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29 July, 2016
07 August
8 Ivan Alipiev (BUL)
01/08/2016
News
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Five teams still perfect, Bulgaria score a tournament-high 113 points

SKOPJE (2016 FIBA U18 European Championship Division B) - Five teams are left unbeaten at the championship, and Bulgaria set a new tournament-high in points scored on Day 3.

Yordan Minchev needed just 17 minutes on the floor to collect 30 points, eight rebounds and four assists in Bulgaria's 113-67 win over Ireland. Four more Bulgarian players finished in double figures, but at 2-1 they still trail Hungary at the top of the Group A.

Hungary jumped up to a 3-0 record after their 78-56 triumph against The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, as Csaba Kucsora had 20 points in 24 minutes. Poland are also just a win away from Hungary, their 70-42 victory versus Cyprus was never in question, especially not with Mikolaj Kurpisz hitting all of his three triples on his way to a game-high 16 points.

Montenegro are alone atop Group B at 3-0. Ognjen Carapic led the charge with 17 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and four steals in a 95-56 win over Belarus. Behind Montenegro, there is a big fight for the Quarter-Finals, as Belgium have two wins in three games, followed closely by Portugal, Romania, Belarus and Austria, who are all at 1-2.

Belgium secured their second win of the championship with a balanced attack. Lander Kuijt had 15 points to lead five players in double digits in a 91-45 win against Austria. Portugal bounced back from a heartbreaking overtime loss to Austria. A 62-45 success is in the books, as Portugal forced 22 Romanian turnovers and held them to just 33% from two-point range and the free-throw line.

All 12 Czech players got at least six minutes on the floor in an 83-62 win against the Netherlands. Czech Republic are building confidence by each game, as they will head into a day off on a 3-0 record in Group C. Jan Zidek had a team-high 13 points against the Netherlands.

Iceland are in second place in Group C, as they held their nerve in the final minute to see off Denmark 73-68. Eyjolfur Halldorsson scored 17 points for Iceland, who had lost another tight game against Czech Republic just a day earlier. Estonia also stand at 2-1. Their 76-53 win over Luxembourg means that their upcoming match-up with Iceland could be crucial in the fight for the Quarter-Finals.

In Group D, both Georgia and Ukraine are at 3-0. Ukraine handed Slovak Republic their first loss in a 78-61 triumph, while Georgia held off England 76-70, largely thanks to an 18-point, 15-rebound, 5-block performance by Goga Bitadze. Scotland defeated Albania 83-65 to grab their first win of the tournament.

FIBA