FIBA – FIBA U17 World Championship for Women quarter-finals preview

TOULOUSE (FIBA U17 World Championship for Women) – Exactly a week after the inaugural FIBA U17 World Championship for Women tipped off, the top eight teams are in Toulouse and ready to do battle in Friday’s quarter-finals.

Tournament favourites USA breezed through Group A of the Preliminary Round in Rodez, recording comfortable victories in all five of their games. They now go up against Spain, who finished fourth in Toulouse’s Group B. The Americans have been so dominant and unstoppable that it is hard to see the Spaniards being able to keep up with them, let alone beat them.

Belgium lost to Argentina last Saturday in one of the surprise results of the tournament so far. However, Daniel Goethals’s girls used that shock defeat as a wake-up call and dispatched Spain, China and Australia to top Group B. They are set for a quarter-final encounter with Japan, who surprised many by beating Canada and Turkey and almost claimed France as another scalp. What Hayashi Shinichiro’s girls lack in height they make up for by playing at a very fast-pace. Belgium have a good amount of height and quickness and their ability to play different styles should see them reach the semi-finals.

China suffered their only defeat of the Preliminary Round against Belgium and head coach Wang Guizhi blamed that result on their lack of familiarity with European teams and the way they play. That theory will be put to the test against Russia in Friday’s first quarter-final. The Russians have played pretty inconsistently and got out of the Preliminary Round by the skin of their teeth. In order to be a threat against China, they must forget their sub-par performance against Turkey on Wednesday.

Hosts France face Australia in the last quarter-final. Arnaud Guppillotte’s girls certainly went about reaching the last eight in an interesting manner. After losing to the USA and Turkey, they won their last three games, edging out Russia, then surviving a late rally by Japan to avoid wasting an 18-point lead and finishing the Preliminary Round off with a more straightforward win over Canada. The Aussies have made it through thanks to the fine play of Gretel Tippett and Tayla Roberts down low and it will be imperative for the French to keep both of them in check to stand a chance of winning.

Friday’s quarter-final schedule (all times CET)
12:30: China v Russia
15:00: USA v Spain
17:30: Belgium v Japan
20:30: France v Australia

Meanwhile, in Rodez, the Classification Round will get under way with Turkey taking on Mali (17:30) before Argentina face Canada (20:30).

FIBA