Who was each nation's MVP of the February window?
MUNICH (Germany) - There was an array of outstanding performances during an exciting last window of the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2021 Qualifiers.
With each nation having already been handed a collective assessment grade for the window, it's time to give some of the limelight each team's MVP of the February bubbles.
Group A
Slovenia
Eva Lisec - C / 1.92m / 1995
Statistics: 21.5 PPG; 60% FG; 5.0 RPG; EFF 25.5
A strong anchor in the paint for Slovenia, Lisec has also emerged into a leader for her national team and that influence is growing. She produced two strong showings as her nation went to a third successive FIBA Women's EuroBasket. This time doing it with a flawless 6-0 record.
Greece
Maria Fasoula - C / 1.92m / 1997
Statistics: 13.0 PPG; 63% FG; 8.0 RPG
It was a sensational conclusion to the window for Greece as Fasoula completed the 'and-one' play to get her team over the finish line against Bulgaria. She was also MVP for Greece in the previous window and is now becoming a poster player for this new group, who have been picking up the baton from the famous generation that included the likes of Stella Kaltsidou and Evina Maltsi.
Bulgaria
Dimana Georgieva - PF / 1.88m / 1988
Statistics: 13.0 PPG; 61% FG; 5.0 RPG
The veteran forward rolled back the years with a very productive window. She was highly effective in a close game against Slovenia and she then took the fight to Greece before experiencing the frustration of fouling out.
Iceland
Hildur Kjartansdottir - C / 1.88m / 1994
Statistics: 19.0 PPG; 9.0 RPG; 17.0 EFF
Even if Iceland suffered a couple of big blowouts during the window, the individual display of the center was exceptional. Good against Greece, she then showed out against Slovenia with a superb 25 points and 9 rebounds.
Group B
Sweden
Frida Eldebrink - SG / 1.75m / 1988
Statistics: 26 PTS; 8 REB; 2 AST
The narrow defeat against Montenegro was hard to bear for Sweden, but at least they protected the top spot in the group and that was thanks mainly to the experienced guard. Eldebrink was the MVP of the previous window for her country and she was in a rich vein of form again.
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Montenegro
Jelena Dubljevic - PF / 1.91m / 1987
Statistics: 21 PPG; 11 RPG; 3.5 APG; 26.5 EFF
It was a dream return for Dubljevic as she ended a three year hiatus from national team duties to tear it up in the thrilling and pivotal win against Sweden. The forward landed Gameday 5 Top Performer honors for a sensational 34 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists.
Israel
Eden Rotberg - G / 1.78m / 1998
Statistics: 22.0 PTS ; 57% FG
Rotberg was arguably the only player on the Israeli roster to perform anywhere near top gear in what was a disappointing display as they were easily beaten by Montenegro.
Group C
🇷🇺 @maria_vadeeva put up another 💪 stat line in front of home crowd!
— #EuroBasketWomen (@EuroBasketWomen) February 6, 2021
📊 25 PTS (11/14 FG) - 11 REB - 42 EFF@russiabasket | #EuroBasketWomen pic.twitter.com/oanSdH4Pxc
Russia
Maria Vadeeva - C / 1.93m / 1998
Statistics: 18.0 PPG; 70% FG; 11.0 RPG; 31.5 EFF
Vadeeva was unstoppable in this window, as evidenced by her shooting numbers and sky-high efficiency. The Estonia and Switzerland defense had no answer at all to a player that will be heading towards her fourth Final Round, even though she is only 22 years old.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Melisa Brcaninovic - PF / 1.93m / 1999
Statistics: 18.5 PPG; 13.0 RPG; 21.5 EFF
While the headlines surrounded the naturalized Courtney Hurt and her 30-point debut, Brcaninovic played an important supporting role in the hard-fought victory against Switzerland. She also excelled against Estonia and will be one to watch when her country returns to the Final Round for the first time since 1999.
Switzerland
Emma Chardon - PF/ 1.89m / 2002
Statistics: 14.0 PPG; 3.5 RPG
A massively exciting prospect, the teenager underlined that she is a future centerpiece in the making for Switzerland. It was an excellent showing and became evident she's growing in confidence and her athleticism is always appreciated by her team.
Estonia
Kadri Ann Lass - C / 1.91m / 1996
Statistics: 13.5 PPG; 3.5 RPG
It proved another challenging window for Estonia as they completed the campaign without a win to their name. Their loss to Russia was particularly difficult as they only got to 35 points. Almost half of that tally was down to Lass, who had a creditable 17 points.
Group D
The BLOCK... the FINISH 👀🇨🇿!@cz_basketball | #EuroBasketWomen pic.twitter.com/wo4OKtLQQO
— #EuroBasketWomen (@EuroBasketWomen) February 6, 2021
Czech Republic
Julia Reisingerova - C / 1.94m / 1998
Statistics: 20.0 PPG; 7 RPG; 71% FG; 27 EFF
It was a job well done for Czech Republic as they continued their run of making every Final Round since 1995. Center Reisingerova was superb across both games, producing huge numbers and shooting with deadly accuracy as her defenders consistently struggled to contain her.
Italy
Martina Bestagno - SG/ 1.89m / 1990
Statistics: 14.0 PPG; 4.5 RPG
There were multiple choices available for Italy's MVP since so many players stepped up at different times during two big victories en-route to the Final Round. Bestagno was unstoppable against Denmark with 18 points and an 80 percent shooting effort.
Denmark
Gritt Ryder - G / 1.73m / 1992
Statistics: 13.0 PPG; 4.0 RPG; 4.0 APG
It was a pair of losses for Denmark against Italy and Czech Republic, with Ryder very much a player who showed the most consistency and impressed during a challenging window. She reminded everyone that Denmark have more on their roster than just their leader Maria Jespersen.
Romania
Gabriela Marginean - SF / 1.83m / 1987
Statistics: 15.0 PPG; 5.0 RPG
As Romania try to forget a highly unproductive and worrying campaign and last window, veteran winger Marginean did everything she could for her country - as always. She was someone who managed to sign-off with her head held high after typically strong individual showings.
Group E
Serbia
Aleksandra Crvendakic- SF / 1.87m / 1996
Statistics: 15.0 PPG; 3.0; 5.0 APG; 3 SPG
Everyone knows the attributes of the LDLC ASVEL Feminin forward who continues to be a leader for club and country. She was the MVP as Serbia wrapped up an unbeaten campaign by rolling over Lithuania with considerable ease.
Turkey
Olcay Cakir - PG / 1.78m / 1993
Statistics: 11 PTS; 4 STL
Just when Turkey needed to the big win against Lithuania to ensure they advanced to the Final Round, Cakir did the business at both ends of the floor. It was not big on numbers, but she didn't turn the ball over once and collected 4 steals in a really composed and assured display during a pressurized situation for her country.
How on earth did Labuckiene make that ? 🤔@ltu_basketball 🇱🇹#EuroBasketWomen pic.twitter.com/s5kg8hXahw
— #EuroBasketWomen (@EuroBasketWomen) February 4, 2021
Lithuania
Giedre Labuckiene - C / 1.90m / 1990
Statistics: 8.0 PPG; 7.0 RPG
As a forgettable qualifying campaign came to a close with a one-sided defeat against Serbia, Labuckiene at least made every shot she took. The center also worked hard on the glass which limited the damage.
Group F
Belarus
Anastasiya Verameyenka - PF / 1.92m / 1987
Statistics: 11.3 PPG; 7.3 RPG; 18 EFF
Winning two of the three games in the window to finish 3-1, it was the leadership of Verameyneka that proved hugely valuable. The veteran was a calm figure in some difficult situations, winning her on-court battles, playing great defense and guiding her team back to the Final Round.
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Great Britain
Temi Fagbenle - C / 1.93m / 1992
Statistics: 23 PTS; 13 REB
With so many teammates suffering a nightmare shooting display in the decisive loss to Belarus, Fagbenle was the one player who consistently performed during the game. Her double-double was the one shining positive of an otherwise day to forget as Great Britain missed out on the Final Round, two years after making the Semi-Finals.
Poland
Weronika Telenga - PF / 1.92m / 1995
Statistics: 7.0 PPG; 9.0 RPG; 2 APG
Nobody, and maybe not even a transitional Poland themselves, expected an upset win against Belarus, with much of the best work in that memorable victory completed by Telenga. She had a super 11 boards, along with 6 points and 4 assists. Plus lots of hard work away from the ball.
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Group G
Belgium
Emma Meesseman - PF / 1.93m / 1993
Statistics: 20.5 PPG; 63% FG; 8.0 RPG; 28.0 EFF
The leader of the Belgian Cats put in a trademark classy and efficient performance during the window. She was impressive against Finland but even more so when she helped her team avoid an unwanted surprise in a one-shot game against Portugal.
Ukraine
Alina Iagupova - SG/SF / 1.86m / 1992
Statistics: 19.0 PPG; 12.5 APG; EFF 29
It was bittersweet for Iagupova as Ukraine got two huge victories to finish runners-up in the group, but it wasn't enough to advance. Her creative streak was off the chart, alongside her prolific scoring touch, with every neutral no doubt disappointed that this incredible player won't now be featuring at the Final Round.
Portugal
Maria Bettencourt Correia - SG / 1.72m / 1991
Statistics: 16.5 PPG; 4.5 RPG; 3 APG
The guard enjoyed a productive window as Portugal were swept aside by Ukraine, but then responded by almost taking the prize scalp of Belgium. Correia showed her full array of skills with all-action contributions in both games.
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Finland
Awak Kuier - C / 1.94m / 2001
Statistics: 25.0 PPG; 10.0 RPG; 22.5 EFF
The teenager showed out during the window and even heavy losses for her team couldn't cloud the phenomenal talent of the rising star. Awak underlined yet again why she is likely to be a WNBA Draft pick in coming months and firmly in the top ten.
Group H
Netherlands
Loyce Bettonvil - SF / 1.85m / 1993
Statistics: 11.0 PPG; 58% FG; 4.0 RPG
It was a glorious chance missed for Netherlands as they lost against Slovakia in a game where a win would have delivered their first Final Round place in decades. Bettonvil was one of the few Dutch players who clicked somewhere near a reasonable level during a defensive lockdown from their opponents.
Hungary
Bernadett Hatar - C / 2.08m / 1994
Statistics: 25.0 PPG; 11.0 RPG; 29.0 EFF
Having made the Quarter-Finals in 2019, Hungary suffered the chronic disappointment of finishing bottom of their qualification group, despite coming within a bucket of topping it. Hatar was impossible for the Slovakian defense to guard as Hungary secured a win in their only game of the window.
Slovakia
Angelika Slamova - SG / 1.70m / 1994
Statistics: 12.0 PPG; 2.5 RPG
While not eye-catching numbers taken on face value, in context of the group dynamics, Slamova was pivotal to Slovakia making it to the Final Round. She was the only player in double figures during the loss to Hungary and that helped keep the basket difference damage to a minimum. She then played a solid part in that terrific team win against Netherlands which sealed the deal.
Group I
🔝 Favorite play from Window 3 of the #EuroBasketWomen Qualifiers? 🔥 pic.twitter.com/fAkBd95KV2
— #EuroBasketWomen (@EuroBasketWomen) February 8, 2021
Croatia
Iva Slonjsak - SG / 1.83m / 1997
Statistics: 23.0 PPG; 10.0 RPG; 3.0 APG; 34.0 EFF
It was a memorable day for Croatia as they made an overdue to the Final Round off the back of a stunning display from the guard against Germany. It resulted in a double celebration for Slonjsak as she also made the Gameday 5 Top Performers.
Germany
Laura Hebecker - SG / 1.80m / 1993
Statistics: 15.5 PPG; 5.5 RPG
It was case of very slim pickings in terms of standout performers for Germany in what was a dreadful window as they picked up two big losses. However, Hebecker did emerge with a couple of respectable performances.
Latvia
Anete Steinberga - C/ 1.90m / 1990
Statistics: 21.0 PPG; 11.0 RPG; 4.0 APG; 26.0 EFF
The center was the MVP of the window for Latvia back in November and was again the driving force for her country. Her mammoth display against Germany brought Latvia to within a whisker of the Final Round. Not making it because of the exploits of Greece felt particularly tough on Steinberga who was exceptional.
FIBA