Bakken Bears needed a late surge to pull clear of Hibernia and qualify for the last 32 of the FIBA Europe Cup at the National Basketball Arena. The Danish champions beat the home side 90-67, but there were just 10 points between the sides with 3:30 to go.

For the week that’s in it, it’s facile to tee up the respective state of two of our national teams advancing on Europe. Alas, the football and basketball experiences diverge as quickly as they begin.

An Irish club side made up of players from teams in the Basketball Ireland Men’s Premier League were made to pay for their mistakes by Czech heavyweights CEZ Nymburk in the FIBA Europe Cup. Hibernia Basketball lost 106-45 in central Bohemia in their third trip to the continent in as many weeks.