biberović 21, Yurtseven 17 | Avramović 16, Dobrić 14.

BiH – Switzerland 60:91 (14:21, 20:29, 18:24, 8:17)
Mbala 9, Mambo 8 | Musa 25, Alibegović 13.