FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2024 Round of 16 wrap: Saraf, Israel shock Spain, Slovenia escape vs Latvia
The FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2024 gave plenty of goodness as Ben Saraf and Israel shocked Spain, Slovenia pulled a magic trick in escaping against Latvia and Germany needed fight to down Denmark.
We are down to eight teams still alive for the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2024 crown and one of the five spots at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025 after some major dramatics in the Round of 16. They were topped off by Ben Saraf reeling off 40 points in helping Israel shock Spain while Slovenia pulled off some magic tricks to escape loss against Latvia and Germany needed a tough fight to down Denmark.
Saraf drops 40 on Spain as Israel reach quarters
Spain came into the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2024 as one of the biggest favorites for the title with the likes of superstars Hugo Gonzalez and Mario Saint-Supery. Israel however were not impressed, and Ben Saraf had a game for the ages with 40 points in Israel’s surprising 102-89 victory over Spain to reach the Quarter-Finals for the third straight time.
That also means that Spain will not have a chance to defend their crown at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025 and they will miss the global showcase for just the second time in the last six editions. And Israel are still alive to reach the U19 World Cup for the first time - needed just a top-five finish in Finland.
And that is mostly because of Saraf. Israel have another superstar in the making and the guard connected on 13-of-23 shots including 4-of-8 from long range and 10-of-14 free throws for 40 points. That is the most in the competition since Alessandro Gentile torched Russia for 42 points in 2010.
Saraf added 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals to go with 1 block for an efficiency of 40. That was tops in the tournament as well.
Israel opened up a double-digit lead in the second quarter against Spain and then took full control with a 29-19 third quarter to finish off the surprise win. Omer Mayer added 17 points and 7 assists and Miron Katz picked up 11 points.
Spain’s superstar duo of Gonzalez and Saint-Supery definitely showed up. The former totalled 32 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 steals and Saint-Supery tallied 29 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. But Felipe Diaz was the next highest scorer with 9 points and Spain’s other three starters contributed only 7 points.
Next up for Saraf and Israel will be France and the next superstar duo of Nolan Traore and Noa Essengue.
France blast past Türkiye
France eased into the Quarter-Finals for the eighth straight time with a 92-58 blowout win over Türkiye. France allowed just 6 points in the first quarter and still have chances of reaching the podium for the fourth straight summer.
Nolan Traore scored 16 points with 6 assists, Mohamed Diakite had 14 points and Leon Sifferlin chipped in 11 points and 5 assists. Kaan Onat top-scored for Türkiye with 16 points.
Slovenia need miracle finish to get past Latvia in OT
Slovenia looked done and dusted after sweeping through the group stage without a loss, but the Balkan side got a miracle finish to regulation before knocking off Latvia 91-85 in overtime.
Slovenia were down 77-71 with 11 seconds left and got a three-pointer from Urban Kroflic. After Latvia’s Real Madrid guard Adrians Andzevs turned the ball over, Zak Smrekar knocked down a second triple and the game was even. Kroflic, Smrekar and Vit Hrabar led the team in the extra session and Slovenia moved into the top eight for the fourth straight summer and remained alive to reach back-to-back U19 World Cups.
Kroflic scored 27 points, Smrekar flirted with a triple-double with 23 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists and Hrabar finished with 16 points and 8 rebounds. Rolands Sulcs scored 22 points for Latvia and Kristers Skrinda picked up 18 points and 15 rebounds.
Slovenia’s next game will come against Sweden.
Swedes ease by Croatia, reach top eight for first time since 1988
Sweden find themselves in unchartered waters as they rolled past Croatia 91-66 to reach the top eight of the U18 EuroBasket for the first time since 1988. The Swedes were already in control but finished off the game for good with a 25-12 third quarter.
By grabbing the win, Sweden also secured their spot in the Division A for the third straight summer - the first time in history for the nation.
Julius Price led the way with 26 points and 6 assists and Casper Pohto picked up 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Swedes. Ivan Juric scored 19 points for Croatia.
Germany nearly give away game to Denmark
Germany remained on course for a second podium finish as they defeated Denmark 80-74 - though they struggled to put away their neighbors to the north.
Germany, who were playing without two starters Ivan Kharchenkov and Declan Duru, nearly gave away an 11 point lead as Denmark pulled within 73-71 with 71 seconds to go. But Christian Anderson knocked down a big three-pointer and Jack Kayil added two big free throws.
Germany, who captured their first ever U18 EuroBasket podium last summer with third place, were paced by Hannes Steinbach with 25 points and 17 rebounds while Anderson finished with 17 points and Kayil had 12 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Frederik Erichsen scored 18 points to go with 6 rebounds and 7 assists for the Danes.
Germany await a very tough Quarter-Finals matchup with Lithuania
Lithuania stave off Italy comeback
Lithuania returned to the Quarter-Finals of the competition after finishing only 11th last summer thanks to a 94-85 victory over Italy - but only after staving off a valiant comeback attempt from the Italians.
Lithuania were leading by as many as 25 points and had a 24-point cushion in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. Italy rushed back into the game with a 24-2 run to pull within 77-75 with more than 4 minutes to play. It was still a three-point game with 34 seconds but Gantas Krizanauskas, Nedas Raupelis and Mantas Juzenas all made two free throws in the final 27 seconds.
Kasparas Jakucionius led Lithuania with 21 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals and Juzenas scored 15 points in the win. Elisse Assui was Italy’s top scorer with 19 points.
Belgium rally from 13 points down, beat Greece for second ever top-eight finish
Belgium pulled off a great comeback win by rallying from 13 points down to beat Greece 66-62 and reach the Quarter-Finals for just their second-ever top eight result. Their only previous on-par performance was 1996 when they finished fourth.
Belgium, who were playing in Division B last summer, lost the first quarter 22-11 but used a strong defensive stand in the fourth quarter to win, taking the final stanza 20-8.
Jayden Hodge registered a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds, Feie Fallir had 13 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists and Corentin Efono added 12 points and 6 assists for the winners.
Greece gave up their third bigger lead after going up by nine points and losing to France and then wasting a 19-point margin in falling to Sweden in overtime. Eleftherios Liotopoulos scored 14 points and Andreas Patrikis added 13 points and 12 rebounds in the loss.
Belgium have a major test in the Quarter-Finals as they take on reigning champs Serbia.
Serbia too strong for hosts Finland
Serbia proved too strong of an opponent for hosts Finland as the reigning champs won 81-67 to move into the Quarter-Finals. Serbia took control of the game with an 18-5 surge spanning the final two quarters.
Aleksa Dimitrijevic was too strong in the paint as the Serbian big man had 15 points and 9 rebounds with Savo Drezgic, Ognjen Srzentic and Andrej Kostic all scoring 11 points. Samu Adler top-scored for Finland with 17 points.
What’s up next?
We have some fantastic Quarter-Finals for Thursday. What a start with Germany against Lithuania and then Sweden take on Slovenia. Belgium then look to continue their fairytale against Serbia and the nightcapper is France vs Israel.
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