Belgian Cats make history twice in basketball play-offs

Belgium made history in Prague on Thursday when the women’s basketball team reached the semi-finals at EuroBasket for the first time ever. The Belgian Cats took down Italy in the quarter-finals, on the back of a stellar performance by Emma Meesseman, who notched 28 points, as Belgium won 79-66.

Belgium ran out to an early 16-point lead, but when Italy clawed their way back, Meesseman, Kim Mestdagh and Ann Wauters all raised their game in the fourth quarter to clinch the momentous victory.

It sets Belgium up for an exciting final four game against two-time EuroBasket winners Spain on Saturday, who won a comfortable 67-47 quarter-final victory over Latvia. The two sides met earlier this month for a warm-up game in West Flanders, with Spain winning 87-48.

If the Cats defeat the Spaniards, however, the final on Sunday would pit them against either France or Greece. The semi-finals appearance also punches Belgium’s ticket to the Fiba World Cup in Spain next year, which would mark their first ever appearance ever at World Cup.

Photo: Virginie Lefour/BELGA