Eurobasket U20: Zdaj so na vrsti boji na izločanje/Knockout Stage Begins

Ne evropskem prvenstvu v košarki za fante do 20 let, ki v Areni Stožice poteka do 19. julija, je slovenska reprezentanca skupinske boje preživela brez en same praske. Izbranci selektorja Danijela Radosavljevića so po vrsti premagali Češko, Izrael in Španijo s skupno razliko +80, kar je največ med vsemi 16 reprezentancami na prvenstvu.

Dobro razporejena minutaža omogoča agresivno slovensko obrambo, hkrati pa dviga napadalno kakovost in ponuja priložnost vsem igralcem. Na prvi tekmi je bil z 18 točkami najboljši strelec Lovro Bolhar, na drugi je 17 točk dosegel Urban Kroflič, na tretji pa prav tako 17 Mark Padjen. Slovenijo v osmini finala čaka Belgija.

Poleg slovenske reprezentance  brez poraza v končnico vstopajo tudi reprezentance Francije, Srbije in Španije. Prav med temi reprezentancami gre iskati najresnejše kandidate za uvrstitev v polfinale, čeprav pot do tja ne bo lahka. Za Francijo denimo igra Oscar Wembanyama, brat enega najboljših košarkarjev na sveti Victorja. Prav Francozi so se, celo z najboljšo obrambo na prvenstvu, izkazali z zmagami proti tradicionalno dobrim reprezentancam Nemčije, Turčije in Italije.

Eurobasket U20 že ponuja številna imena prihodnjih košarkarskih zvezdnikov. V skupinskem delu je vlogo najbolj imenitnega prevzel 19 letni Litovec Mantas Juzenas. Mladi litovski košarkar je igral za Žalgiris, v novi sezoni pa bo v ligi NCAA igral za univerzo Saint Mary’s v Kaliforniji. Na tekmi proti  Poljski je Juzenas dosegel 46 točk, ob tem pa je zadel sedem trojk in postavil nov rekord v zgodovini prvenstev do 20 let. Prejšnji rekord s 45 točkami je od leta 2000 držal Vlatko Ilievski.

English: Eurobasket U20 – Knockout Stage begins

At the FIBA U20 EuroBasket, which is being held at Arena Stožice through July 19, Slovenia has cruised through the group stage with a perfect record. Head coach Danijel Radosavljević’s 12-man squad defeated the Czech Republic, Israel and Spain by a combined margin of 80 points, the largest point differential among all 16 teams competing in the tournament.

A well-balanced distribution of playing time has enabled Slovenia to maintain an aggressive defensive approach while giving every player an opportunity to contribute. Lovro Bolhar led the team with 18 points in the opening game, Urban Kroflič scored a team-high 17 in the second, and Mark Padjen matched that total with 17 points in the third. Slovenia will face Belgium in the Round of 16.

Alongside Slovenia, France, Serbia and Spain are widely regarded as the leading contenders to reach the semifinals, although the road ahead will be anything but easy. France, for example, features Oscar Wembanyama, the brother of one of the world’s best basketball players, Victor Wembanyama. The French have also showcased the tournament’s best defense, recording victories over traditional European powerhouses Germany, Türkiye and Italy.

The U20 EuroBasket has already introduced several future basketball stars, but no player has made a bigger impression during the group stage than 19-year-old Lithuanian Mantas Juzenas. A former Žalgiris player, Juzenas will compete for Saint Mary’s College of California in the NCAA next season. Against Poland, he scored a record-breaking 46 points, including seven three-pointers, setting a new all-time scoring record at the FIBA U20 EuroBasket. The previous mark of 45 points had stood since 2000 and was held by Vlatko Ilievski.