There totally definitive the thirty-fifth edition of European U16 Basketball Championshipscheduled for Sunday, August 13 at 21:00 at the Boris Trajkovski sports center in Skopje, North MacedoniaItaly in contrast to the reigning runners-up Spain (live on the FIBA Youtube channel). Before that (6:30 p.m.) the final for third place between the two took place France and the defending champion Lithuania.
The Azzurrini are aiming for their second continental title and the Iberians their sixth
For Italy it will be fifth final at the European U16 Basketball Championship. An event that hasn’t happened since 1991 when the Azzurrini graduated for the first and only time in Thessaloniki champions of Europe at the expense of the landlord Greece (106-91 with Andrea Sciarabba top scorer with 24 points). Quarterfinals (fourth in a row) for defending champions Spain U16 with five of the most triumphs in the competition. A record that the Iberians currently share with the defunct Yugoslavia.
The path of the two finalists of the U16 European Basketball Championship
Italy and Spain appear undefeated to the deadline for the title. The blue selection performed Joseph MangoneAfter winning Group A of the group stage ahead of Slovenia, Montenegro and Turkey, they defeated Belgium (102-72) in the round of 16, Germany (75-56) in the quarterfinals and France (77-63) in the semifinals. On an individual level, the returns that the wing offers stand out Maickol Perez (13.2 points and 9 rebounds per game) and from the guard Diego Garavaglia (14.3 points and 5 rebounds per game).
After finishing Group C in first place ahead of Germany, Israel and Finland, Spain settled in a kind of revenge for the final act of the tournament against Latvia (100:48), Slovenia (82:72) and Lithuania (70:72). 63) by last edition. Im direct representative of Albert Peralta deserves a special mention Gilda Gimenez. In fact, the 16-year-old Real Madrid small forward averages 16 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.
Italy-Spain: the precedents
The record of precedents seventeen direct comparisons Officials’ opinion is slightly in favor of Spain. In fact, the Iberian national team has won nine times, while the Italian team has won eight times. The last game took place on August 15, 2016. Back then, the Azzurrini defeated the Spaniards 80-63 in a match valid for Group A of the group stage.
