Lubos Barton had 13 points and 12 rebounds, as the Czech Republic trounced Cyprus 74-49 in the FIBA EuroBasket Division B Group C qualifications on Sunday night at Nicosia’s Tassos Papadopoulos Eleftheria Athletic Centre.
It was unrealistic to expect a positive result from this game for the hosts as they had their two first-choice guards out injured in Christopher Razis and Andreas Pilavas, but surprisingly the team started the game in a good offensive rhythm. Led by their centres, Panayiotis Trisokkas and Christodoulos Kaskiris, they held an 18-13 lead at the end of the opening period. The visitors tried to take control of the game early in the second quarter, but with 6:25 remaining in the first half they were still behind at 21-19. However, from that point onwards they succeeded to close the period on an 18-5 run and take an 11-point advantage at the half time, with Lukas Kotas scoring eight points during this streak.
Stelios Phillipou and Trisokkas made the first two baskets after the interval to reduce their team’s deficit to seven points at 37-30, but that was all they could do as the dominant Czech Republic imposed themselves once again and, with a 16-4 run, took a 53-34 lead into the final 10 minutes.
The last quarter was a mere formality as Pavel Budinsky’s men had no problem securing victory, while the only positive for the hosts was that two young players Simon Michael and Polis Ieronymidis received a couple of minutes playing time each which could represent a good investment for the future.
Trisokkas led Cyprus with 14 points and six rebounds, while Georgios Neophytou, Aristides Koronides and Vasilios Kounas had seven points apiece.
Kotas finished the game with 13 points for Czech Republic, while Pavel Slezak and Tomas Pomikalek each had 11 points.
The Czechs have now secured their advancement into next year’s qualifications of EuroBasket Division A as they top Group C with a 5-0 record, while Cyprus is at the bottom of the group, winless in five games.
Tomorrow night Cyprus host Slovakia in their last EuroBasket qualifier at the Tassos Papadopoulos Eleftheria Athletic Centre, with the tip-off set for 7.30pm.
