FIBA U19 – Day Four Review

RIGA (FIBA U19 World Championship) – While most eyes on day four were turned on the Lithuanian and Latvian clashes the real highlights were taking place elsewhere.
 
When looking at the draw for the opening day of Eighth-Quarter action, only a brave person would have proclaimed that the day’s first match between Egypt and Croatia would be the game of the day. And with Croatia cruising with a 15 point lead midway through the opening half it certainly was not turning out that way. However Omar Mohammed and his Egyptian team mates were not ready to lie down quite yet, fighting back to be leading by as much as 10 with five minutes remaining. But inexperience would shine through late for the Egyptians as Toni Katic and the Dario Saric steered Croatia away from a second embarrassing loss in as many games.
 
In what had been dubbed as the game of the day, Serbia were left ruing a late lapse of concentration that saw the game go from being tied at 48 with five minutes to play to a seemingly simple 17 point victory for Lithuania, allowing Lithuania to go to the top of Group F alongside Croatia. Also joining them on the top of the group was USA who barely broke into a sweat in cruising past Canada in the day’s third game.
 
Providing the loudest fans of the day was Australia as they took to the court to start Group E action. Similar to the Croatians earlier in the day, Russia broke into an early lead and appeared to be cruising. But a loss of concentration in the minutes before halftime would prove costly for Russia as Hugh Greenwood led the Australians on an 8-0 run to bring them back within two by the half. With the wind in their sails, Australia could not be contained in the second half, much to consternation of Russian Coach Mikhail Solovyev whose patience appears to wearing thin.
 
By the end of the Australian game Arena Riga had begun to fill out in anticipation of the next game on court between Latvia and Brazil. However, the crowd would barely break into a whisper as they were silenced by the most complete performance seen by Brazil at this tournament to date.
 
The day had begun with excitement so it was only appropriate it would finish in a nail biting climax. The young Poles have already snared more than one big victim at this tournament and they were about to make it another when they took on Argentina. Leading by as much as 14, Poland was doing it easy and it would take some harsh words in the Argentine locker room at halftime to stir some life into the South Americans. It was too little to late however with the Poles clinging on for a memorable two point victory to close out the day’s action.

FIBA