After four days in the U-16 Türk Telekom Tournament, held in Gaziantep (Turkey), the best teams are fighting for a spot in the semifinals. Tomorrow we will know them. Six squads have chances: Turkey, Germany, Russia, China, France and Slovenia. Turkish and chinese can make it to the final, but they still need to continue showing his best game. Today we've seen more big performances: ukranian Vlad Berezhnyy ('95), turkish James Metecan Birsen ('95) and Kartal Özmizrak ('95) -at the pic-, german Ismet Akpinar ('95), russian Vasily Martynov ('95), bulgarian Aleksandar Vezenkov ('95) again,...
Group A:
Puerto Rico 72 Romania 65: Romanians remain as the only team of group A with no victories after losing against americans. They started great in the first quarter (8-23), but wasn't enough. Guard Mehmet Hortoglu ('95) made a good job with 17 points (8/14 FG), 2 assists and 1 rebound, while Vlad Cobzaru ('95) added 10 with 9 boards and 1 steal. Vlad Popovici ('94) ended as the best of the team (19 points and 20 rebounds), but the prospect is one year older (watch highlights).
Ukraine 73 Turkey 84: Not easy for hosts was to add the fourth win in four games. Ukranians fought with Vlad Berezhnyy ('95) collecting a double-double (18 points and 11 rebounds), Igor Boyarkin ('95) scoring 15 and dishing 4 assists and Danylo Isakov ('95) adding 14 (3/5 threes) and 6 boards. For Turkey rising-star James Metecan Birsen ('95) shined with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 2 steals and 26 minutes. Turkish are going straight to the final (maybe against China) after showing a good generation of prospects. Today also made a good job Dogukan Sanli ('95), with 18 points in only 17', and overall Kartal Ösmizrak ('95): 10 points, 8 assists, 8 steals and 7 rebounds. Kenan Sipahi ('95) didn't play (watch highlights).
Germany 80 Russia 77: Tough battle between two teams looking for a spot in semifinals. Has been a contest with great individual performances. At the winners side guard Ismet Akpinar ('95) led the victory with 28 points (5/6 threes) in 27 minutes, while Janis Stielow ('95) added 17 (2/3 threes) and 4 boards. For russians, big game from Vasily Martynov ('95) with 30 points and 4/9 from downtown. Beside him Viacheslav Fedorchenko ('95) nailed 20 with 3/8 threes and 4 assists. Sergey Zhulkov ('95) collected a double-double: 10 points and 14 boards (watch highlights).
Standings: Turkey (4-0), Germany and Russia (3-1), Ukraine and Puerto Rico (1-3) and Romania (0-4).
Group B:
Bulgaria 55 France 61: The MVP of the tournament, bulgarian Aleksandar Vezenkov ('95), couldn't help his team even he finished again with big numbers. The forward scored 28 points (11/19 FG), with 7 rebounds and 2 blocks, but not enough. His teammate Vasil Stoimenov ('95) added a double-double (10 points and 10 rebounds). At half time they were winning by 10, but french came back with a great job of Damien Inglis ('95). The forward tallied 15 points, with 11 boards and 1 block. Great team game of France with five more players scoring between 6 and 9 points (watch highlights).
Slovenia 89 Georgia 56: Guard Aleksej Nikolic ('95) led slovenians to the third win behind 21 points (7/8 FG) and 4 rebounds in only 16 minutes. Slovenia started showing its cards (+11 at halftime), and crashed the rival in the third period (33-12). For winners also shined Blaz Abram ('95) -16 points, 7 steals and 6 rebounds- and Matic Rebec ('95), with 15 points and 3/7 threes in 14'. And Georgia? Beka Darakhvelidze ('95) ended as their best weapon with 22 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals. They still haven't won a game.
China 74 Iran 51: Chinese are the only unbeaten team with Turkey. Will they make the final? (watch highlights)
Standings: China (4-0), France and Slovenia (3-1), Bulgaria and Iran (1-3) and Georgia (0-4).
Photo: Official Tournament Website
