Spain defeats Bulgaria in EuroBasket 2027 qualifying match in Samokov

Spain defeated Bulgaria 85:64 in a EuroBasket 2027 qualifying match held at Sameliom Arena in Samokov. The match was part of the second round of Group J during the second stage of the EuroBasket 2027 qualifiers. This victory marks the second consecutive win for Spain in this qualifying phase.

Group J standings and match details

The win for Spain places the team at the top of the temporary Group J standings. Bulgaria suffered its first loss in this qualifying phase, which leaves the team with a 1-1 record. Earlier on November 12, 2026, Croatia defeated Czechia 82:69, which also left both Croatia and Bulgaria with a 1-1 record in the group.

The match remained competitive in the early stages, with the score at the end of the first quarter recorded as 21:20. By halftime, the score was 38:37. Spain eventually established a significant advantage, reaching a maximum lead of 23 points during the game.

Bulgaria's starting five for the match included Gergana Ivanova, Karina Konstantinova, Radostina Dimitrova, Borislava Hristova, and Kyla Hillman. Borislava Hristova contributed 15 points to the Bulgarian score, while Kyla Hillman recorded 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Tournament context and upcoming fixtures

Spain enters this qualifying stage as the European vice-champion and a bronze medalist from the previous World Championship. The competition for EuroBasket 2027 qualification remains tight for the teams in Group J. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the EuroBasket 2027 finals.

The EuroBasket 2027 finals are scheduled to take place between July 16 and July 27, 2027. The host nations for the finals tournament are Belgium, Finland, Lithuania, and Sweden.

Bulgaria will face Czechia in an away game for its next qualifying match on November 17, 2026. The Bulgarian national team, coached by Tanya Gateva, aims to improve its standing in the group. Tanya Gateva stated that the team has been working for this moment for years and she believes in the team.

Spain performance and player statistics

Spain's offensive performance was led by Iyana Martin, who scored 26 points. Other players contributing to the Spanish victory included Mariona Ortiz, Raquel Carrera, and Alba Torres.

The Bulgarian team's previous performance in this phase included a 91:74 win against Croatia on November 11, 2026. The loss in Samokov highlights the difficulty of the second round of Group J in the EuroBasket 2027 qualifying process.

Glossary

• EuroBasket 2027 — The EuroBasket 2027 finals are a tournament scheduled to take place between July 16 and July 27, 2027. The top two teams from each group qualify for the finals.
• Samokov — Samokov is a town that was captured by the Ottomans. It was one of the lands returned to Ivan Shishman to compensate for the Ottoman conquest.
• World Championship — The World Championship is an international ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation. The 2026 IIHF World Championship Division II consisted of two international tournaments representing the fourth and fifth tiers of the championships.
• Belgium — Belgium is a country that hosted the EuroBasket 2027 finals. Its national motto is "L'union fait la force" or "Eendracht maakt macht".