The EuroBasket 2025 tournament just got a whole lot more interesting in Group A. Estonia delivered a stunning performance today, beating the Czech Republic 89-75 in Riga. This wasn’t just another win; it was a powerful statement. The Estonians are now serious contenders to reach the knockout stages, and every team in their group, including Portugal, should take note.
This victory is a remarkable turnaround for Estonia. They started their campaign with a tough 34-point loss to Serbia, falling 98-64. After that, they nearly pulled off an upset against co-host Latvia, losing by just two points (72-70). In that close game, they endured a frustrating stretch, not scoring for over ten minutes between the third and fourth quarters. But against the Czechs, they bounced back with a brilliant display of skill and determination.
The home crowd in Riga was electric, completely dressed in blue. It created an atmosphere that Portugal will soon experience when they face Estonia. The Estonians fed off that energy, taking a 23-19 lead after the first quarter. By halftime, they had extended their advantage to a comfortable 18 points, leading 54-36.
The third quarter saw Estonia truly pull away. Their lead swelled to a massive 29 points at one stage, hitting 71-42. They closed the period up by 23 points, 77-54. The final ten minutes turned into a celebration for the Estonian fans, even if their team’s scoring dipped slightly with a 12-21 run in that quarter. Kristian Kullamae led the charge for Estonia, posting an impressive 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists. Henri Drell added 15 points, while Janari Joesaar contributed 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. The team did lose Siim-Sander Vene to injury, which is a blow.
This result means Estonia now has one victory under their belt, matching Portugal and Latvia. Both Portugal and Latvia are scheduled to play later today against undefeated Turkey and Serbia, respectively. These upcoming games will undoubtedly shake up the Group A standings even further.
Portugal began their tournament by defeating the Czech Republic 62-50, but then faced a loss to Serbia, 80-69. Latvia also had a mixed start, losing their opening game to Turkey 93-73. However, they recovered to beat Estonia in that nail-biting 72-70 contest that kept everyone on the edge of their seats.
Portugal now faces a crucial stretch with two big games ahead. On Monday, they will battle Latvia at 6:00 PM local time (4:00 PM in Lisbon). Then, on Wednesday, in the fifth and final game of Group A, Portugal will face this resurgent Estonian side at 2:45 PM local time (12:45 PM in Lisbon). That final matchup against Estonia could very well decide Portugal’s fate in the tournament.
A quick reminder of the rules: the top four teams from each of the four groups in the first phase will move on to the Round of 16. If teams end up tied on points, their head-to-head record will be used to break the tie.