After 14 years, the Portuguese national basketball team is back in the European Championship. The team, which has not consistently participated in EuroBasket, secured their spot ahead of the final qualification round and now eagerly awaits the draw on March 27 in Riga.

Just two weeks prior, the men’s team followed in the footsteps of the women’s team in securing their place. These moments are significant for basketball in Portugal and will be remembered in the nation’s sporting history.

“This is an incredible achievement. Everyone should take pride in both teams. We worked hard to qualify, and we’re ready to give our best in the championship,” expressed Rafael Lisbon, point guard for the national team.

This marks only the fourth appearance of the men’s national team in EuroBasket history. They first participated in 1951 in France, finishing in 15th place, and returned in 2007 in Spain, achieving a remarkable ninth place. They next appeared in Lithuania in 2011, concluding in 21st place.

“This is a monumental achievement. I’m overwhelmed with pride. The qualification of both men’s and women’s teams for the European Championship is a significant accomplishment for our small nation,” remarked veteran Diogo Ventura.

Outside of Cyprus, which is hosting the championship and automatically qualifies, Portugal is the lowest-ranked team headed to EuroBasket, sitting at 28th in Europe and 55th globally.

Portugal’s qualification came through a group that included Slovenia, Israel, and Ukraine. The qualifiers began with a loss against Israel, but Portugal bounced back to defeat Ukraine. In a stunning upset, they overcame Slovenia on home ground, who they earlier lost to on the road.

In February’s “window,” history was made with one round remaining. Slovenia’s win over Ukraine ensured Portugal’s qualification before their match against Israel, making it inconsequential.

“A historic day for all of us. This was a different kind of game. Before our match, we learned about our qualification, so it was tough to stay focused,” said Ventura following the loss to Israel.

Coach Gomes expressed his satisfaction as well:

“I’m absolutely thrilled. We’ve fought hard for this, and I believe we deserve this qualification. The players deserve all the credit. I’m overjoyed we achieved our goal,” Gomes stated.

Portugal’s journey to EuroBasket began in 2020. After successfully completing the pre-qualifications for the World Cup, they advanced directly to the second round of EuroBasket qualifying, avoiding the initial phase. In that round, they topped a group with Bulgaria, Romania, and Cyprus, ultimately making it to the European Championship in a tough group with Slovenia, Israel, and Ukraine.

Their victory against Ukraine (79:77) last February marked the first win in EuroBasket qualifiers (excluding pre-qualifications) in nearly eight years, the last being against Belarus in September 2016.

After defeating Slovenia in November, they solidified their path to the championship.

“We were at rock bottom, and now we’re at EuroBasket. Our journey began in 2020, and we’ve faced many challenges. I always dreamed of playing in the European Championship, and it’s finally happening,” Ventura noted.

Anthony da Silva, whose father competed in the 2007 and 2011 championships, will also represent Portugal at EuroBasket.

“I can’t wait to share this moment with my father, who has inspired my journey in basketball. It’s been a long road, but we achieved this historic result,” Anthony da Silva remarked.

Captain Miguel Queiroz, a veteran with five previous appearances in youth European Championships, leads the team.

“I feel honored to be part of this team. I’ve been with the national team for 12 years. Our hard work has paid off, and this is vital for us and for basketball in Portugal,” said captain Queiroz.

Exciting times lie ahead for Portuguese basketball.

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