RIJEKA & OPATIJA (Croatia) - Netherlands will return to Division A having won the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2026, Division B over Poland for their second title in the competition.
Before Netherlands added to their trophy from 2018, Belgium celebrated in Croatia as they rolled past Czechia in the Third Place Game to earn promotion to Division A.
Tayshawn Gipson earned MVP honors to lead the All-Star Five.
Netherlands down Poland, win title in undefeated fashion
Netherlands had already locked up promotion to Division A by reaching the Final and then finished the tournament undefeated with a hard-fought 71-57 win over Poland.
Poland led the entire first half with an eight-point gap in the first quarter, but much closer going into the break up 30-29.
Netherlands finally pulled ahead in the third quarter and were leading 47-45 after 30 minutes. The advantage grew to 51-45 early in the final frame. Jayden Anike and Yanu Slingerland knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to give Netherlands a 64-56 lead with 1:38 minutes to play.
Anike finished with 20 points to pace five Netherlands players in double figures including Tayshawn Gipson with 11 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Szymon Lata had 10 points for Poland, who have never won the U18 EuroBasket Division B crown.
Belgium on way back to Division A
Belgium will be returning to Division A after just one summer in the Division B as they rolled past Czechia 81-64 in the Third Place Game.
Belgium used an 11-0 run in the first quarter to take a double-digit lead after 10 minutes. The Belgians made sure it wasn't close the rest of the way in a runaway game.
Aaron Ona Embo was a true maestro for Belgium with 26 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists in 39:45 minutes of action. Ilias Van Hecke added 21 points and 6 rebounds in the win. Marek Houska had another strong game for the Czechs but his 21 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists were not enough.
FIBA