Czechs claim first FIBA U20 European Championship, Division B title
KOPJE (North Macedonia) - Czech Republic have been crowned FIBA U20 European Championship 2023, Division B winners and earned promotion to Division A for next summer after defeating North Macedonia 85-72.
SKOPJE (North Macedonia) - Czech Republic have been crowned FIBA U20 European Championship 2023, Division B winners and earned promotion to Division A for next summer after defeating North Macedonia 85-72 in Sunday's Final.
Both teams locked up their spots in the top flight by winning Saturday's Semi-Finals. The Czechs won the Division B for the first time after finishing second on three occasions - 2009, 2012 and 2019. They return to Division A one summer after being relegated.
North Macedonia grabbed second place for a second time after 2006 and will play in Division A for the first time since 2007.
The Czechs were leading 58-57 when they mounted a 12-4 run to go up 70-61. North Macedonia could not get closer than 5 points the rest of the way. Ondrej Hustak scored 17 points and 9 rebounds, Martin Kheil had 15 points and Ondrej Svec chippped in 4 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists for the winners.
Felix Brostrom, Teodor Simikj, Oleksandr Kobzystyi, Ondrej Ovec, Ondrej Hustak
Svec was named Most Valuable Player and topped the All-Star Five, where he was joined by Hustak, Teodor Simikj of North Macedonia, Oleksandr Kobzystyi of third-placed finishers Ukraine and Sweden's Felix Brostrom.
Ukraine won the Third Place Game as they rolled past Sweden 83-61 for their third podium finish following second in 2007 and third in 2014. Ukraine will not be promoted to Division A as only two teams will be relegated from the top flight as Poland finished 15th but had already been designated hosts of the FIBA U20 European Championship 2024.
Jibbe Sicking of Netherlands
Elsewhere on the last day of the competition, Netherlands finished in fifth place after beating Portugal 77-66 thanks to Jibbe Sicking totalling 23 points. Switzerland grabbed seventh with an 82-76 victory over Great Britain with Massimiliano Dell'Acqua picking up 23 points.
Finland finished the competition on a high note as they defeated Bulgaria 78-70 for ninth place. Eleventh place went to Kosovo after a 78-67 win over Austria with Jon Ismajli hitting for 19 points.
Latvia and Georgia put on a shootout in the game for 13th place and the former prevailed 99-93 as Rihards Vavers scored 21 points. Hungary had little trouble in beating Ireland 69-54 for 15th place.
Luxembourg defeated Slovakia 82-70 to finish atop the Classification 17-20 group with a 3-0 record for 17th place. Max Logelin nearly registered a triple-double with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists. Slovakia had a 2-1 record for 18th place while Albania downed Azerbaijan 65-59 for a 1-2 record and 19th place.
Final Standings
1. Czech Republic
2. North Macedonia
3. Ukraine
4. Sweden
5. Netherlands
6. Portugal
7. Great Britain
8. Switzerland
9. Finland
10. Bulgaria
11. Kosovo
12. Austria
13. Latvia
14. Georgia
15. Hungary
16. Ireland
17. Luxembourg
18. Slovakia
19. Albania
20. Azerbaijan
FIBA