Belgian Cats toil against Puerto Rico

The Cats started fifth in the FIBA ​​ranking as a favorite against the number 17 but couldn’t distance themselves from their opponents throughout the game. The white people missed too many shots for that. After the first quarter it was 12-11 and at halftime both teams tied each other: 31-31.

After the break, the difference remained minimal, although the Cats were allowed to start the last quarter of 10 minutes with a lead of one point (49-48). That too became a nail-biter in which the team of national coach Valéry Demory eventually came out on top with three points difference. Kyara Linskens became top scorer for the Belgians with 24 points. She also picked up 13 rebounds. Antonia Delaere finished with 13 points, Emma Meesseman was good for 12 rebounds, 11 assists and 6 points.

The Cats finished with a low score of 38 percent (29 out of 77). Earlier this week, the Belgian Cats lost their opening game against the United States, the top favorite, with 87-72 and then won 84-61 against South Korea. In group A they will play against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday (at 3.30 am) and on Tuesday (at 5.30 am) against China. Earlier in the day, the US won 77-63 against China and was the first to secure a ticket for the quarterfinals. The Koreans were too strong for the Bosnians with 99-66. The top four in the group advance to the quarter-finals. The US leads the standings with 6 points. Then China (second) and Belgium (third) follow with 5 points. Puerto Rico (fourth) and South Korea (fifth) have 4 points. Bosnia closes the row with 3 points after three defeats. In 2018, in their first World Cup entry, the Cats finished just off the podium in fourth place in Tenerife.