Coach Sets Strategy as Neemias Faces Georgia

"We're at a point in the competition where every win brings us closer to our goal, and we can't afford to think about anything else. Right now, we have only one game in mind: today's match. We've secured an advantage by winning where no one else had before [Spain], and it will be particularly important to maintain that lead," stated national coach Mário Gomes after Portugal's final practice at the Matosinhos Pavilion, ahead of this afternoon's (7:00 PM) clash against Georgia. This game is part of the second round of Group I in the 2027 Qatar World Cup qualifiers.

According to the federation's communication, the practice session included center Neemias Queta, confirming there are no issues with him after the Celtics player exited Friday's game in Zaragoza after just a minute and a half of the fourth quarter. That encounter culminated in Portugal's historic first official victory against Spain (89-95). Their first win against Spain had occurred a year prior, in a friendly tournament in Malaga, which served as preparation for EuroBasket 2025.

While La Familia (4th in European rankings/6th worldwide) maintains its group lead (12 pts), the Portuguese squad (24th/45th) now faces a physically imposing team with significant height and weight. Georgia ranks 14th continentally and 20th globally, and in their previous game, they swept Montenegro with a dominant 101-74 victory. This was largely thanks to NBA players Goga Bitadze (Magic), who recorded 23 points and 8 rebounds, and Sandro Mamukelashvili (Lakers), who contributed 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. Additionally, Tornike Shengalia added 24 points and 7 rebounds, and Marcquise Reed chipped in with 12 points and 8 assists.

"We need to be the same or a similar team to what we were on Friday, because this game demands the same kind of weapons. With one difference: Georgia is perhaps more unpredictable than Spain, but not stronger," commented the coach. Portugal currently sits in 4th place in the group – with the top three qualifying – while Georgia is 5th with the same 11 points.

"It will be crucial for us to be secure in offense again, make good shot selections, and limit turnovers as much as possible. They are much stronger in open play, with many players showing more creativity there than in a 5-on-5 half-court game. Forcing them to play that way is fundamental, as is securing defensive rebounds and defending well. Essentially, that was the recipe for success in the game against Spain. They aren't identical teams, but they share relatively similar strengths," analyzed Mário Gomes, who believes the Portuguese team must also add humility to that recipe.

"Normally, teams that achieve their goals are humble, and we need to be humble to reach ours," added the national coach. He confirmed that Neemias and Rúben Prey (St. John's University) will be available for the last time in this phase, as they will be unable to contribute during the November and February windows due to their commitments in the United States.