U18 Men’s Games: Tuesday 20 December
SAMSUN (FIBA U18 European Championship 2016) – It's knockout stage time at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2016 with the four Quarter-Finals taking place. Not only will we know the Semi-Finalists after
SAMSUN (FIBA U18 European Championship 2016) – It's knockout stage time at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2016 with the four Quarter-Finals taking place. Not only will we know the Semi-Finalists after today's action but four of Europe's five spots at the FIBA U19 World Championship 2017 will be captured.
The team finishing fifth on the final day of action will also move into the FIBA U19 World Championship.
But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, today's action also includes the four Classification 9-16 games with the four winners knowing they will remain in Division A next summer. The losers of Tuesday's classification games then must win their next two games in order to stay in the top flight.
Watch all of the action live on FIBA’s YouTube channel.
Follow the action live throughout the day on the FIBA U18 European Championship live feed.
QUARTER-FINALS
Germany may be the favourites going into this game but they have had their problems with Spain in the past. They lost twice to the Iberians in the FIBA U18 European Championship 2015, including in the seventh-place game. And Germany's last U18 victory over Spain dates back to the Group Phase of the FIBA U18 European Championship 1986 - when current assistant coach Henrik Rodl was on the team and the second-leading scorer. That is an eight-game losing streak. Spain for their part have reached the Quarter-Finals in each of the last four years. But Luis Guil's team must figure out a way to slow down all the weapons from Germany.
Like Spain against Germany, Lithuania have had Russia's number with a 6-1 record against the Russians in the competition since 2005. Lithuania came into the tournament as a title contender and really haven't disappointed, losing just a battle to Bosnia and Herzegovina. While Lithuania like to run, Russia's forte is defence, defence, defence, giving up just 48.3 points a game in the Group Phase and holding their opponents to below 28% field goal percentage. Expect a low-scoring encounter.
More domination for the traditional basketball power in this match-up as Italy have never lost in nine games against Finland. Their Group Phase game in the summer of 2015 was however the first encounter since 2004. Italy are the much more attacking team, averaging nine points more per game than the Finns. Italy are led by Davide Moretti, who has been spectacular in guiding his team. Finland will need to hit some shots to win as they are averaging just 38% from the field and just 21% from long range. For Italy, the question is how they can rebound over Finland's Hannes Polla, one of the biggest post players in the tournament, who is averaging 10 rebounds a game to go with 12 points.
France v Bosnia and Herzegovina
France have won the only two previous games between these teams - in the Second Round in 2013 and the Classification 9-12 games in 2014. France were undefeated in Group D with their fantastic athleticism and the great play of 15-year-old Sekou Doumbouya, who is second in the tournament in scoring and leads France in rebounds. The key could be Frank Ntilikina, who has yet to really shine, averaging 7.3 points and shooting just 33% from the field with a 4.0-to-3.7 assist to turnover ratio. Bosnia and Herzegovina are led by their do-it-all man Dzanan Musa. But one man will not be enough to beat France and Musa must rely and find his teammates enough.
CLASSIFICATION 9-16
Latvia have traditionally held control over this match-up with just one loss in the seven games since 1997. Latvia will try to re-group after just coming up short on the winning margin in their final Group Phase game to drop to the Classification Games. Slovenia meanwhile have lost their last two games by an average of 31.5 points.
The series between these two teams is split 1-1 with Greece's win coming in 1993 and Sweden winning in 1974. Greece played tough in each of their three games, sticking with Turkey; not letting Germany get away until the fourth quarter; and actually beating Finland - albeit by not enough points to reach the Quarter-Finals. Mihail Lountzis will be crucial for Greece in this one. Sweden have got a great tournament from Olle Lundqvist but it hasn't been enough with them losing all three games. However, the main goal of the tournament would be achieved with a win as they would avoid relegation.
These two teams have played some big U18 games recently including the 2013 Final and the 2014 Semi-Finals - both won by Turkey, who have won four of the last five match-ups. This is also an important game as the winner will avoid relegation and Croatia's hopes will rely on Domagoj Saric and Darko Bajo. Turkey meanwhile will have the home court behind them and Omer Al wants to secure Turkey's place in Division A as quickly as possible just a summer after reaching the U18 Final.
The most enticing match-up of the Classification Games with perhaps the biggest disappointment Serbia - one of the tournament favourites going in before crashing to a 1-2 record - facing the epitome of heartbreak in Israel, who brought Bosnia and Herzegovina and Lithuania to overtime and lost basically at the buzzer to Latvia. Borisa Simanic and Serbian captain Aleksa Radanov must step up while Israel know that Yovel Zoosman will be ready to give his all.
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