Basketball fans saw something truly special unfold in Malaga tonight. Portugal secured a historic victory over Spain. This was a first for the Portuguese Lynxes, who had faced their Iberian neighbors 14 times before. They won by a tight 76-74 score. This big win came in the first warm-up game for the Portuguese National Team, as they get ready for the upcoming Eurobasket tournament.
The team, guided by coach Mário Gomes, showed incredible teamwork. This was important, especially since Neemias Queta, the big man from the Celtics, started the game on the bench. He is still working his way back to his best form. Despite that, the collective spirit of the squad shone bright. Yet, some individual players certainly stood out.
Neemias Queta himself led all scorers with 17 points, putting up those numbers in just 20 minutes of play. Others making a big impact included Rafael Lisboa, Travante Williams, and Vladyslav Voytso. Voytso was particularly hot from long range, hitting three three-pointers out of five tries.
Portugal’s comeback was truly impressive. They went into halftime trailing significantly, down 44-31. But the third and fourth quarters were a different story entirely. The Lynxes played at a very high level, closing the gap and then pulling ahead when it mattered most. Their second-half performance sealed this memorable victory.
Out of the 14 players who traveled to Spain for the game, only the team captain, Miguel Queiroz, did not step onto the court. It was a full team effort, and almost everyone got a chance to contribute to this historic moment.
The Portuguese squad will not have long to celebrate. Their next test is already scheduled for this Thursday. They will face off against a Spanish team once more, but this time it will be Spain’s B team.