GB QUALIFY FOR EUROBASKET IN NAIL-BITING WIN OVER DUTCH

Great Britain beat the Netherlands 73-69 in Den Haag on Friday night, in the most dramatic of circumstances, to qualify for FIBA EuroBasket 2025.

It wasn’t the prettiest game in terms of free-flowing basketball; it was more a case of who could hold their nerve when it mattered. GB did just that in a game that featured ten lead changes, and neither team shot the ball well.

Great Britain shot only 31% from the field on a subpar night in that regard, but what stood out in victory was their killer instinct from the free throw line, going 24/29.

With the Dutch up 67-65 with 1:15 to play, captain Carl Wheatle stepped up courageously to knock down a three with just under 40 seconds left, followed by a mid-range jumper from Tarik Phillip with 15.5 to go, which ultimately sealed the win.

The Netherlands had opportunities in the final ten seconds but couldn’t take advantage, as GB advanced to its sixth EuroBasket tournament in the summer.

“I’m feeling really grateful; I’m feeling really proud, honoured to be part of such a special and committed group of players and staff,” GB coach Marc Steutel said.

“I thought that that was the best GB game that I’ve been a part of with that level of shooting percentage. You know, I thought that even when the ball wasn’t going in for us, we were getting a lot of the looks that we like to get. I thought that we were playing the right way.

“But for me, I’m just so proud of our guys.”

Gabe Olaseni was sublime. When GB needed him most, he responded with 18 points and 14 rebounds to lead the way. Amin Adamu came off the bench to add 13 points on a flawless 3/3 from three-point land, and Phillip had 11.

“I’m just happy for the group,” Olaseni said.

“The coaching staff gave us a great game plan to start the week, and I’m glad we executed it.

“We didn’t shoot well, but to come into a hostile environment and hold a team under 70, I think it encapsulates who we are as a program. We try and we try and play defence, we try and play for each other.”

Yannick Franke fought to the very end, but his 22 points wasn’t enough, eliminating the Netherlands and settling Group F with both Czechia and Greece also advancing.

In a strange start, neither team could get going. Great Britain was fortunate enough to get points on the board but started 2/12 from the field.

It was worse for the hosts, who missed their first seven shots, but even better for GB, who established an attacking flow that gave them points at the line. Akwasi Yeboah muscled his way for a three-point play, and Gabe Olaseni punched one home in transition.

The Dutch finally got their first score with 3:15 left of the first, but Steutel’s side already had 13 points on the board by that point. However, it was the Netherlands’ turn to have their run.

A 13-2 response, including three triples, restored their challenge, but GB, led by Olaseni’s six points, led 20-14 after one.

Despite trailing, the Netherlands leaned on sharpshooting Franke to keep them in it, scoring 12 points in the early stages of the second, as GB missed attempts under the hoop.

The hosts reduced the gap to 22-20 thanks to Kai Edwards, but Yeboah restored the two-possession advantage with a crafty basket inside.

As the second period progressed, the play wasn’t pretty. Turnovers and several missed attempts were the norm, but the visitors were getting several second-chance opportunities. When Adamu drilled a corner three with 3:19 remaining in the half, GB had a sizable 31-22 lead.

GB hung on to their lead at the break. It wasn’t pretty: They were only 8/34 from the field, while the Netherlands were only 10/27 through the first two quarters.

But crucially, Great Britain was an impressive 14/15 from the free-throw line, which contributed to their lead. Their attacking mindset allowed them to get free points at the stripe.

Great Britain led for the entire first half, but within the first minute of the third quarter, the Netherlands took their first lead of the game through the team’s leading scorer in the Qualifiers, Keye van der Vuurst, who strung a three from the wing.

It was a test of character for Great Britain, especially with so much at stake, but they maintained their style of play that they utilised in the first two quarters, forcing the hosts into four early team fouls within the first three minutes.

Despite the foul issues, the Dutch were in rhythm. A stepback three from veteran Charlon Kloof handed his side a 43-37 advantage, but Myles Hesson inside and a three from Wheatle narrowed the gap to a point with little over three minutes left.

Eventually, GB regained the upper hand at 49-48 with less than a minute in the third, as Adamu hit a triple and Phillip floated one in. But with so much on the line for both sides, emotions were starting to boil as Franke was called for a technical and Phillip was called for an unsportsmanlike foul.

The intensity was palpable; you could feel it all over the arena in Den Haag. The Dutch led 50-49 after three, but that was quickly wiped out as Wheatle opened the fourth with an impressive drive and score to the basket.

The lead switched hands three times in the first three minutes of the fourth, with the Netherlands fans in good voice, but GB was finding its groove.

Adamu continued his good shooting from deep, draining his third triple as his side extended their advantage to 61-55 midway through the fourth.

The intensity was intense, and the game was constantly on a knife edge. But ultimately, GB held their nerve.