Day 5 recap: France and Cyprus capture titles, Portugal win big to triumph in Riga,
MUNICH (Germany) - The final day of the FIBA U18 Women's European Challengers saw Cyprus, France and Portugal clinch titles at their respective tournaments after coming through crunch clashes on Sunday.
MUNICH (Germany) - The final day of the FIBA U18 Women's European Challengers saw Cyprus, France and Portugal clinch titles at their respective tournaments after coming through crunch clashes on Sunday.
Amongst the five winners of the Challengers, three teams went unbeaten through the week, while the MVPs at each tournament were also announced on Sunday.
Headlines:
- Portugal secure big win to edge Croatia to Riga title
- Perfect week for Serbia in Klatovy as they finish 5-0
- France beat Spain to claim title in Heraklion
- Ukraine upset champions Slovenia in Sofia,
- Cyprus cap dominance to win Final in Andorra la Vella
MVP Awards:
Riga: Dorja Iva Zaja (CRO) - 14.6 PPG / 10.2 RPG / 1.4 APG
Klatovy: Juste Jocyte (LTU) - 20.4 PPG / 10.0 RPG / 6.2 APG
Heraklion: Anaelle Dutat (FRA) - 9.0 PPG / 6.6 RPG / 1.6 APG
Sofia: Zala Srot (SLO) - 11.0 PPG / 11.8 RPG / 2.6 BPG
Andorra la Vella: Ylenia Bonett (MLT) - 12.4 PPG / 10.0 RPG / 2.6 BPG
Day 5 Standout Performers:
Riga: Filipa Barros (POR) - 14 PTS / 11 REB / 8 AST
Riga: Paula Cirsa (LAT) - 14 PTS / 5 AST / 88% FG
Klatovy: Lucy Coogan (IRL) - 29 PTS / 6 REB / 3 AST
Klatovy: Jovana Boricic (SRB) - 20 PTS / 11 REB / 2 STL
Heraklion: Maia Hirsch (FRA) - 16 PTS / 8 REB
Sofia: Daria Biriuk (UKR) - 25 PTS / 6 REB / 7 STL
Andorra la Vella: Sofia Sttylianidi (CYP) - 31 PTS / 5 REB / 3 STL
Riga Challenger:
Group A
15/15 games played
| GAMES | STREAK | GAME POINTS | POINTS | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Team | P | W | L | % | Last 5 | For | Agt | +/- | FA | AA | |
| 1 | Portugal | 5 | 4 | 1 | 80.0 | 339 | 269 | 70 | 67.8 | 53.8 | 9 | |
| 2 | Croatia | 5 | 4 | 1 | 80.0 | 368 | 308 | 60 | 73.6 | 61.6 | 9 | |
| 3 | Latvia | 5 | 4 | 1 | 80.0 | 303 | 274 | 29 | 60.6 | 54.8 | 9 | |
| 4 | Germany | 5 | 2 | 3 | 40.0 | 307 | 311 | -4 | 61.4 | 62.2 | 7 | |
| 5 | Russia | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20.0 | 305 | 311 | -6 | 61 | 62.2 | 6 | |
| 6 | Romania | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 241 | 390 | -149 | 48.2 | 78 | 5 | |
Gameday 5 results: Portugal prevailed in a three-way tie for top spot after beating previously unbeaten Croatia for a title-clinching 77-61 victory. Gabriela Falcao top scored with 22 points as Portugal pulled clear in the third quarter. Latvia had finished with their fourth win as they recorded a 65-50 victory over Russia after a strong 15-5 final quarter, though they would end up in third place. Also, Germany doubled their win tally as they saw off the challenge of Romania, 70-51.
Tie-breaker for top spot: Portugal 1-1 (+8), Croatia 1-1 (-1), Latvia 1-1 (-7)
Klatovy Challenger:
Group B
15/15 games played
| GAMES | GAME POINTS | POINTS | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Team | P | W | L | % | For | Agt | +/- | FA | AA | |
| 1 | Serbia | 5 | 5 | 0 | 100 | 331 | 233 | 98 | 66.2 | 46.6 | 10 |
| 2 | Lithuania | 5 | 4 | 1 | 80.0 | 357 | 291 | 66 | 71.4 | 58.2 | 9 |
| 3 | Czech Republic | 5 | 2 | 3 | 40.0 | 277 | 320 | -43 | 55.4 | 64 | 7 |
| 4 | Turkey | 5 | 2 | 3 | 40.0 | 292 | 288 | 4 | 58.4 | 57.6 | 7 |
| 5 | Ireland | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20.0 | 288 | 387 | -99 | 57.6 | 77.4 | 6 |
| 6 | Hungary | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20.0 | 296 | 322 | -26 | 59.2 | 64.4 | 6 |
Gameday 5 results: Serbia were pushed all the way in making it five wins from five as they overcame Turkey for a 55-51 victory with Jovana Boricic posting 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead the way. Lucy Coogan fired in 29 points to lead Ireland to their first win in beating Hungary 87-64, while Lithuania sealed second spot with a 73-50 success against the hosts, Czech Republic.
Heraklion Challenger:
Group C
14/15 games played
| GAMES | GAME POINTS | POINTS | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Team | P | W | L | % | For | Agt | +/- | FA | AA | |
| 1 | France | 5 | 5 | 0 | 100 | 380 | 201 | 179 | 76 | 40.2 | 10 |
| 2 | Spain | 5 | 4 | 1 | 80.0 | 318 | 225 | 93 | 63.6 | 45 | 9 |
| 3 | Poland | 5 | 3 | 2 | 60.0 | 275 | 288 | -13 | 55 | 57.6 | 8 |
| 4 | Israel | 4 | 1 | 3 | 25.0 | 225 | 280 | -55 | 56.2 | 70 | 5 |
| 5 | Greece | 4 | 1 | 3 | 25.0 | 158 | 256 | -98 | 39.5 | 64 | 5 |
| 6 | Slovakia | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 244 | 350 | -106 | 48.8 | 70 | 5 |
Gameday 5 results: France battled to a 61-53 triumph against Spain in the decider for top spot in Heraklion. They led by as many as 17 points before holding off a late fightback to finish a perfect 5-0 with Maia Hirsch netting a game-high of 16 points. Meanwhile, Poland finished on a high following successive losses as they beat Slovakia, 64-46, with the game between Israel and Greece not played as a precaution due to COVID-related disruptions.
Sofia Challenger:
Group D
15/15 games played
| GAMES | GAME POINTS | POINTS | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Team | P | W | L | % | For | Agt | +/- | FA | AA | |
| 1 | Slovenia | 5 | 4 | 1 | 80.0 | 359 | 191 | 168 | 71.8 | 38.2 | 9 |
| 2 | Bulgaria | 5 | 4 | 1 | 80.0 | 330 | 258 | 72 | 66 | 51.6 | 9 |
| 3 | Ukraine | 5 | 3 | 2 | 60.0 | 331 | 272 | 59 | 66.2 | 54.4 | 8 |
| 4 | North Macedonia | 5 | 2 | 3 | 40.0 | 258 | 337 | -79 | 51.6 | 67.4 | 7 |
| 5 | Switzerland | 5 | 2 | 3 | 40.0 | 285 | 302 | -17 | 57 | 60.4 | 7 |
| 6 | Albania | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 187 | 390 | -203 | 37.4 | 78 | 5 |
Gameday 5 results: Ukraine handed champions Slovenia a first loss as Daria Biriuk put up 25 points along with 7 steals in an impressive 63-57 victory - outscoring their opponents 27-10 in the final quarter. Bulgaria joined Slovenia on a 4-1 record as they eased past Albania in a 78-35 victory, while North Macedonia edged out Switzerland, 68-67, despite 22 points from Stephanie Martinez.
Andorra la Vella Challenger:
Gameday 5 results: Cyprus produced a strong finish to a dominant week as they claimed the title with a 60-45 victory against Malta in Sunday's Final. Sofia Sttylianidi starred with a 31-point haul with their lead peaking at 31 points at 48-17 inside the second half. Earlier, Moldova earned third place with a dramatic 44-41 win over Andorra with Iulia Curudimova coming up with the crucial go-ahead triple with 1:53 remaining.
FIBA