Manu Lecomte gives Belgium the victory with a game winner against Poland

The Belgian Lions regained their pride in their final game of EuroBasket against Poland (who had already secured second place in Group D, behind France). Despite already being eliminated, Dario Gjergja’s team wanted to finish on a high note and succeeded thanks to a decisive basket by Manu Lecomte with 3.6 seconds remaining.

This Group D match was only for pride, with both teams’ fates already sealed. But the Lions showed a very different face compared to their previous tournament performances, being more aggressive on defense and moving the ball better on offense.

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The Belgian Lions show better form and win on Manu Lecomte’s buzzer-beater! (+ videos)

Sept 4, 2025

Georges Xouras

A brilliant Manu Lecomte from the start

From the first quarter, Manu Lecomte set the tone with 11 points, helping the Lions hold Poland to 17 points (17-16). Three-point shooting made the difference in the first half, with Belgium hitting 8 of 15 attempts compared to Poland’s 3 of 13, giving them a 6-point lead at halftime (33-39).

Young players Niels Van den Eynde and Siebe Ledegen took responsibility, freed from result pressure. The third quarter saw the Lions extend their lead to 14 points thanks to Hans Vanwijn (35-49), their largest lead of the tournament.

A thrilling finish decided at the buzzer

Driven by their home crowd, the Poles came back to take the lead late in the third quarter (58-56). The final quarter was particularly tense, with nearly three minutes without a field goal as both teams struggled to make a difference.

With 13.2 seconds left and the Lions up by one (69-68), Manu Lecomte took charge. In a one-on-one situation, the Belgian guard found the target to give his team the victory. Kamil Laczynski missed Poland’s response, giving the Belgian Lions a deserved win.

The Lions thus finish their EuroBasket in fifth place in their group with two wins in five games. A disappointing campaign that leaves regrets, especially since a team like Sweden qualified for the round of 16 with just one victory.

EMMANUEL LECOMTE SENDS THE GAME-WINNER! 💥💥💥#EUROBASKET x @BelgianLions pic.twitter.com/Lqq6tL3Rga

— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 4, 2025