Lundberg played all 40 minutes, leading Denmark in a thrilling comeback win over Georgia in a EuroBasket qualifier opener. (PHOTO: Tom Andreasen/FIBA)
Iffe Lundberg set Denmark on path to history
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In a showdown between national teams led by two Virtus Segafredo Bologna teammates, Iffe Lundberg led Denmark in a comeback 75-69 win against the visiting Georgia and Toko Shengelia on Friday night. It was the opening night of action in Group G of the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 qualifiers, and an outcome that now allows Denmark to dream of making history.
The two Virtus players starred for their respective teams. And while Shengelia led Georgia in the first three quarters, Lundberg took over midway through the third stanza, orchestrating a comeback that turned a 13-point deficit into a win which Denmark hopes to use to reach its first EuroBasket since 1955.
Denmark and Georgia are in a group with Finland and the 2023 World Cup runner-up Serbia. Finland, as one of EuroBasket 2025 co-hosts, is automatically qualified while the other three teams will fight for two spots that lead to the main event.
Lundberg led big rally
Protecting home floor is of great importance, but things looked glim for Denmark down 36-48 midway through the third quarter. That is when Lundberg, who has scored 6 points up to that point, knocked down his only triple on 8 attempts on this night.
However, that one long-range shot sparked a 22-5 spurt bridging third and fourth quarters. Denmark closed within 50-53 at the end of the third quarter, then scored the first 8 points of the fourth, including Lundberg stringing 6 to open a 58-53 lead.
Shengelia, who scored 20 points in the first three quarters, kept the visitors in it with a pair of three-pointers, and Joe Thomasson of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv helped Georgia keep its hopes alive, but Lundberg was not done. He had a pair of assists, including one for an important triple from Bakary Dibba, picked up a steal that led to a fastbreak basket, and also made 4 free throws, helping Denmark hold on to a massive win.
When all was said and done, Lundberg had a team-high 19 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals. On the other end, Shengelia finished with 27 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, while Thomasson had 16 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds in defeat.
Satisfaction for Virtus fans
The end outcome might have been a disappointment for Shengelia, but his performance should certainly put a smile on faces of Virtus fans.
The team from Bologna currently has 16-10 record, tied for the third best in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague with eight rounds to go. Lundberg has been arguably club's best and the most clutch performer over the last four rounds, while Shengelia slowed down after a strong start which earned him October MVP award.
In recent weeks, Shengelia missed three games with an injury and has scored in double figures only once since the first week of January.
But Shengelia's return to form in a jersey of Georgia is certainly great news for Virtus, as the team will be fighting in a tight playoff race, as well as battle for home-court playoff advantage in the next two months.