Spain started its preparation for the U-18 European Championship of Vilnius with a tournament played in El Ferrol (Spain). The spaniards finished fifth last summer and they changed the coach trying to make a step forward. But at the moment they've struggled, winning only one game of the three they have played in El Ferrol. Let's see what happened there, with greek Lynos Chrysikopoulos ('92) and russian Sergey Karasev ('93) -at the pic- stopping Spain.

 

In their first contest team coached by Ricard Casas lost against Greece (71-76) due to a great performance of Lynos Chrysikopoulos ('92). The forward, in the All-Tournament Second Team of last Adidas Eurocamp according to Eurohopes, scored 18 points, while Anastasios Antonakis ('92) added 19. For Spain Christian Díaz ('92), from Gran Canaria, made his debut with a NT scoring 14 and being their best scorer. Yesterday they recovered from the first defeat winning Turkey in a tied game (62-59). Center Pierre Oriola ('92) led the winners with 15 points, while Joan Tomàs ('92) added 9. For turkish youngster Burak Yildizli ('94) nailed 14. Finally today they lost again, in this case against Russia (71-74). Sergey Karasev ('93) killed them with 29 points, helped by Andrey Loginov ('93) with 15. At spanish side Díaz shined again with 16 points and 2.10 center Fran Guerra ('92) nailed 12.

 

Best spanish scorers in the tournament?

Christian Díaz ('92, Gran Canaria): 11.7 points.

Joan Tomàs ('92, DKV Joventut): 9.7 points.

Fran Guerra ('92, Telde): 7.7 points.

 

Photo: FIBA Europe / Tomas Tumalovicius