Olympic Games: Quarterfinals
end
26
s1
26
11
s2
22
12
s3
19
17
s4
12
66
a result
79
One win away from an Olympic medal. Once again, the Belgian Cats wrote a piece of basketball history in their quarterfinal match against Spain by convincingly advancing to the quarterfinals. France awaits on Friday at 9 p.m.
Putting themselves in a position to play for medals: this and nothing less has always been the ambition of the Belgian Cats at these Olympic Games. And to achieve this ambition – and to do better than in Tokyo – they had to beat Spain.
It is no longer in Lille, where the Belgians were allowed to play semi-home matches in the group stage, but in Paris. However, this additional step does not seem to bother the Belgian fans: today the Cats can once again count on the massive support of their supporters.
They had a particularly high-quality first quarter (26-26), with a high percentage of completion from both sides. But while Belgium faced danger from every side, Spain relied mainly on the naturalized American Megan Gustafson.
He was a blight on the Belgian defence, especially in the early stages, but you don’t win games alone. While Gustafsson gradually disappeared from the game, everyone in Belgium continued to play at a high level.
Linskens again reached the level of her best player in last year’s European Championship final, Ramette continued her momentum from Japan, Delaere asserted herself again offensively and Vanloo also found her shot. At halftime the difference was 11 points: 37-48.
Captain Messman
And what about Emma Meesseman? Once again, her usual wonderful character. While Gustafsson’s affliction was no longer a factor for Spain after the break, Meesseman continued to show her world-class form by scoring goals and letting others score.
With Meseman as a reliable captain, the Belgian ship was steered to safe harbour, in a second half in which the level systematically dropped due to the Cats’ great progress.
Because Belgium started to rotate more and more and Meesman and Co. even got some extra rest, Spain managed to close the gap a little, but in the end these Spaniards had very little to keep the Cats out of the semi-finals: 66-79.
A historic semi-final for Belgium awaits France or Germany. A duel with the host country or revenge against the country that almost eliminated the Cats from the tournament in the group stage. Another date with history, next Friday!
Belgium: Linskens 19, Messeman 19, Delaire 13, Vanloo 13, Ramet 8, Ressimont 3, Joris 2, Becky Massey 2. Claessens, Lys Mbaka, Billy Massey and Bethy Mononga did not score.
Belgian Cats at the 2024 Olympics
| semi final | ||
|---|---|---|
| France | Belgium | Friday, 9pm |
| Quarter final | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spain | Belgium | 66-79 |
| Group C | ||
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Belgium | 83-69 |
| United State | Japan | 102-76 |
| Japan | Germany | 64-75 |
| Belgium | United State | 74-87 |
| Japan | Belgium | 58-85 |
| Germany | United State | 68-87 |
| His position in Group C | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | W | Fifth | +/- | points | ||
| 1. | United State | 3 | 3 | 0 | +58 | 4 |
| 2. | Germany | 3 | 2 | 1 | +6 | 4 |
| 3. | Belgium | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 4. | Japan | 3 | 0 | 3 | -64 | 2 |
The group stage will be played at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Lille. The top 2 of the 3 groups qualify for the quarter-finals, plus the top 2 teams in the 3.
Video – Watch the full match report against Spain here
Elise Ramet: “I can’t stop laughing, it’s unbelievable”
“Goosebumps all the way, this is sports history!”
Belgium wins!
Sure. It’s time: just like last year, the Belgian Cats are too strong for Spain in the European Championship final and are in the semi-finals of the Olympic Games!
open piece of cloth
Emma Meesseman is allowed to leave with a standing ovation. With 19 points in this match, she failed to score 20 or more points for the first time in an Olympics, but it will be her worst: the Cats will advance to the semifinals.
Vanloo hit a beautiful shot after the whistle.
Résimont is allowed to go to the free throw line after a professional foul by the experienced Torrens. She throws one in: 66-79. The offensive rebound goes to Ine Joris, who also asserts herself on the other side with a powerful shot on Ortiz.
Messeman > Gustafsson
When times get tough, there’s always Emma Meesseman. She scored her 19th point of the game against Megan Gustafsson. She does it just like Kiara Lenskens.
Losing the ball Vanlo
The Belgian Cats really lost their way for a while. Julie Vanloo can’t find the right solution in attack and loses the ball. This is her ninth turnover already in this match, which is too many.
Typical of Gustafsson’s second half: the American, who couldn’t miss in the first half, now throws in an air ball from behind the three-point line. Another 3 minutes and the Cats’ semifinal is over.
“These are two very important results one after the other.”
Vanlow for three
Please stay the course, Belgian Cats. Villaro leads Spain by three points to 11, but Vanloo’s response comes from the other side. She hits her third three-pointer.
The pace of the game has somewhat disappeared, and confusion has built up. With this result, the Belgians can afford it, but Meziane is not taking any chances and sends Messeman and Vanloo to the prosecutor’s office.
Megan Gustafson sits on a Spanish couch staring into space. The naturalized American was the master and master of the first half with 17 points, but couldn’t be found in the first half.
Emma Meesseman is having a tough time. She was blocked incorrectly by Cazorla and penalized at the free throw line for a 2-2 at 49-71. Meesseman can rest easy.
Ine Joris is now confident and leaves her defender completely in his place. Unfortunately, she doesn’t have a soft touch under the rim, but Belgium keeps the ball.
Eni Joris with her first Olympic result
Nice attack
With a simple basketball, Belgium plays the Spanish defense like crazy. Meesseman finds Delaere’s pieces and in turn serves the breakaway Joris, who can score her first Olympic points. Enjoy!
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