Basketball star Awak Kuier was too tough for Bulgaria in the opening of the women’s European Championship qualifiers.
The Finnish women’s basketball team had a great start to their European Championship qualifying campaign by beating Bulgaria 75–65 (33–35) in Samokov.
The last qualifying victory for the useful ones was as far away as 2020, when Portugal fell. Finland had won only one of its previous 20 qualifying matches.
Awak Kuier was, as expected, the head coach Ilkka Palviainen credit player. Kuier scored 27 points, grabbed eleven rebounds, blocked the opponent’s shot five times and marked the plus/minus statistic of the match with +18.
Good background support for Kuieri was also given by those present at the opening of Finland Lotta-Maj Lahtinen 11/9/5s and ten points bagged Elina Koskimies.
The home team was the most efficient Borislava Hristova with a balance of 27/5/3s.
Bulgaria stayed with Finland until the break, when the team got too easily to the free throw line, from which they bagged 14 points with great power. In the latter half, Bulgaria scored only three points against the Vapers.
Bulgaria is rejuvenating its team and is in the midst of big changes in the European Championship qualifiers. The head coach Tanya Gateva is a work tab based on the opening game.
In the second match of Group B, Hungary beat Slovenia 70–51 at home. Finland continues its qualifying streak on Sunday with a home match against Hungary.
The best country in each group claims a place in the EC final tournament. In addition, the four best teams from the second group qualify for the EC final tournament to be played in the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece and Italy in 2025.
The story will be completed later.