By Dawid Roguski
From 22th to 27th of February in Wroclaw took place the U20 Polish Championship. 8 teams, 5 days, 18 games and only 1 champion. Let’s see what happened.
After being runner up and obtained the silver medal last year, this season Asseco Gdynia reach the throne beating Śląsk Wrocław in the final 62 to 40. Asseco Gdynia had the most balanced group of players among all participants and their only defeat in the group stage was not a big problem to be in semi-finals as one of the top four teams in the country. Curiously, that defeat was in front of Śląsk Wrocław 83 to 49 in a weak performance by Asseco Gdynia.
In the semi-final match against WKK Wrocław, Asseco did not give any chance to their opponents and beat them 68 to 47. In the other semi-final Śląsk Wrocław, host of the tournament, defeat Zastal Zielona Góra 63 to 56. Third place went to the WKK Wrocław, which defeated Zastal Zielona Góra 76 to 48.
MVP of the tournament:
Marcin Wieluński (1996, PG, 196 cm), Asseco Gdynia
First team of the tournament:
Marcel Ponitka (1997, G, 192 cm), Zastal Zielona Góra
Michał Kołodziej (1997, PF, 202 cm), Asseco Gdynia
Maciej Krakowczyk (1996, SF, 200 cm), Śląsk Wrocław
Jakub Musiał (1998, PG, 185 cm), Śląsk Wrocław
Szymon Kiwilsza (1997, C, 201 cm), WKK Wrocław
A few notes about most promising players at the championship:
Michał Kołodziej (1997, PF, 202 cm), Asseco Gdynia.
Kołodziej is a stretch forward with good shooting mechanics. He possesses long arms and runs well the floor. In the next level he should move to small forward position although he could be a tweener. Free throws is his bigger weakness.
In championship round, Kołodziej averaged 11.3 points (43% FG), 8.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.8 blocks per game.
Marcin Wieluński (1996, PG, 196 cm), Asseco Gdynia.
Wieluński is a versatile player with good court vision and decent shooting tools. His long arms help him on defensive side. He needs to improve his speed and his free throw shooting (0 of 7 in the championship game).
In championship round, Wieluński averaged 10.0 points (41% FG), 4.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game.
Karol Kamiński (1997, G, 193 cm), Asseco Gdynia.
Kamiński is an all-around player. Good decision maker and good court vision. He can guard the best players of the other team and add some scoring and rebounding on the offensive end. He can get points from penetrations, mid-range shots and 3-point line (he made three in the final game). Needs to improve his upper body.
In championship round, Kamiński averaged 6.8 points (FT 76%), 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.
Jakub Musiał (1998, PG, 185 cm), Śląsk Wrocław.
Musiał is really quick and his mobility is great. He has good court vision. He is a good defender in one on one situations.
In championship round, Musiał averaged 15.1 points (50% FG, 74% FT), 4.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game.
Marc-Oscar Sanny (1996, PG, 196 cm), Śląsk Wrocław.
Sanny is a very skilled player. He is fast and strong and possesses very good footwork. He is a slasher, good in drives and one on one game. Just an average shooter.
In championship round, Sanny averaged 7.0 points (41.8% FG), 4.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
Marcel Ponitka (1997, G, 192 cm), Zastal Zielona Góra.
Marcel is the younger brother of Mateusz Ponitka. He is a very skilled player, excellent on the offensive end. He possesses good handles and good shooting mechanics. Confident player with strong body frame. He can play at both guard position. Good but not excellent defender.
In championship round, Ponitka averaged 17.0 points (44.8% FG), 7.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.3 steals per game.
Mateusz Szczypiński (1998, SG, 192 cm), MKS Dąbrowa Górnicza.
Szczypiński is an excellent shooter. He averaged 46.8% from 2 pts FG, 38.6% 3 pts FG and 85.8% FT. He can play in the offensive end, as he shown on this tournament. Needs to improve his defensive contribution.
In championship round, Szczypiński averaged 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game.
Łukasz Kolenda (1999, PG, 191 cm), Trefl Sopot.
Kolenda is a very good player. On the offensive end, Łukasz can score and run his team well as a playmaker. Against players three years older, Kolenda shot 50% from the field, including 41.9% from behind the arc. He can play in the defensive end, too. He is tough and unyielding. If he can keep a regular evolution of his game, his ceiling is unlimited.
In championship round, Kolenda averaged 12.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game.
Damian Ciesielski (1997, PG, 187 cm), Trefl Sopot.
Ciesielski is a passing first mentality point guard. He can score from the penetration, mid-range or behind the arc but he enjoys being a facilitator for his teammates. He needs to be more consistent to put his team at the higher level. His defense needs also to be improved.
In championship round, Ciesielski averaged 8.5 points (46.4% FG), 3.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.
Szymon Kiwilsza (1997, C, 201 cm), WKK Wrocław.
Kiwilsza is undersized but he is already a very good frontcourt player. His points usually come from shots in the paint but his percentage from behind the arc, over 30%, gives him opportunities to get points in different ways. He runs the court well and he is a solid defender.
In championship round, Kiwilsza averaged 14.7 points (59% FG), 8.5 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.
Photo: PZKosz
Twitter of the author: @dsroguski
From 22th to 27th of February in Wroclaw took place the U20 Polish Championship. 8 teams, 5 days, 18 games and only 1 champion. Let’s see what happened.
After being runner up and obtained the silver medal last year, this season Asseco Gdynia reach the throne beating Śląsk Wrocław in the final 62 to 40. Asseco Gdynia had the most balanced group of players among all participants and their only defeat in the group stage was not a big problem to be in semi-finals as one of the top four teams in the country. Curiously, that defeat was in front of Śląsk Wrocław 83 to 49 in a weak performance by Asseco Gdynia.
In the semi-final match against WKK Wrocław, Asseco did not give any chance to their opponents and beat them 68 to 47. In the other semi-final Śląsk Wrocław, host of the tournament, defeat Zastal Zielona Góra 63 to 56. Third place went to the WKK Wrocław, which defeated Zastal Zielona Góra 76 to 48.
MVP of the tournament:
Marcin Wieluński (1996, PG, 196 cm), Asseco Gdynia
First team of the tournament:
Marcel Ponitka (1997, G, 192 cm), Zastal Zielona Góra
Michał Kołodziej (1997, PF, 202 cm), Asseco Gdynia
Maciej Krakowczyk (1996, SF, 200 cm), Śląsk Wrocław
Jakub Musiał (1998, PG, 185 cm), Śląsk Wrocław
Szymon Kiwilsza (1997, C, 201 cm), WKK Wrocław
A few notes about most promising players at the championship:
Michał Kołodziej (1997, PF, 202 cm), Asseco Gdynia.
Kołodziej is a stretch forward with good shooting mechanics. He possesses long arms and runs well the floor. In the next level he should move to small forward position although he could be a tweener. Free throws is his bigger weakness.
In championship round, Kołodziej averaged 11.3 points (43% FG), 8.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.8 blocks per game.
Marcin Wieluński (1996, PG, 196 cm), Asseco Gdynia.
Wieluński is a versatile player with good court vision and decent shooting tools. His long arms help him on defensive side. He needs to improve his speed and his free throw shooting (0 of 7 in the championship game).
In championship round, Wieluński averaged 10.0 points (41% FG), 4.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game.
Karol Kamiński (1997, G, 193 cm), Asseco Gdynia.
Kamiński is an all-around player. Good decision maker and good court vision. He can guard the best players of the other team and add some scoring and rebounding on the offensive end. He can get points from penetrations, mid-range shots and 3-point line (he made three in the final game). Needs to improve his upper body.
In championship round, Kamiński averaged 6.8 points (FT 76%), 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.
Jakub Musiał (1998, PG, 185 cm), Śląsk Wrocław.
Musiał is really quick and his mobility is great. He has good court vision. He is a good defender in one on one situations.
In championship round, Musiał averaged 15.1 points (50% FG, 74% FT), 4.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game.
Marc-Oscar Sanny (1996, PG, 196 cm), Śląsk Wrocław.
Sanny is a very skilled player. He is fast and strong and possesses very good footwork. He is a slasher, good in drives and one on one game. Just an average shooter.
In championship round, Sanny averaged 7.0 points (41.8% FG), 4.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
Marcel Ponitka (1997, G, 192 cm), Zastal Zielona Góra.
Marcel is the younger brother of Mateusz Ponitka. He is a very skilled player, excellent on the offensive end. He possesses good handles and good shooting mechanics. Confident player with strong body frame. He can play at both guard position. Good but not excellent defender.
In championship round, Ponitka averaged 17.0 points (44.8% FG), 7.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.3 steals per game.
Mateusz Szczypiński (1998, SG, 192 cm), MKS Dąbrowa Górnicza.
Szczypiński is an excellent shooter. He averaged 46.8% from 2 pts FG, 38.6% 3 pts FG and 85.8% FT. He can play in the offensive end, as he shown on this tournament. Needs to improve his defensive contribution.
In championship round, Szczypiński averaged 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game.
Łukasz Kolenda (1999, PG, 191 cm), Trefl Sopot.
Kolenda is a very good player. On the offensive end, Łukasz can score and run his team well as a playmaker. Against players three years older, Kolenda shot 50% from the field, including 41.9% from behind the arc. He can play in the defensive end, too. He is tough and unyielding. If he can keep a regular evolution of his game, his ceiling is unlimited.
In championship round, Kolenda averaged 12.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game.
Damian Ciesielski (1997, PG, 187 cm), Trefl Sopot.
Ciesielski is a passing first mentality point guard. He can score from the penetration, mid-range or behind the arc but he enjoys being a facilitator for his teammates. He needs to be more consistent to put his team at the higher level. His defense needs also to be improved.
In championship round, Ciesielski averaged 8.5 points (46.4% FG), 3.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.
Szymon Kiwilsza (1997, C, 201 cm), WKK Wrocław.
Kiwilsza is undersized but he is already a very good frontcourt player. His points usually come from shots in the paint but his percentage from behind the arc, over 30%, gives him opportunities to get points in different ways. He runs the court well and he is a solid defender.
In championship round, Kiwilsza averaged 14.7 points (59% FG), 8.5 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.
Photo: PZKosz
Twitter of the author: @dsroguski
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