Vice-world champion U17 and European champion U20 in boys and girls, Spain has just won the European title in U18 men. This time beating Turkey in the final at home in Izmir (68-61).
What a summer for young Spaniards! La Roja won the fifth medal in five youth competitions on Sunday evening, including the third gold, against Turkey at Euro U18. It is also the second consecutive European title in this category, acquired against a local team carried by their public.
Spain led for most of the final after taking the lead in the first quarter. After counting a 14-point deficit after the break (49-35, 29th), Turkey picked up 5 points (56-51, 38th) but failed to make the connection in moneytime.
In the final, it was the young Barcelonan Rafael Villar who carried his team (20 points at 3/4 from 3-pointers, 5 assists, 4 steals, 3 rebounds and 1 block) but it was Izan Almansa (14 points at 6/13 on shots, 15 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks) who won a new title of MVP of the competition, he who had already been elected MVP of the U17 World Cup a few weeks ago.
After the disappointment in the quarter-finals, the 2004 generation of Bleuets still secured their ticket to the U19 World Cup by winning fifth place against Italy.
EuroBasket U18 2022 final standings:
1. Spain
2. Turkey
3. Serbia
4. Slovenia
5. France
6. Italy
7. Lithuania
8. Israel
9. Poland
10. Czech Republic
11. Germany
12. Greece
13. Croatia
14. North Macedonia
15. Great Britain
16. Montenegro
Photo : Espagne U18 (FIBA)
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