Day 6 recap: Spain and Germany celebrate FIBA U17 World Cup slots, first set of MVPs announced

MUNICH (Germany) - The sixth day of the FIBA U16 Women's European Challengers proved to be a pivotal one as Spain and Germany both booked a trip to the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup next year, while the voting results for the MVPs of the first four challengers came in.

Headlines:
- There was joy for Germany who booked their place at the U17 World Cup next year and agony for Latvia, Greece, Bulgaria and especially hosts Finland as they all lost out in a rare five-way tie in Group A at the Helsinki Challenger
- Spain took the last remaining ticket to the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup by beating Hungary and avoiding any defeats in the San Fernando Challenger.
- North Macedonia finish a perfect 4-0 to win the Tbilisi Challenger.
- Slovenia and France also sign off with unbeaten records at the Matosinhos and Helsinki Challengers respectively. 

MVP list:
Helsinki: Elina Aarnisalo (FIN) - 23.4 PPG / 4.6 RPG / 4.0 APG
Matosinhos: Ajsa Sivka (SLO) - 12.6 PPG / 8.8 RPG / 2.8 APG
San Fernando: Marija Avlijas (SRB) - 25.2 PPG / 4.4 RPG / 1.8 APG
Tbilisi: Mihaela Aleksovska (MKD) - 25.8 PPG / 4.8 RPG / 3 APG

Day 6 Standout Performers:
Helsinki: Dominique Malonga (FRA) - 36 EFF / 25 PTS / 19 REB / 5 BLK
Tbilisi: Bozhica Stoevska (MKD) - 28 EFF / 15 PTS / 8 STL / 7 AST / 7 REB
Tbilisi: Ana Milovanova (MKD) - 25 EFF / 9 PTS / 8 STL / 7 AST / 6 REB
San Fernando: Milica Dokic (SRB) - 33 EFF / 30 PTS / 8 REB / 4 AST / 2 STL
San Fernando: Kateryna Koval (UKR) - 34 EFF / 26 PTS / 21 REB / 5 BLK / 4 STL
Matosinhos: Mariana Pribylova (CZE) - 26 EFF , 24 PTS / 80% FG / 6 REB

Helsinki Challenger:

Group A

15/15 games played

		GAMES				GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	France	5	5	0	100	399	277	122	79.8	55.4	10
2	Germany	5	2	3	40.0	302	298	4	60.4	59.6	7
3	Finland	5	2	3	40.0	325	343	-18	65	68.6	7
4	Bulgaria	5	2	3	40.0	278	325	-47	55.6	65	7
5	Latvia	5	2	3	40.0	304	313	-9	60.8	62.6	7
6	Greece	5	2	3	40.0	255	307	-52	51	61.4	7

Day 6 results: Hosts Finland were left dejected as they missed a golden chance of making history and appearing at the FIBA U17 Women's World Cup for the first time, after going down on their home floor 58-54 to Greece. Instead, it is Germany who delivered a major slice of history as their 70-55 win against Bulgaria helped them come out on top in a five-way tie. A haul of 16 points and 13 rebounds, 4 steals and 4 blocks by Annika Soltau was hugely important as it sunk Bulgaria's chances. Latvia would have advanced had they not been pipped 67-66 by France after Jade Ferre sunk a triple with just a few seconds left in the contest. Dominique Malonga picked up another classy double-double with a majestic 25 points and 19 rebounds - as well as 5 blocks.

San Fernando Challenger:

Group B

15/15 games played

		GAMES				GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Spain	5	5	0	100	386	196	190	77.2	39.2	10
2	Serbia	5	4	1	80.0	304	267	37	60.8	53.4	9
3	Hungary	5	3	2	60.0	345	271	74	69	54.2	8
4	Croatia	5	2	3	40.0	302	354	-52	60.4	70.8	7
5	Ukraine	5	1	4	20.0	267	370	-103	53.4	74	6
6	Lithuania	5	0	5	0	240	386	-146	48	77.2	5

Day 6 results:  Spain swept up the last ticket on offer for the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 by locking down next year's host nation Hungary 53-39. Milica Dokic was on fire against Croatia as she propelled Serbia to a 79-59 derby success with 30 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Ukraine condemned Lithuania to a winless time in San Fernando after completing a 51-45 victory powered as usual by the brilliance of Kateryna Koval who dropped 26 points, 21 rebounds, 5 blocks and 4 steals.

Matosinhos  Challenger: 

Group C

15/15 games played

		GAMES				GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Slovenia	5	5	0	100	351	274	77	70.2	54.8	10
2	Russia	5	4	1	80.0	335	286	49	67	57.2	9
3	Belgium	5	3	2	60.0	289	266	23	57.8	53.2	8
4	Portugal	5	1	4	20.0	251	297	-46	50.2	59.4	6
5	Poland	5	1	4	20.0	283	315	-32	56.6	63	6
6	Czech Republic	5	1	4	20.0	307	378	-71	61.4	75.6	6

Day 6 results: Slovenia finished with a flourish to leave Matosinhos on a flawless 4-0 after smashing their way past Poland 67-47.  Russia were dominant in their meeting against Czech Republic as they strode to an 89-72 win, as Alexandra Panchenko top scored with 15 points and Mariana Pribylova replied with 24 points in defeat.  Belgium wrapped up their campaign on a high note by toppling hosts Portugal 48-33 as Jitte Elfrieda Lena Baelen led the charge with 11 points.

Tbilisi Challenger:

 

Group E

10/10 games played

		GAMES				GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	North Macedonia	4	4	0	100	359	157	202	89.8	39.2	8
2	Albania	4	3	1	75.0	224	197	27	56	49.2	7
3	Armenia	4	2	2	50.0	170	261	-91	42.5	65.2	6
4	Malta	4	1	3	25.0	225	223	2	56.2	55.8	5
5	Georgia	4	0	4	0	159	299	-140	39.8	74.8	4

Day 6 results: North Macedonia finished as the winners of the Tbilisi Challenger and also unbeaten after they dismantled Georgia 104-36 in a great team performance. It was highlighted by 15 points, 8 steals, 7 rebounds and 7 assists from Bozhica Stoevska, 28 points from Mihaela Aleksovska and 9 points, 8 steals, 7 assists and 6 boards from Ana Milovanova. Armenia bounced straight back from their humbling at the hands of North Macedonia to collect a nervy but exciting 51-50 win against Malta, thanks mainly to 17 points and 11 boards from Ani Christina Mkrtchyan. 

Piestany Challenger:

 

GRoup D

9/15 games played

		GAMES				GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Israel	3	3	0	100	236	116	120	78.7	38.7	6
2	Slovakia	3	3	0	100	206	148	58	68.7	49.3	6
3	Switzerland	3	2	1	66.7	174	158	16	58	52.7	5
4	Romania	3	1	2	33.3	174	158	16	58	52.7	4
5	Luxembourg	3	0	3	0	134	189	-55	44.7	63	3
6	Ireland	3	0	3	0	115	270	-155	38.3	90	3

There were no scheduled games in Piestany and the Challenger resumes Sunday August 15th.

FIBA