Meesseman takes TISSOT MVP award to lead TISSOT All-Star Five in Ljubljana

LJUBLJANA (Slovenia) - There was double celebration for Belgium leader Emma Meesseman after she added the TISSOT MVP award to her FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023 winners' medal.

The forward was phenomenal for Belgium throughout and came up with the goods in the 64-58 Final win against Spain with a typically superb showing of 24 points, 8 rebounds and 5 steals. Across the competition, Meesseman averaged 21.7 points, 8.7 boards, 5.2 assists and 4.3 steals.

"We're champions. I am so proud of my team," smiled Meesseman.

"I knew the fire was in us. The energy was just not there and I had no idea how to put the fire on. But at the right time, at the right moment, we all stood up and we just did it.

She added: "I know we deserve it and I am so, so proud of my team for doing it."

She was joined in the TISSOT All-Star Five by her teammates Julie Allemand and Julie Vanloo. The former led the competition in assists by passing the rock and average of 8.7 per game to go with 11.0 points per outing. Her assists per game output set a new all-time FIBA Women's EuroBasket competition high.

Meanwhile Vanloo found the hot-hand from downtown and it was her three-point shooting that regularly helped Belgium to impose themselves in games. She dropped 24 triples in the tournament and netted 16.2 points per game and 3.2 assists.

Alba Torrens may have been on the losing side in the Final, but she added an All-Star Five berth to her resume with 11.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2,0 assists per game. She also became Spain's all-time record scorer at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket after passing Amaya Valdemoro's high tide mark in the Final. 

Sandrine Gruda also made the lineup after helping France to an eighth consecutive medal as they beat Hungary in the Third Place Game. The center averaged 10.2 points and 4.3 rebounds in the competition, with her leadership at key moments standing out. She also moved into second place in the all-time rebounding chart. 

FIBA