2012 U18 Women's European Championship
The 2012 U18 Fiba Europe will take place from July 26 through Aug 5.
Div A will be played in Bucharest, Romania. Official site here .
Spain, France, Turkey, Russia and Croatia should be among the favorite teams, based on their results in the various prep games.
France won the classic Reze tournament over Croatia, Turkey, Belgium, Sweden, Czech Republic, Netherlands and Poland. Turkey won at home another tourney defeating France, Belgium and Netherlands. Spain lost once to Russia but reversed the result twice very recently, also defeating Czech Republic.
On the Fiba site a preview of the 4 groups.
Day 1 will show the big clash Spain-France, but also Turkey-Russia could be interesting.
To underline that this tournament is the European qualifier for the 2013 U19 World's championship.
any predictions for tomorrows games?
Belgium vs Serbia
Poland vs Sweden
If Belgium is complete, also with Sr NT Antonia Delaere, could be favorite, but honestly I know very little about Serbian team.
At Reze tournament end of June, Sweden beat Poland 82-78, so there should be a slight edge for the Scandinavians.
Delaere didn`t practice with the U18. Maybe she is playing at the U19 world champs.Originally Posted by carlo
Polish Team has alot of players from last years U18 - tournament.
Swedish Team is the same as in 2010 - U16. Only one were playing last years U18 Champ. too.
Hersler was and is their best player...also in friendlies, she was the top scorer for sweden
That's all true, but Delaere is in the team, following the latest Fiba site.
This is also confirmed by this previous source from Belgium (in French).
Spain final roster is official and it's confirmed that biggest star Astou Ndour is not in (knee surgery).
http://u18women.fibaeurope.com/en/ci...ndID_8798.html
Astou also didn't play in the prep games. With her presence Spain would have been nearly unbeatable, without is just one the favorites.
well, Serbia has talented generation .. seems we have big expectation for this competition. Team is full, includes second best scorer from u16 EC. No injuries, what is very good. Preps were also ok, winning twice over France, lost once.
Srbija U16 – Francuska U 16 61:48 (9:6, 19:16, 16:13, 17:13).
SRBIJA U16: Mandić 5, Nikolić, Vidaković 7, Kovačević 10, Stepanović 3, Topuzović 2, Stanaćev 16, Vučković 2, Janković 1, Bošković 2, Bošnjak, Stanković 13,
FRANCUSKA U16: Fanjez 2, Badi 5, Turčinović 11, Epoupa 7, Ture 2, Litard, Devil 2, Ajaji 16, Djaldi, Tabdi, Mane, Gaje, Sisoko 3.
Srbija U18 – Francuska U18 43:62 (15:23, 9:12, 8:15, 11:12).
SRBIJA: Bošnjak, Nikolić 2, Vidaković 7, Kovačević 12, Stepanović, Topuzović 4, Stanaćev 9, Vučković, Janković 12, Čorto 2, Stanković 3, Bošković 12.
FRANCUSKA: Fagnje 1, Badi 2, Turčinović 6, Epupa 16, Ture 14, Lithard, Devilrs 2, Ajaji, Djaldi Tabi 6, Mane 3, Gaje 10, Sisoko 2.
Serbia palyed w/o first centre Stankovic in this match
Srbija U18 – Francuska U18 48:42 (14:10, 10:16, 12:12).
SRBIJA U18: Bošnjak, Nikolić, Vidaković 4, Kovačević 15, Stepanović 3, Topuzović 8, Stanaćev 4, Vučković 10, Ćirić, Čorto, Stanković 4, Bošković.
FRANCUSKA U18: Fagnez, Badiane 4, Turčinović 7, Epoupa 3, Toure 5, Lithard, Devillers, Ayiyi 2, Djaldi Dabai 2, Mane, Ctaye 12, Sissoko 7.
Coach said that first two games are crucial in group cause Slovenia is weakest side and expect all defeats from them.
Here is Serbia squad:
Una Nikolić, Jovana Vidaković, Nataša Kovačević, Olga Stepanović, Kristina Topuzović, Aleksandra Stanaćev, Katarina Vučković, Žaklina Janković, Sanja Mandić, Dragana Stanković, Ivana Bošković Aleksandra Crvendakić (u16 player too) .
That sounds interesting about Serbian team, and yes noticed that U16 ace Aleksandra Crvendakic is in. The reported games should be very recent, from the French team stage in Serbia 18-21 July.
In the tournament opener, the Netherlands surprised Croatia 51-43 with 18 pts of Isabella Slim.
Carlo,
how you see Italy?
As I wrote, Serbian coach said that SLO is weakest side in group and that others sides who have "easy" job in these matches. ITA won over SLO in last U18 in batlle for 9-12th place by 5 but relaxing last quarter which SLO won by 10.
the same happened again...82:78 for sweden...why did the play))))
italia is never sth special...
slovenia have played a good friendly vs spanin ..losing by only 11 points..60:71.
Italia have won 52:50 and lost 48:59 vs russia...
Italy is a mix of 1994&1995 players, with a good international experience.
1994 born: Erica Reggiani was the 2010 U16 team's high scorer (but finished just 13th), others being Elena Ramò, Francesca Minali, Giulia Bona and Eleonora Zizola. Reggiani, Ramò and Eleonora Zanetti also played in the 2011 U18 and the U19 at the World's championships (both 10th).
1995 born: Elisa Penna and Antonia Peresson, who were good with the 2011 U16 excellent team (3rd).
So, the team is experienced and filled with good players but not with such super players of the 2012 U16. Btw, in some scrimmage U18 and U16 met in Caorle and the result was a draw (66-66) !
Today's game with Slovenia will surely be decisive.
Edit update: Serbia super or Belgium disaster ?
Last edited by carlo; 07-26-2012 at 02:36 PM.
Another game that required OT, Turkey edged Russia 77-74 after a strong comeback of Russian girls in Q4.
Pelin Bilgic 28 pts.
Positive opening of Italy vs Slovenia (Reggiani 15 pts), tomorrow Slovenia-Belgium will be game of death...
Third OT match of the day, France-Spain, really a head-to-head game. French team always slightly ahead after the intermission, but has the game tied by 2FT by Ariadna Pujol (French have been shooting horribly from the charity stripe) and now has 2 key players fouled out !
Edit update: France defeats Spain winning 3-2 (!) OT1 marked by an incredible amount of missed shots/turnovers.
Last edited by carlo; 07-26-2012 at 07:34 PM.
Spain's loss today could be fortunate looking at the history of the recent U16 championship (D1 loss for Spain - final game gold medal, always with the same competitor) !
Reading reports and interview with our coach, seems first half was almost perfect.
After big lead, normally coach started to mix, resting starters but again +28 FT.
Personally I see Serbia winning tonight
Most interesting results from Group D, where Italy and Slovak Rep surprised Serbia and Belgium nearly with identical results (+2).
Whilst Italy showed character fighting back a surging Serbia team, Belgium literally threw away a comfortable lead badly losing Q4. Very disappointing this Belgian team, considering they also have 2011 U16 MVP Hind Ben Abdelkader in their roster.
Italy and Netherlands first losses by Slovak Rep and Slovenia in the qualifying round, both team are now 2-1. Italy trailed most of the game and was rallying back in Q4, but lost its best player Erica Reggiani (15 pts) for fouls with 3' left and the game was over. Slovenia with a strong last Q (20-5) surprised the Dutch girls.
Impressive wins of Spain over Russia and of France over Greece.
France and Turkey (that edged Sweden) are the only unbeaten teams.
Without its star center Ivana Tikvic (injured?) Croatia badly lost to Serbia after closing the 1st half with +3 lead. Aleksandra Stanacev for Serbia and Andrijana Cvitkovic for Croatia were high scorers with 19. Interesting enough, PF Cvitkovic plays HS in the US (at Culver, IN) and is ranked #45 overall in the 2013 Class by ESPN.
Serbia upset favorite Spain in the quarters and will play tomorrow's semis with Russia, that overwhelmed Italy.
In the other quarter, France eliminated Croatia and will battle in the semis with surprising Netherlands which overcame Turkey in double OT.
France, Netherlands, Russia and Serbia have already earned a place in the 2013 U19 World's championship.
Thanks for the updates. Is anyone there at the event? Is there a site other than FIBA that provides good coverage of the event?
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