KAZ/EGY - Sherif and deputies do Egypt proud

AUCKLAND (FIBA U19 World Championship) - Egypt have finished the FIBA U19 World Championship in 11th position after a thrilling 86-78 win over Kazakhstan in front of a vocal crowd at the North Shore Events Centre.

Amro Sherif Abdelhalim was again the star, collecting 32 points, 14 rebounds and 3 assists as the African champions picked up their second win of tournament.

After Egypt had come out with more intensity to claim a 19-18 quarter time lead, Kazakhstan took control in the second period with Alexandr Tyutyunik (20 points), Pavel Illin (17 points) and Omirzak Akhmet (14 pointsm 5 rebounds) leading the way.

Three pointers from Rustem Tuleu and Anton Arsenyev in the final 0:38 of the half saw the Kazaks take a 43-32 advantage into the break.

The Egyptians have shown great spirit all tournament, and they surged in the third quarter behind Sherif Abdelhalim. After his team had closed to 38-45 with 6:40 to play, Sherif Abdelhalim scored 10 points as Egypt finished the quarter on a 21-13 run to take a 59-58 lead with one period to play.

Big man Omar Oraby (24 points, 11 rebounds) stepped up in the last quarter, scoring 6 points as Egypt established a 71-62 lead. When Tyutyunik closed the margin to 69-71 with a big three pointer, it was Oraby who scored a crucial basket to stem the tide.

From there Egypt did what was required to secure their 8-point win, a steal and emphatic one-handed dunk from Ziyad Ashmawy (14 points, 6 rebounds) putting the result beyond doubt.

Kazakhstan finish the tournament in 12th place, their one win a dramatic victory over host nation New Zealand.


Osama Mohamed, Egypt captain :

“We wanted to win that very much because we know that Egypt has not had a high ranking before. So we win for our country, and that (11th) is a very good rank for us, a new rank for us.

(Amro Sherif Abdelhalim) is a fantastic player, he can shoot, he can penetrate, good defence, good rebounder, and he was MVP of the African Championship, so he is a very good player.

They (Kazakhstan) are a good team, with good teamwork. They have two players, 14 and 9, who are very good. We played good defence on them today.”

FIBA