MATOSINHOS (FIBA U20 Women’s European Championship 2016) – Russia are being viewed by some as the strong favourites to land the silverware at the FIBA U20 Women’s European Championship and that makes them the powerhouse of Group D.

They have arrived on Portuguese soil with a roster laden with players who know what winning titles at youth level feels like and not only that, but also how it feels to stand on top of a podium in Matosinhos. That’s because the bulk of their team did exactly that two summers ago at the FIBA U18 Women’s European Championship 2014 and also under the same play-caller they will have this time around in Dmitry Donskov.

Russia might have been labelled as runaway favourites had the phenomenal Maria Vadeeva been present, but perhaps the center’s absence will give hope to their rivals. Not too much though, since they still have an outstanding roster with global experience from the FIBA U19 Women’s World Championship last year and also many members who have additional senior national team and EuroLeague Women court time under their belts.

The backcourt will be patrolled by Kseniia Levchenko who is perpetual motion whenever she is on the floor, while on the wing Russia have their 2014 MVP Daria Kolosovskaia who is one of the most mature leaders around. In the frontcourt, the rotation will see EuroLeague Women finalist Zhosselina Maiga of Nadezhda Orenburg Region, and the dynamic and hugely talented Raisa Musina of Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje who is a double-double waiting to happen in most games.

Perhaps the pressure could be on Turkey who have turned to a EuroLeague and EuroCup Women coach in Ayhan Avci of Agu Spor to hold their reins. He will preside over a roster that will need to be ruthless to reach their ambitions. They will be led by Sevgi Uzun of Besiktas who made the All-Star Five of 2015's FIBA U18 Women’s European Championship Division B when Turkey took third place to bounce straight back to the top flight to make up for the misery of relegation in 2014.

Melis Gulcan (TUR) will be one of the players to watch again at the FIBA U20 Women's European Championship

They missed the Quarter-Final cut in Lanzarote last year and had to settle for ninth spot, but Melis Gulcan is back and she will be another main driver after top scoring with 12 points per game.

Slovak Republic were buoyant last year after they made it to the Quarter-Finals and a repeat of that would be a dream for head coach Juraj Suja and his players. There will be a lot of responsibility on the shoulders of Veronika Remenarova to produce and especially from behind the three-point line, which could be a difference-maker for her team. She played last year in Lanzarote at the tournament, along with other influential players such as Radka Stasova and Miroslava Mistinova and their experience will be priceless. If that is combined with the confidence and talent of the 2015 FIBA U18 Women’s European Championship Division B champions such as the all-action Tereza Sedlakova, then the outlook could be brighter than many might expect.

Belgium make Group D look one of the most interesting behind headliners Russia, as they finished 11th last year, but made the Quarter-Finals at U18 level. While the free-scoring Hind Ben-Abdelkadar has moved on, they have some very capable players and several of whom played at the global level at the FIBA U19 Women’s World Championship last year. Heleen Nauwelaers also played at this event last summer and she has leadership qualities, while Serena-Lyn Geldof brings height and a skill factor under the hoop.

FIBA