Preview: Groups A and B

SARAJEVO (FIBA U18 Women’s European Championship Division B 2016) – As the countdown continues to this weekend’s big tip-off at the FIBA U18 Women’s European Championship Division B 2016 in Sarajevo, we cast an eye over the participants in Groups A and B.

Had Portugal not had some injury problems, they might have been strong favourites to bounce straight back from the disappointment of last year’s relegation. But, it might be difficult without the likes of Beatriz Jordao who was clearly hampered as her nation recently debuted at the FIBA U17 Women’s World Championship in Zaragoza. Nevertheless, Portugal should still be able to make a strong push behind the skills of FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship 2015 MVP, Ana Ramos and also Mariana Silva who can be hard to stop when she gets the hot-hand.

They are likely to be Group A favourites and the remainder of the teams could be chasing, including hosts Bosnia and Herzegovina who finished a solid seventh last year. Their prospects could hinge on whether 1999-born sensation Melisa Brcaninvoic hops into the team from the recent U20 Women’s European Championship 2016 in Matosinhos where she became only the second player in tournament history to sink 40 points in a game.

Romania took sixth last summer and can call-up leading scorer Andreea Cretu again, while Maria Daiana Tanase is a very capable scorer too. They will want to make sure they get wins against Finland and Iceland in particular, which are already looking like crunch games.

Finland might have higher ambitions though and especially after stunning Division A Lithuania with a big preparation win. Although it will be a new look team, with opponents needing to watch out for Helmi Tulonen and Leila Kaajasalo. Iceland will want to pick up where they left off last summer in Bucharest, after signing off with a historic three consecutive victories - thanks mainly to the classy Sylvia Halfdanardottir, who is back to lead the way again.

Klaudia Niedzwiedzka played in Division A last year with Poland in Celje

Poland will probably be favourites to excel in Group B, although Belarus will have to be watched closely too after their younger roster members recorded an impressive promotion campaign at last year’s FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship Division B. Poland will look to Klaudia Niedzwiedzka to bring the scoring power and Julia Niemojewska to orchestrate the plays, while Belarus will need Maryia Vasileuka to really come up big in terms of offensive production and for Yuliya Ruksha to show her quick hands on defence.

Ukraine had two mid-table finishes at both U18 and U16 level last summer in the respective Division B tournaments, so will need to raise the bar if they want to challenge for promotion and post an improvement. Okana Fastova can put points on the board in a hurry, while Viktoriya Babych is a beast on the boards.

Denmark posted a very respectable finish last year, but all except one of that roster will move on and it puts a lot of onus on the younger players moving up, with the Danes hoping 2001 sensation Frida Formann might be able to carry them after her tournament double-double last year at the FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship. Albania will be underdogs after going 0 of 14 last summer across both the U18 and U16 competitions.

FIBA