BUDAPEST (FIBA U16 European Championship 2016 Division B) - It was only one loss, but Mate Fazekas wants to take that hurt and help Hungary finish in the top three of the FIBA U16 European Championship 2016 Division B and earn promotion to Division A. 

Fazekas was in his second season with German club ratiopharm ulm's U16 team ratiopharm akademie and had gone through the entire 2015-16 season undefeated, coming into the final against Eintracht Frankfurt. Playing in front of the home fans at the Final Four, Fazekas collected 21 points, 11 rebounds and 3 assists but they were not enough as Frankfurt won 61-53 to snatch the title away from Ulm. 

"That was really hard," Fazekas admitted. "We won all our games. But we lost our last. I learned a lot, and this can help me to bring my game at the U16 [European Championship Division B]."

Fazekas will take that disappointment and target his energy on getting Hungary back to Division A. 

"We have a good team. Our target is to get into the first three and be a Division A team," the 2.08m big man said. "We have the chance to go to the A division and make our country proud. It would be a honour and one of the best memories of my life."

Hungary last played in Division A in 2008. They were close to getting back in 2012 finishing fourth after losing to Belgium in the Semi-Finals and Sweden in the 3rd Place Game. 

Mate Fazekas wants to use his experience in Germany at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2016 Division B. 

Fazekas is one of two players for Hungary who played last summer at the FIBA U16 European Championship Division B a year younger - along with Adam Somogyi - and finished 13th.   

"I hope that Adam and I can help for our guys to not be afraid of the other teams and do the things they always do," Fazekas said. "I hope the experience that I got last year pays off and I can help my team win."

When asked what Hungary must do to return to Division A, Fazekas said: "We need to bring our game, to give 100 percent on every possession - both on offence and defence."

Hungary are drawn into Group B with Ireland, Israel, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Scotland and England. The top two teams advance to the Quarter-Finals. The top three from that stage on will make the jump to Division A. 

"We have a great group with very good teams. But we have the opportunity to go to the top 8," Fazekas said. 

"We have a good team. Our target is to get into the first three and be a Division A team. We have the chance to go to the A division. And make our country proud. It would be a honour and one of the best memories of my life." - Fazekas

The Gyor-native has family experience to call upon as well as his uncle Zoltan Bencze played in qualifying for EuroBasket 2005 and 2007 for Hungary.

"He (Bencze) helped me in the off seasons to be a better basketball player," said Fazekas, who started playing the game when he was 6 years old. 

Fazekas is a big fan of DeMarcus Cousins because he says, "he works so hard under the basket. He is in a good position every time. He is like a monster."

He plans on becoming a monster as well in Germany, signing a five-year contract with Ulm. 

"I loved being a player for Ulm. And that is the reason I want stay with them for many years," said Fazekas. 

And hopefully to make up for that JBBL final loss in Germany as well. 

FIBA