Reflections of a dramatic U18 European Championship

NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen's Women's Basketball Worldwide) - Less than 48 hours after the conclusion of the U18 European Championship Women in Croatia, I'm still buzzing from seeing great young talent and some of the most memorable youth games in memory.

Split between the former war-ravaged city of Vukovar and nearby Vinkovci, the tournament started slowly, but reached a superb climax.

There were two absolutely riveting and dramatic games inside the space of 24 hours for Serbia, who suffered the agony of missing out at the death in their Semi-Final against France, but then the euphoria of a buzzer-beating win in the Third-Place Game against Netherlands.

I don't think I have seen a more gut-wrenching loss for any team at youth level and my heart goes out to the Dutch players. They were quite literally within one second of making history and getting their nation's first-ever youth medal. But for the second time in a row, they were beaten onto the podium by the Serbians.

To see a rising young star like Dutch playmaker Laura Cornelius distraught and absolutely inconsolable after the game was pretty tough to stomach. Especially since I have watched almost every competitive game Netherlands have played this year - with nine players having lined up at the FIBA U19 World Championship for Women in Lithuania.

I was therefore thrilled Cornelius got a deserved spot in the All-Tournament Team. She showed just how much of a leader she is and how much she has matured. She's a year young too, which means she can play U18 next year.

Also a year younger was fellow All-Tournament Team member Aleksandra Crvendakic of Serbia. What a phenomenal player she could be if she works hard and keeps her feet on the ground. She's a terrific forward that can score, rebound and pass with the best of her age-group and I really do love her game.

The same can be said for Serbian team-mate Dragana Stankovic, a player after my own heart. The center was outstanding and I am so excited she will line up for UE Sopron in the EuroLeague Women this season. She has a great attitude and was a monumental defensive performer, blocking shots for fun and I enjoyed watching her immensely.

Marine Johannes of France also deservedly made the All-Tournament Team with some superb three-point shooting, whilst NCAA-bound Leticia Romero took MVP with a typically influential performance in the Final which should excite Kansas fans. I've no doubt Romero is a starting point guard for future FIBA World Championship and Olympic Games. She's a great kid and big talent.

And what about Spain? Wow! Congratulations to head coach Victor Lapena for helping his nation complete a historic clean sweep of all four European women's titles this year. They won gold at EuroBasket Women and also U20, U18 and U16 level. Simply outstanding and always accomplished with real style and class, the Spanish really do have the blueprint for success.

Finally in terms of coaching, I tip my hat off to five coaches who I thought did a great job.

Lapena for continuing the Spanish golden tradition, Arnaud Guppillotte for taking an injury-hit French team to the Final, veteran Zoran Kovacic for taking a Serbian team to bronze again despite this generation generally not having been expected to achieve medal success and Remy De Wit of Netherlands who could barely have done more to deliver an elusive medal.

Last word however must go to Portugal and head coach Mariyana Kostourkova. This was their first-ever season in Division A and survival was the goal. After a rocky start, they eventually found their feet and went on to finish the tournament with a truly mind-blowing six wins in a row.

That's why Kostourkova just pips Lapena for my coach of the tournament vote.

Congratulations to our Croatian hosts and the event reminded me that whilst I love women's basketball to the core, absolutely nothing else beats women's youth basketball for raw entertainment and excitement.

What a pleasure - thanks to all involved!

Paul Nilsen

FIBA

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