Last summer, in Kaunas (Lithuania), Poland surprised finishing fourth in the U-16 European Championship, earning a spot for the U-17 World Championship, held in Hamburg (Germany) this July. Coached by Jerzy Szambelan, the squad impressed with a very interesting group, built around 2.10 Przemek Karnowski ('93), and helped by Michal Michalak ('93), Piotr Niedzwiedzki ('93) and Mateusz Ponitka ('93). They lost in the game for the bronze medal against Serbia (69-75), but fighting till the last second with a very noisy polish crowd watching the game on live. Some months later the same group joined again to prepare the Hamburg championship. They started great their friendly games, beating Lithuania three times in a row. Yes, three times in a row: Tuesday, Wednesday and today. Let's see what happened.

 

In the first contest polish crashed Lithuania 101-76, with 22 points up already at halftime. Ponitka (19), Michalak (18), Niedzwiedzki (13) and Karnowski (12) were unstoppable. For lithuanians Rokas Narkevicius ('93) nailed 26 with 7/8 behind the arc, while Osvaldas Olisevicius ('93) added 16 and Aurimas Majauskas ('93), 11.

In the second game Lithuania battled more, but also lost (94-81). Ponitka (17) and Karnowski (16) led the winners and they were already winning by 21 in the halftime. In this case Mantas Mockevicius ('93), with 19, Paulius Semaska ('93), with 17, and Martynas Paliukenas ('93), with 14, finished as the best of the losing effort.

Finally today polish squad added its third win with another clear victory (88-71). Ponitka scored 24, helped by Karnowski and Michalak, both with 17. For Lithuania shined Marijus Uzupis ('93) with 18 points, Paliukenas (13) and Narkevicius (12).  

Eventhough, lithuanians played the games without some important pieces, like Tauras Jogela ('93).  

 

Photo: FIBA Europe / Alius Koroliovas (Ponitka against Paliukenas last summer)