The Portugal National Team closed out their EuroBasket preparations with a 100-82 victory over Sporting. This final warm-up game in Sines saw Portugal get a win, but the score doesn’t tell the whole story. Despite the seemingly comfortable 18-point margin at the end, this match was a real grind.
Sporting kept things close for much of the night. The Lions even held a five-point lead halfway through the third quarter. But Portugal, led by coach Mário Gomes, found another gear late. They unleashed a dominant 17-2 scoring run in the final four and a half minutes. This surge completely flipped the script and sealed the win for the national side.
On the stat sheet, Diogo Brito was outstanding for Portugal. He poured in 26 points and dished out 5 assists, leading the charge. Travante Williams was a spark off the bench, adding 21 points of his own. A slight worry emerged with Neemias Queta. He played only 10 minutes, scoring 6 points and grabbing 1 rebound. He left the game after taking a fall and did not return. This was a precautionary move, which is smart so close to a major tournament.
For Sporting, two players truly stood out. Malik Morgan led their scoring with 22 points. Stephan Swenson also had a strong performance, chipping in 20 points and delivering 7 assists.
Ricardo Monteiro Misses Final Roster
After the game, National Team coach Mário Gomes had to deliver some tough news. He confirmed that Ricardo Monteiro would be the player cut from the final 12-man roster. “It’s a difficult decision,” Gomes shared, acknowledging the challenge of such a choice. The team will regroup on Saturday for a training session at Alvalade. They are scheduled to travel to Latvia on Sunday. Portugal’s EuroBasket journey begins August 27 against the Czech Republic.