Second day in Gaziantep and second day with bulgarian Aleksandar Vezenkov ('95), from Aris (Greece), making the best performance of the day in the U-16 Türk Telekom Tournament. But in this case his NT added the first win in the event after beating Iran (56-64). Five teams remain unbeaten. In group A, Turkey, Germany and Russia. In group B, China and France. Other players shined, like ukranian Vladen Berezhnyy ('95) or french Damien Inglis ('95). Let's take a look to what happened.
Group A:
Russia 76 Ukraine 63: Russians added their second win behind a great first half (+21), with the ukranians missing many shots and finishing with a 27% FG. With four players scoring in double digits and a great team game Russia beat a squad where forward Vladen Berezhnyy ('95) shined with 18 points (7/23 FG), 14 rebounds and 2 blocks. Guard Stanislav Kudrya ('95) also made a good job, but not enough: 12 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals. For Russia Viacheslav Fedorchenko ('95) reapeated as their best scorer with 19 (6/16 FG) and 4 steals, while big man Konstantin Kulikov ('95) added 14 points, 9 boards and 2 blocks. Guard Nikita Tiptsov ('95) collected a double-double: 10 points and 14 rebounds (watch highlights).
Germany 69 Romania 37: Game with no history showing the big difference between the two teams at the end of the first quarter (19-2) and at half time (40-10). With a 17% on field goals is very difficult for a team to win. 2.02 Andrei Ciordas ('95) flirted with the triple-double (10 points, 11 rebounds and 6 steals), becoming the best at losing effort. For germans Terry Thomas ('95), from Breitengusbach, ended as their maximum scorer with 12 points, 8 rebounds and 1 block. 2.09 center Daniel Mayr ('95) added 10 points, 6 rebounds and 2 bocks in only 17 minutes (watch highlights).
Puerto Rico 58 Turkey 90: In the last game of the day in group A hosts didn't give any option to americans, with 2.05 Ayberk Güleryüz ('95) and Ibrahim Sertan ('95) producing a lot in a few minutes. First prospect nailed 19 points (8/12 FG) in 13', while the second scored 18 pulling down 8 rebounds in only 18'. Rising stars Kenan Sipahi ('95) -8 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds- and James Metecan Birsen ('95) -7 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists- also showed their skills. 55% on twos, too much for Puerto Rico (watch highlights).
Standings: Turkey, Germany and Russia (2-0), Ukraine, Puerto Rico and Romania (0-2).
Group B:
Iran 56 Bulgaria 64: The second great performance in a row of Aleksandar Vezenkov ('95) -at the pic with spaniard Albert Homs ('95) in the U-16 EC of Bar (Montenegro)- gave the first win to Bulgaria, with the forward finishing with 24 points (8/12 twos, 1/9 threes again and 5/9 ft), 20 rebounds and 3 steals. Bulgaria recovered from a bad first quarter (14-7) with guard Anguel Dinkov ('95) also shining with 27 points (10/20 FG) and 8 boards. The inside power of the winners, also a key of the win (watch highlights.
China 108 Georgia 35: Amazing result of asiatic team, reaching a 2-0 record after crashing georgians (56-10 al half time). For Georgia guard Nugzar Abuladze ('95) scored 14 points (6/16 FG) and put 2 blocks, while guard Beqa Darakhvelidze ('95) added 11 with 9 rebounds and 1 steal. Very bad shooting percentages for the europeans (23% twos and 13% threes), shocking against a very physical teamwith five players finishing with double digits and killing in the rebound battle: 67 to 33 (watch highlights).
Slovenia 65 France 80: Finally, in the last game of the day at group B, french squad added its second win behind forward Damien Inglis ('95), who ended with 15 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists in only 24 minutes. Beside him Paul Rigot ('95) scored 15 with 6/10 FG and Olivier Yao-delon ('95) added 13 with 3/4 from downtown in only 14'. Slovenians fought after half time to recover the 12 points deficit, but they couldn't even four of they players scored in double-figures. 2.00 Jure Ritlop ('95), from Maribor, nailed 14 with 4 rebounds, while Zan Petejan ('95) nailed 13 with a great 3/3 behind the arc (watch highlights).
Standings: China and France (2-0), Slovenia and Bulgaria (1-1), Iran and Georgia (0-2).
Photo: FIBA Europe / N.Parausic
