Turkey won again the U16 Iscar Tournament, held in the spanish town close to Valladolid, after finishing with a 3-0 record and beating Spain in the big final (52-78). Kids coached by Omer Ugurata made a crazy job in the beggining of he contest (2-21, m.8). Spaniards came back, but wasn't enough. Turkish sensation Okben Ulubay ('97), one year younger than most of the players there, ended as the best scorer of the game with 18 points (8/15 twos and 2/3 ft), while Mert Cevik ('96) added a double-double (15 points, 11 boards and 1 block). At the losing effort Xavier Oroz ('96) had 9 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals. 

 

Spanish power-forward Marc Bauzà ('96), from Joventut Badalona, was named MVP of the event, and also best rebounder (9.3). Cevik, best scorer (16.3). Before the final turkish defeated Russia (79-67) and Castilla-Leon region (73-83). Other results of the tournament: Castilla-León 51 Russia 87, Spain 79 Russia 60 and Spain 65 Castilla-Leon 45.

 

Final standings: Turkey (3-0), Spain (2-1), Russia (1-2) and Castilla-Leon (0-3). 

 

Best players by stats

 

Turkey: 

-Mert Cevik ('96): 16.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 16.7 valoration.

-Okben Ulubay ('97): 9.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 10.0 valoration.

-Tolga Gecim ('96): 9.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 10.7 valoration.

-Ogulkan Baykan ('97): 8.7 points, 3.0 steals, 2.3 rebounds and 7.7 valoration.

-Egemen Guven ('96): 7.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 14.0 valoration.

 

Spain:

-Marc Bauzà ('96): 12.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 16.3 valoration.

-Marc Garcia ('96): 11.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 9.0 valoration.

-Tomas Van Haaren ('96): 10.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 0.3 blocks and 11.0 valoration.

-Xavier Oroz ('96): 9.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 14.7 valoration.

-Roger Lliteras ('96): 7.3 points, 0.7 steals, 0.3 rebounds and 1.7 valoration.

 

Russia:

-Aleksandr Gavrilov ('96): 9.3 points, 4.0 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 5.0 valoration.

-Vladimir Ivanov ('96): 9.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 9.7 valoration.

-Pavel Afanasev ('96): 9.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 3.7 valoration. 

-Andrey Korolyatin ('96): 9.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 8.3 valoration.

-Aleksandr Zuev ('96): 8.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 8.0 valoration.

 

Castilla y Leon:

-Álvaro Reyes ('97): 10.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 8.3 valoration. 

-Sergio Martínez ('96): 9.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, 0.3 steals and 8.0 valoration.

-Juan Carlos del Rio ('96): 8.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 11.3 valoration.

-Iñigo Velasco ('96): 6.7 points, 1.7 steals, 1.3 rebounds and 2.3 valoration.

-David Valcarce ('97): 5.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 0.7 steals and 2.3 valoration.

 

Quotes

 

-Omer Ugurata (coach of Turkey): "The final has been a very good game for us. Players fought very well. Ulubay usually starts good the games, and that's why I used him in the beginning, with his intensity. Now he needs to work hard. We try to make many rotations, with the players playing not more than 5 or 6 minutes in a row. It's good for the defense". 

 

-Okben Ulubay (player of Turkey): "We played very strong defense, keeping focus during all the time. Like last summer in the U16 European Championship this tournament gives me much experience being one year younger. I feel with more confidence playing PF".

 

-Sergi Costa (player of Spain): "About the final we started very bad, with many missed shots and bad defense transition. We tried to come back, but they killed us behind the arc and with the offense rebound. We haven't played well. Gecim made a good job against us. Hope in six months we can beat them (EC)".

 

Photo: Eurohopes