After the loss (77–88) at home to the same opposition, last Friday, the conditions were crystal clear. Estonia needed to be defeated in Tallinn, for the Blue and Yellow to have any chance of reaching the 2027 Basketball World Cup in Qatar.
It also started promisingly with Sweden leading at the beginning of the match, before the Estonians were able to get back into the game. At the break, the score was tied, 38–38.
The teams were then locked in a match that looked set to develop into a big drama. With eight minutes left in the last quarter, the score was still tied, 58–58. Then Sweden put in an extra gear and grabbed a lead that was never relinquished. The last quarter was eventually won by 14 points.
Team captain Ludvig Håkanson was the top scorer in the match with 18 points.
Sweden now has two remaining matches in the qualifiers, against the Czech Republic and Slovenia in July.
Sweden is last in the qualifying group but can still climb and also needs other results. Three of the four teams in the group will advance to the next qualifying round.
Sweden had to do without NBA star Pelle Larsson and important players Simon Birgander and Barra Njie, both of whom are injured.
The World Cup is played every four years and Sweden has never participated.
