Spain won the U14 Slovenia Ball tournament, held in Slovenj Gradec (Slovenia), after beating Croatia in the last game of the event (88-61). Both arrived unbeaten to the big contest, but spaniards didn't give any option to the opponent led by Asefa Estudiantes point-guard Pablo Pérez ('97), who ended with 15 points, 5 steals and 2 assists. Croatia won a couple of games in the last seconds, while Spain arrived to the big one more rested after winning all the battles quite easy. Let's check what happened in the three contests of the last journey. Eurohopes staff, for second year in a row, travelled to the slovenian town to follow the tournament on live.
-Estonia 61 Macedonia 81: Macedonians, after adding their first victory one day before, started very concentrated, with good shooting percentages. Eventhough Estonia tried to come back, but shocked against the long arms of Oliver Dvojakovski ('97). Olimpija Ljubljana's last addition had 7 points, 3 rebounds and 3 blocks. Youngster Nenad Dimitrijevic ('98), with 14 points (3/6 threes) and 2 assists, and Dejan Srbinovski ('97), who flirted with the triple-double (10 points, 10 assists and 8 boards), also made a good job. With Martin Ütsmüts ('97) injured in the previous game Sander Viilup ('97) ended as their best scorer with 10 points, 3 rebounds and 1 block. His teammate Robert Valge ('97) added 7 with 1 rebound and 1 block and Taavi Jurkatamm ('97) 4 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds.
-Slovenia Blue 83 Slovenia Green 63: In the fight between the two slovenian squads Blue won after two tied quarters and a good performance from guard Nejc Martincic ('97) -22 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist- and 6'0'' guard Blaz Mesicek ('97), with 14 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. With David Drame ('97) sidelined Green found a lot of problems even the good job of Tjaz Hadalin ('97), who collected a double-double (13 points, 11 rebounds and 2 assists), Aljaz Primozic ('97), with 8 points, 3 steals and 1 board, and 6'6'' Jaka Bamic ('97), with 7 and 5 boards. At the winning effort forward Grega Jerman ('97) added 9 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists.
-Spain 88 Croatia 61: Spaniards finished the event unbeaten (6-0), earning the title and showing the skills of their intriguing prospects. Spaniards started again with a great defense against the most important players of the opponent: David Ramos ('97) over Julijan Zadravec ('97) and Albert Real ('97) against Bruno Skokna ('97). Spanish point-guards, Pérez and Raul Timoner ('97), also helped with a good intensity. Croatia didn't give up, with a good defense but with problems to stop spanish quick transitions. Big croatian players were trying to avoid their opponent game, but Spain arrived to the half time 17 points up even a 34% from free throws line. In the third periode croatians tried it again with a good defensive pressure and Zadravec and Skokna on fire. But wasn't enough. Samuel Rodríguez ('97) and Juan Oliva ('97) made a good work inside the paint. With the game over croatians started to rotate, giving minutes to all the players. In the last minutes spaniards showed again they have good new generations.
Final standings: Spain (6-0), Croatia (5-1), Slovenia Blue (4-2), Slovenia Green and Macedonia (2-4), Montenegro and Estonia (1-5).
Photo: Eurohopes
