Basketball: Poland make winning start at Euro champs

Poland on Friday defeated co-hosts the Czech Republic in their opening game at the FIBA Men's EuroBasket 2022 tournament.

Michał Michalak of Poland (right) in action against Vit Krejci of the Czech Republic (left) during the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 group stage match between Poland and Czech Republic in Prague, the Czech Republic, on Friday, September 2, 2022.

PAP/EPA/Martin Divisek

The Polish team won 99:84 (29:18, 17:28, 23:17, 30:21) in the Group D match at the O2 Arena in the Czech capital Prague, news outlets reported.

⚪️🔴 PIERWSZY KROK ZROBIONY ✅#KoszKadra lepsza od Czechów na @EuroBasket❗️ @EnergaSA @emocjedopelna @kgs_pl @BankPekaoSA pic.twitter.com/zLKNBzwupD

— KoszKadra (@KoszKadra) September 2, 2022

With their home advantage, the Czechs had appeared to be slight favourites. Yet the Poles, led by captain Mateusz Ponitka, who scored 26 points, were far superior on the day, according to przegladsportowy.onet.pl.  

⚪️🔴 REWELACYJNY MECZ MATEUSZA PONITKI 👏#KoszKadra @EnergaSA @emocjedopelna @kgs_pl @BankPekaoSA pic.twitter.com/KyiAOdsWl5

— KoszKadra (@KoszKadra) September 2, 2022

🥊 One-two punch delivers the knockdown - Ponitka and Slaughter combine for 49pts to stun the crowd in Prague! #EuroBasket

— #EuroBasket 2022 (@EuroBasket) September 2, 2022

A.J. Slaughter killed it 🥁#EuroBasket x #BringTheNoise

📺 https://t.co/XA74Vl1szW pic.twitter.com/jdga8kj3Fh

— #EuroBasket 2022 (@EuroBasket) September 2, 2022

Poland next play Finland, also in Prague, on Saturday. 

Their remaining opponents in Group D are Israel, Serbia and the Netherlands. 

The best four teams will qualify for the knockout stages. 

The FIBA EuroBasket 22 is being co-hosted by the Czech Republic, Georgia, Italy and Germany. 

The tournament runs until September 18. 

(pm)

Source: przegladsportowy.onet.pl, sport.tvp.pl, fiba.basketball