The Czech Republic continued its strong start to the 2027 FIBA Basketball world Cup qualifying campaign with a 97-92 road victory over Estonia on Febuary 23rd. this win marks the second consecutive victory for the Czechs and solidifies their standing atop Group H [[1]]. The qualifying tournament, which began this November, will determine which national teams will compete for a spot in the 2027 World Cup, to be held in Doha, Qatar [[2]]. A standout performance by point guard Tomáš Satoranský fueled the Czechs’ success in Tallinn.
The Czech Republic’s national basketball team secured a 97-92 victory over Estonia in Tallinn on February 23, marking their second win in the qualifying rounds for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup. This win solidifies their position at the top of Group H.
Building on their 97-80 win against Sweden on February 21 in Prague, the Czech team is currently undefeated in the qualifying tournament. Success in these qualifying rounds is crucial for national teams hoping to compete on the global stage.
Point guard Tomáš Satoranský led the Czech team with 18 points and a record-breaking 16 assists, surpassing the previous qualifying record of 15 assists set by Sweden’s Ludde Hakanson on February 21 in Prague.
“Tomáš deserves all the credit,” said head coach Luboš Bartoň. “What he did today… I’m getting emotional talking about it because I haven’t seen that much heart playing for the Czech national team before.”
Bartoň continued, praising Satoranský’s performance. “He’s obviously the best player on this team, and he always steps up when we need him.”
“We always knew Saty was competitive and that he would surpass Ludde Hakanson, whom we know very well and who set the record against us. But I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly,” Bartoň added.
The coach described the game as a high-scoring affair, with numerous successful three-point shots, particularly in the first half. “It was a quality game for anyone who loves a lot of points and successful three-pointers. It wasn’t due to poor defense, as both teams moved the ball well, which isn’t always the case, although there were certainly some mistakes on both ends of the court.”
Estonia briefly took a 92-87 lead late in the game, but the Czech Republic rallied. Sehnal initiated the comeback with a three-pointer nearly three minutes before the end, followed by scores from Satoranský and Hruban. Martin Svoboda then sealed the victory with a basket and a successful free throw with 79 seconds remaining.
The Czech team will next face Slovenia at the end of February and in March, playing one game in Slovenia and one at home.
Group H qualification for the 2027 Basketball World Cup:
Estonia – Czech Republic 92:97 (29:27, 53:58, 74:80)
Czech Republic roster and points: Satoranský 18, Bálint and Hruban 11 each, Kárník 10, Peterka 9 – Sehnal 15, Kyzlink and Martin Svoboda 8 each, Zídek 5, Samoura 2, Kříž, Rylich.
Fouls: 24:22. Free throws: 25/20 – 23/18. Three-pointers: 12:13. Rebounds: 29:31.
Sweden – Slovenia 83:94
| 1. | Czech Republic | 2 | 2 | 0 | 194:172 | 4 |
| 2. | Estonia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 186:190 | 3 |
| 3. | Slovenia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 187:177 | 3 |
| 4. | Sweden | 2 | 0 | 2 | 163:191 | 2 |
