Portugal’s national basketball team is gearing up for a big moment. They are about to begin their EuroBasket 2025 journey. Player Diogo Brito made it clear on Monday: their opening game against the Czech Republic is the most important one on the schedule.
Brito spoke to the Lusa news agency after the squad’s first practice in Riga’s Xiomani Arena. He stressed the need for a strong start. This star guard, who will join Spanish club Monbus Obradoiro for the 2025/26 season, knows what’s at stake. “This game is the most important of all,” Brito explained. “It’s not just because it’s the next one. The Czech Republic is a direct rival in our goal to get past the group stage.” He noted that four teams advance from the six-team group. Beating the Czechs is key for Portugal’s hopes.
Portugal is in a tough Group A. They will also face Serbia, Turkey, co-host Latvia, and Estonia. Brito, with 45 senior national team games under his belt since his debut on February 18, 2021, feels his team is ready. “The team has lots of energy. We are eager to start,” he said. “It has been a long journey. This summer, our preparation was very extensive. We are finally here and can’t wait for Wednesday.”
The EuroBasket debut marks Portugal’s first appearance in the finals since 2011. In that tournament, the Portuguese lost all five of their games. Now, two days away from their first tip-off, the team is focused. Brito, a 28-year-old from Póvoa de Varzim, believes they have the right mindset. “It’s about having the necessary mentality on game day,” he told Lusa. “I have no doubt we are prepared. We couldn’t be more united or more ready to play in this EuroBasket.”
The Czech Republic team has been thoroughly scouted. Brito expects a tough match. He described their opponents as playing with “high intensity, both in defense and attack.” He also highlighted their “very fast, transition-based” style. “We will need to stop their transition game,” Brito warned. He also pointed out the Czechs “move the ball a lot to shoot from three-point range.” This means Portuguese players must stay tight on defense. They cannot allow “easy shots.”
Stopping long-range shots is a top priority for Portugal. “We know they look for three-pointers,” Brito affirmed. “They move the ball to get those shots. They have good shooters, and they shoot efficiently.” This means Portugal needs a “very solid defensive effort.” Brito feels confident in his team’s offense. “Offensively, I think we will have the necessary weapons to beat their defense,” he added.
Brito himself is a powerful offensive threat for Portugal. He showed this in recent games. However, he does not feel pressure to be the primary scorer. “It comes naturally,” he explained. “When the game flows and I find myself in scoring positions, I like to deliver. I want to be ready to do it.” But for Brito, team play comes first. “The most important thing is to play well as a team, as a collective, to find the best shot.”
The 1.98-meter player emphasized that individual scoring isn’t the goal. “It doesn’t matter if it’s me, Travante Williams, Neemias Queta, or anyone else scoring,” he said. “The key is to play together, move the ball well, and find the most effective shots.”
The highly anticipated match against the Czech Republic is set for Wednesday. It is the first game of Group A in EuroBasket 2025. The action kicks off at 2:45 PM local time in Riga, which is 12:45 PM in Lisbon.
Following this crucial opener, coach Mário Gomes’s squad has a busy schedule. They will face Serbia on Friday, Turkey on Saturday, co-host Latvia on September 1, and Estonia on September 3. To advance to the round of 16, Portugal must finish among the top four teams in their group.
The 42nd edition of the EuroBasket finals will take place across four cities. Riga (Latvia), Limassol (Cyprus), Tampere (Finland), and Katowice (Poland) will host games. The tournament runs from August 27 to September 14.