4pm. Wednesday, August 3rd. Sports Hall. Strumica (Macedonia). U16 Division "B" European Championship. Game is over. England 79 Netherlands 58. Team coached by Simon Fisher only needed a slovenian win over Romania in the game after to make it to semifinals. And it happened. Great achievement for English basketball. They are only one step from the promotion to the Division "A". The big name of the contest against Dutch? Morayoninouluwa "Mo" Soluade ('95). The 6'4'' G collected a triple-double to knock out the rival with 11 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. But that wasn't all. He added 4 steals and 1 block (even 5 turnovers). No comment. Great game as a team of all the group. Playing like this they deserve arrive the far as possible in the event.

 

Soluade, who participated in the Jordan Brand Classic camp held some months ago in London (check Hoopsfix video here), plays for Bucks Hornets, a club located in Aylesbury, close to London. Yesterday he sent a great lesson to the people who attended the game: always looking for the best option and showing he is capable to do many things in a really good level. Ran the floor, great intensity on defense, shooting threat, good size,... But England is not only him. 7'0'' Kingsley Okoroh ('95) made a good job inside the paint (12 points and 9 rebounds in 22'), while tiny PG Tyrell Isaacs ('95) added 18 with 2/4 from downtown. Another intriguing prospect, PG Luke Nelson ('95), had 12 dishing 7 assists.

 

Can they promote? Yes. Playing with yesterday's chemistry, of course. Eurohopes staff sat behind english bench. Their faces were the faces of a winner team. If they keep them up they will do it. Their rival in semifinals? Today we will know it. Can be any of the four teams of the other group: Bosnia & Herzegovina, Armenia, Hungary and Israel.

 

Photo: Eurohopes