Photo: FIBA

FIBA EuroBasket 2025 tipped off in Katowice with a game that Polish fans will remember for years.

Co-hosts Poland stunned Slovenia 105-95 on Thursday, overcoming a spectacular 34-point explosion from Luka Doncic thanks to a historic debut by Jordan Loyd and a captain’s masterpiece from Mateusz Ponitka.

In front of 9,337 roaring fans inside Spodek Arena, Igor Milicic’s side delivered the dream start to their campaign.

Turning Point

The first half was a tug-of-war. Slovenia managed to snatch their very first lead just before halftime, raising concerns among the Polish faithful. But when the third quarter began, the hosts came alive.

Poland erupted with a 15-3 run in the opening four minutes, suddenly turning a close battle into a 62-49 advantage. The energy inside Spodek became electric, and from that moment, the momentum shifted decisively.

Loyd’s shot-making and Ponitka’s relentless leadership kept Slovenia at bay the rest of the way.

TCL Player of the Game

Three years ago, Ponitka authored the game of his life against Slovenia with a triple-double that shocked Europe. This time, he did not match that statistical feat but once again rose to the occasion.

The captain finished with 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting and pulled down seven rebounds, setting the tone with his composure and drive.

Yet the night belonged to Jordan Loyd. In his very first EuroBasket appearance, the naturalized guard etched his name into Polish basketball history.

Draining 7-of-8 from deep, he became the first Poland player since 1995 to make seven triples in a EuroBasket game, capping it off with a team-high 32 points.

On the other side, Doncic produced a stat line befitting his global stardom: 34 points, 9 assists, and an efficiency rating of 42.

It was his first EuroBasket contest with more than 25 points and 5 assists, but his brilliance wasn’t enough to stop the home side’s rhythm.

Stats Don’t Lie

Shooting made all the difference. Poland caught fire from long range, finishing 14-of-26 from three-point territory. In contrast, Slovenia struggled at 13-of-37, unable to keep pace with the hosts’ precision.

It marked Poland’s 11th EuroBasket game in the last three decades with 10 or more three-pointers made – proof that Spodek Arena’s rims felt like home.

Bottom Line

Sixteen years after their last EuroBasket win on home soil, Poland once again celebrated a magical night in front of their own fans.

The 105 points also underlined the offensive confidence Milicic’s squad is carrying into the group phase. Up next is a tough test against Israel, but the team has already shown it can feed off the energy of its crowd.

Slovenia, meanwhile, must regroup quickly. Edo Muric and his teammates tried different tactical solutions, even switching to small-ball lineups, but could not derail Poland’s flow.

With France looming next, adjustments will be crucial if they want to avoid an early uphill battle in the group.

They Said

“That’s a team effort, everybody stepped up. Luka obviously is Luka, he’s an amazing player. But everybody did a great job; it was a complete team win. It’s been great with the guys so far.” – Poland’s Jordan Loyd

“It was a special game, the first at home in this tournament. But we can’t live with this forever, we have a game in two days and we gotta stay ready for the next one.” – Poland’s Andrzej Pluta

“They made tough shots and got on fire. We fought until the end, I’m proud of guys. They had their best game. The group is tough and we need to focus on the next game, hoping to come out of the group.” – Slovenia’s Edo Muric

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