They are the current U-16 European Champions. Last summer, in Kaunas (Lithuania), the team coached by Diego Ocampo beat the hosts in the big final. One year later, with Luis Guil at the bench, spaniards started very strong the tournament held in Bar (Montenegro) smashing their first two rivals (+33 and +39). Yesterday their victim was Bulgaria (79-40). Guard Albert Homs ('94), their best player in this generation, led the easy victory with 19 points (3/3 threes) and 7 rebounds. Javier Marin ('94) added 11 in 16'. All the team is borned in 1994 except Agustí Sans ('95), teammate of Homs at DKV Joventut Badalona. Spain is one of the favorites, but without forgetting other teams like Croatia, France and Montenegro, the other squads with a 2-0 record. Let's check yesterday's results.

 

Group A:

-Italy 61 Croatia 72: Aristide Landi ('94) 15 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals; Mislav Brzoja ('94) 17 points with 6/10 FG and 5 steals.

-Serbia 78 Germany 49: Nikola Radicevic ('94) 21 points with 5/9 threes and 5 boards; Paul Zipser ('94) 14 points with 5/12 FG and 3 steals.

 

Standings: Croatia (2-0), Serbia (1-1), Italy (1-1) and Germany (0-2).

 

Group B:

-Lithuania 92 Denmark 47: Tomas Dimsa ('94) 22 points with 4/10 threes and 3 rebounds; Rasmus Larsen ('94) 17 points with 3/4 threes and 9 rebounds.

-Greece 52 France 55: Ioannis Papapetrou ('94) 14 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds; Anthony Racine ('94) 23 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals.

 

Standings: France (2-0), Lithuania (1-1), Denmark (1-1) and Greece (0-2).

 

Group C:

-Poland 72 Latvia 45: Daniel Szymkiewicz ('94) 28 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists; Ceslavs Mateikovics ('94) 18 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals.

-Spain 79 Bulgaria 40: Albert Homs ('94) 19 points with 3/3 threes and 7 boards; Aleksandar Vezenkov ('95) 11 points and 6 rebounds in 19'.

 

Standings: Spain (2-0), Poland (1-1), Bulgaria (1-1) and Latvia (0-2).

 

Group D:

-Israel 58 Russia 76: Naor Sharon ('95) 18 points with 8/15 FG and 3 rebounds; Stanislav Ilnitskiy ('94) 25 points with 6/10 twos and 12 rebounds.

-Turkey 54 Montenegro 67: Tayfun Erülkü ('94) 10 points, 5 assists and 3 steals; Nikola Zizic ('94) 14 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists.

 

Standings: Montenegro (2-0), Turkey (1-1), Russia (1-1) and Israel (0-2).  

 

Photo: FIBA Europe / Nebojsa Parausic