Poland, Netherlands return to Division A; Montenegro, Denmark battle for third spot in Podgorica

PODGORICA (Montenegro) - Poland and Netherlands earned promotion to Division A by reaching the Final of the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019, Division B while Montenegro and Denmark will face off for third place and the right to join them in the top flight.  

Poland knocked off Montenegro 72-65 to get back to Division A for the first time since 2016, losing a 12-point lead but prevailing in the end against the host team.  Aleksander Wisniewski scored 17 points, Hubert Lalak had 13 points while Jeremy Sochan collected 12 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Montenegro lost despite Andrija Grbovic picking up 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Jeremy Sochan helped Poland get back to Division A

In the Final, Poland will take on Netherlands, who came back from a 12-point deficit to defeat Denmark 73-68 and return to the top flight after being relegated last summer. The Dutch were in Division A last summer after previously being there in 1983. Julian Dekker scored 19 points for Netherlands while Gustav Knudsen collected 23 points and 13 rebounds for Denmark.

 Netherlands celebrate an immediate return to Division A

In the Third Place Game, Montenegro will play Denmark with the winner joining Poland and Netherlands in Division A. Denmark has already beaten Montenegro in Podgorica, winning in the final group game.

Montenegro have had some highs and lows the last three summers at the U16 level, finishing second at the Division A in 2017 - also being played in Podgorica - but then being relegated last summer.

Denmark has already taken a major step up in getting close to returning to Division A for the first time since 2015 after not finishing better than 11th in Division B since then.

 FIBA