Mario Hezonja ('95) and his teammates of Croatia did it. Wasn't easy to make the same achievement like the summer before with Dario Saric ('94) breaking the stats and leading the team to the Gold, but they did it. For second year in a row croatians won the title of the U16 Division "A" European Championship, in this case in the event held in Czech Republic. With Hezonja being selected as the MVP they beat hosts in the big final (57-67). The guard ended with 21 points (even 2/11 threes), 10 rebounds and 3 steals. Beside him also shined Karlo Zganec ('95), with a double-double (11 points, 11 boards and 4 assists) and Domagoj Bosnjak ('95) with 8 points, 12 rebounds and 4 steals. And at the losing effort? At czech side -they were already losing by 12 points at half time- power-forward Martin Peterka ('95) finished with 21 points (8/13 FG) and 14 rebounds, while Jiri Soula ('95) added 11, pulling down 6 boards. Who was named in the All-Tournament Team? Croatian Hezonja, czechs Peterka and Radovan Kouril ('95), French Damien Inglis ('95) and Spanish Ilimane Diop ('95).

 

In the game for the Bronze medal Spain beat France after an overtime (53-61), with Diop leading the victory: 11 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks. At Spanish side Jose Nogués ('95) had 10 points and 9 boards. Three French prospects nailed 10 points apiece: Paul Rigot ('95), Inglis and Arthur Rozenfeld ('95).

 

Final standings: 1-Croatia, 2-Czech Republic, 3-Spain, 4-France, 5-Russia, 6-Latvia, 7-Turkey, 8-Germany, 9-Serbia, 10-Italy, 11-Greece, 12-Ukraine, 13-Lithuania, 14-Poland, 15-Bulgaria and 16-Montenegro. Last two teams will play next year in Division "B".

 

Stats:

 

-Points: Aleksandar Vezenkov ('95, Bulgaria) 27.1

-Rebounds: Martin Peterka ('95, Czech Republic) 12.6 

-Assists: Radovan Kouril ('95, Czech Republic) 6.1

-Steals: Igor Boyarkin ('95, Ukraine) 3.0 

-Blocks: Ilimane Diop ('95, Spain) 2.9

 

More stats here.

 

Photo: FIBA Europe / Vaclav Mudra