The FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Valencia kicked off with surprising results as Bahamas stunned Finland and Spain dominated Lebanon.
Bahamas Upset the Finnish
Bahamas made a statement in their opening game at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, upsetting Finland with a 96-85 victory.
Led by Buddy Hield’s explosive performance of 24 points, including 6 three-pointers, Bahamas capitalized on their defensive efforts in the second half, limiting Finland to just 13 points in the third quarter.
Fellow NBA players Deandre Ayton and Eric Gordon also contributed significantly with 19 and 16 points respectively. 18-year-old Valdez Edgecombe Jr. out of Baylor added 20 points.
The Finnish not only miss NBA star Lauri Markkanen, but also lost Sasu Salin.
Despite Finland’s comeback attempts, Bahamas held on to secure their first win in Group B.
Spain Steamroll Past Lebanon
Hosts Spain started their Olympic Qualifying Tournament campaign with a commanding 104-59 victory over Lebanon.
Spain’s depth proved crucial as they outscored Lebanon’s bench 60-11 and connected on 17 three-pointers at a remarkable 43% accuracy.
With a balanced attack and solid defense throughout the game, Spain never let Lebanon threaten their lead, demonstrating their readiness for the challenges ahead.
Santi Aldama was the top scorer for the Spanish with 17 points, Usman Garuba and Jaime Pradilla added 15 and 14 points respectively.
Today’s Games
In Group B, Bahamas will face Poland, while Spain takes on Angola in Group A.
