MATOSINHOS (FIBA U20 Women’s European Championship 2017) – We check in with Group D of the FIBA U20 Women’s European Championship 2017 as Netherlands, Russia, Serbia and Turkey get ready for an intensive dogfight.

Netherlands

Westerik is back from some injury problems but can be a major force for Netherlands again

Players to Watch: Janis Ndiba Boonstra could be a major star in Matosinhos as she racks up a superb ninth your tournament for Netherlands and her third at U20 level. With impressive athleticism, she will lead in scoring and rebounding in the paint. The backcourt will be filled by the extensive offensive Armory of Laura Westerik, who missed last summer with an injury.

Outlook: Netherlands will be looking to their two key players to drag them to the top eight, with the return of Westerik fundamental. Without her leadership and massive scoring power, the U18 team lost all seven of their games last year. Those moving up must believe they can compete and the primary goal will be to confirm Division A status for another year.

Russia

Glonti is already familiar with winning a medal in Matosinhos

Players to Watch: Nina Glonti was part of the main rotation that took the last step of the podium at the 2016 edition and so will be a very prominent performer this time around as well. Kristina Safonova came to Matosinhos last summer too, but an injury left her without minutes and she will be looking to make up for lost time.

Outlook: Without Raisa Musina who played for the senior team at EuroBasket Women 2017, Russia will have to step it up to avoid a nasty surprise in a difficult group. On paper at least, they don’t have the same kind of stars who took bronze last summer and it is likely to be a team-orientated approach. The upside is they have had some eye-catching preparation results including a big win against France.

Serbia

Nogic knows where the basket is and should post a double-figure scoring return

Players to Watch: Mina Djordjevic is a very promising prospect who was terrific at U18 level last year – even if Serbia finished in a mediocre, middle-of-the-pack finish in Sopron. She came close to a double-double and is a class act. Meanwhile the centerpiece of the roster is likely to be Jovana Nogic who was one of only two players to harvest double-digits on the run to the Semi-Finals of this competition last summer.

Outlook: Serbia will do well to match their top four finish last year, but don’t overlook some excellent results in preparation and a very capable unit that has several returnees from 2016. They are well drilled and will be looking intently on at least the Quarter-Finals.

Turkey

Guclu is a towering figure for Turkey and can be a real match-up problem for opponents

Players to Watch: Turkey will certainly have a height advantage with Ilayda Guner and Inci Guclu and it will be fascinating to see how these two towering frontcourt players perform. The 1999-born duo both played in 2016 at this event while much younger than many of their opponents. With that experience to call upon, an uplift in performance will be expected as they look to dominate on the glass.

Outlook: It’s tough to call the true prospects of Turkey at this event and perhaps the brutal reality in a difficult opening group is that getting some momentum for survival is the priority and anything after this is a bonus. They flirted with relegation at the last edition and it’s looking unlikely they can make a deep run and challenge for the podium.

FIBA