With Czech Republic and Finland already qualifyied for Division "A" both teams played yesterday the final of the U-18 Division "B" European Championship, held last days in Tel Aviv (Israel). Czechs completed a great tournament crashing finnish squad by 32 points (46-78) and 2.15 center Ondrej Balvin ('92) collecting a great double-double: 16 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks in only 29 minutes. Beside him Jaromir Bohacik ('92) also made a good job with 14 points and 3 assists. At the other side Markus Molenius ('92) and Villematti Kopio ('92) scored 10 points each. Czechs made a perfect third quarter (8-26).
About the All-Tournament Team the award was for israelian Bar Timor ('92), montenegrins Rado Spasojevic ('92) and Nemanja Djurisic ('92), english Devon Van Oostrum ('93) and czech Ondrej Balvin ('92).
In the game for the final third place Montenegro beat Israel (60-75) with their inside players in a great level. Radosav Spasojevic ('92) scored 22 points with 3/5 threes and Nemanja Djurisic ('92) added 20 with 7/10 FG. Bar Timor ('92) finished again as the best of Israel with 16 points and 3/3 threes.
Estonia was fifth after beating England (70-63). Guard Rannar Raap ('92) nailed 13 points in 19 minutes, leading the victory. For brit squad Grant Fiorentinos ('92) played his best game in Tel Aviv: 12 points, 6 rebounds and 1 steal. Devon Van Oostrum ('93) scored 8 points and dished 3 assists in 18 minutes.
Belgium finished seventh after crashing Bosnia and Herzegovina by 40 points (97-57). 2.08 center Amaury Gorgemans ('92) nailed 30 points (12/16 FG) and pulled down 9 rebounds, while Rafael Rojas Palma ('92) added 16 with 7 steals. For bosnians Miljan Markovic ('92) finished as their best player with 16 points and 2/5 from downtown.
Who finished ninth? Belarus after smashing Austria (94-66) with Vitali Liutych ('92) completing an amazing contest: 25 points, 10 rebounds and 1 assist. Yauheni Suhaniaka ('92) collected another double-double (third in a row), with 17 points and 10 boards. For austrians Daniel Friedrich ('92) and Erwin Zulic ('92) scored 13 points each.
Swiss squad finished eleventh after beating Netherlands (53-59), led by guard Taulant Murati ('92) with 10 points and 6 assists. For dutch people Sven Burger ('92) finished with 13 points and 3 rebounds.
Hungary was thirteenth crashing Scotland by 29 points (55-84). In this case wasn't enough scottish Alasdair Fraser ('92) with 17 points, 7 boards and 3 blocks. Hungarians were led by Bence Delity ('92) with 23 points and 4/6 threes, while 2.06 Bence Narai ('92) collected a double-double (16+10).
Finally Denmark was fifteenth after smashing Luxembourg (67-92) with Kevin Larsen ('93) as their best scorer with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. and Adam Haddad ('92) 16 and 10 boards. For Luxembourg Tim Steffen ('93) poured 20 points with 7 rebounds.
Final standings: 1-Czech Republic, 2-Finland, 3-Montenegro, 4-Israel, 5-Estonia, 6-England, 7-Belgium, 8-Bosnia and Herzegovina, 9-Belarus, 10-Austria, 11-Switzerland, 12-Netherlands, 13-Hungary, 14-Scotland, 15-Denmark, 16-Luxembourg, 17-Slovak Republic, 18-Portugal, 19-Georgia and 20-Romania.
Photo: FIBA Europe / U18MenB LOC Segev HD
