Serbia, a real Belgrade selection without FMP players, won the U-16 VI Tournoi International de Geneve, in Switzerland. Eurohopes staff travelled there to follow the event on live and check the prospects playing. Team coached by Vladimir Ruzicic beat Slovenia in the big final (68-91), winning already by 14 at half time. Luka Popovic ('95) led the win with 17 points, while Nemanja Dordevic ('95) added 13. Both are playing with Partizan. Who shined in the losing effort? Andraz Rogelja ('95) with 19 and Luka Kokol ('95) with 14. Serbians started very strong, even slovenians reacted at 3 points line. Kids coached by Milos Sporar used their main weapon to recover sensations (36-41), but the starting line-up of Serbia returned again to grab the win reaching a 30 points difference quick.
In semifinals Slovenia beat Germany (67-73) in a very tied contest. Guard Andraz Rogelja ('95) scored a very important 3-pointer in the last minutes. In the other game Serbia crashed Spain (86-67), earning a spot in the final with a great first quarter. Spaniards got better every quarter, but wasn't enough.
Germany finished third after winning Spain (66-71), while Italy crashed France (84-60) ending fifth and Geneve U-17 being the worst after losing against Switzerland (54-72).
Standings: 1-Serbia, 2-Slovenia, 3-Germany, 4-Spain, 5-Italy, 6-France, 7-Switzerland and 8-Geneve U-17.
The organization named serbian Matija Milin ('95), from Kasta, as the Most Promising Prospect.
Eurohopes staff selected these players as the most intriguing prospects in Geneve:
-Spain: Bernat Camarasa ('95), Juan A. Hernangómez ('95), Sergi Costa ('96), Victor Lobato ('96) and Marc Bauzà ('96).
-Serbia: Aleksa Jugovic ('95), Luka Popovic ('95) and Nemanja Dordevic ('95).
-Slovenia: Andraz Rogelja ('95), Luka Kokol ('95), Jure Ritlop ('95) and Nejc Zupan ('96).
-Germany: David Taylor ('95), Daniel Myr ('95) and Jan Niklas Wimberg ('96).
-Italy: Lorenzo Baldasso ('95) and Simone Fontecchio ('95).
-Switzerland: Axel Louissaint ('96) and Luka Mandic ('96).
-France: Teddy Cheremond ('96), Cyril Eliezer-Vanerot ('96) and Axel Petit-Riff ('96).
There was also a U-13 tournament on the same days. Italians of Benetton Treviso won the title after beating OKK Belgrade in the final (66-52) after a great performance of Cesare Barbon ('98), with 24 points. Filippo Fazioli ('98) nailed 15, some of them at important moments from free throws line. In semifinals Benetton eliminated Zurich (62-40) and OKK Belgrade did the same with Federacion de Madrid (55-60). In the game for the third final position Federación de Madrid beat Zurich (39-52). For spaniards shined Enrique Martínez Carcelen ('99) and Antoine Blondel ('99).
Eurohopes staff talked with Patrick Baumann, FIBA Secretary General, who followed the event on live: "It has been a very interesting tournament to watch the level of the swiss teams, and also to see how the youngest players (U-13) are starting to work. German team has been one of the surprises, with good physical skills. The teams have ended the event very happy. The health of the basketball is good. Many people have travelled to play in Geneve with the kids. There is passion".
Photo: www.ksb.rs
