A to Z of the FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship 2017
NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen's Women's Basketball Worldwide) - It's the stage where the biggest stars have all made their respective debuts and this is my A to Z rundown of this year's edition of the FIBA U16 Women's European Championship.
A is for All-Star Five of Iliana Rupert, Zoe Wadoux, Reka Dombai, Ilaria Panzera and Emily Bessoir.
B is for Belarus who were relegated even though they are hosting the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2018. They will still fulfil this role, but having such a poor team is such a deflating prospect.
C is for champions as France who ended a painfully long 10-year wait to recapture this title and credit to their head coach Arnaud Guppillotte who I have always rated very highly.
D is for downtown and #curryrange from Russia with this amazing shot which will live long in the memory. But, just look at the celebrations of some players on the edge of the paint when jumping away from the baseline when they should have been ready to foul as Russia were still losing! Oh and Russia then hit an even deeper triple in the next game!
E is for ending the drought. It's hard to believe France went 10 years without gold.
F is for France who have at least 2-3 players of this generation who should go on to senior success. You have to think that Iliana Rupert, Kendra Chery, Zoe Wadoux, Marine Fauthoux and Marie Pardon all have a shot at making it to the Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament as part of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
A player from basketball blood! Father played pro and IQ / moves show it. Sweet play @fauthoux_marine of @ffbasketball @fiba #FIBAU16Europe pic.twitter.com/h2ToPldWHc
— BlueStar Media (@BlueStarMedia1) August 11, 2017
G is for Germany who, after making the 2016 Final, consolidated with another Top 6 finish. Will they stop being a yo-yo nation moving between Division A and B like the past?
H is for hosts and thanks to the people of Bourges and the French Basketball Federation for hosting this excellent event and for the fine hospitality!
Têtes de championnes d'Europe ! Félicitations les filles ! Bonne soirée ! 😁🏀🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/jvQeKj0oSk
— Nicolas Batum (@nicolas88batum) August 12, 2017
I is for Iliana Rupert the MVP who was head and shoulders above anyone else. Considering she tragically lost her father - who was a pro player - a few years ago, it was a poignant moment when she won gold and this accolade. I am sure he would have been incredibly proud.
J is for join me in wishing those players who sustained injuries a quick and strong recovery - especially Andrea Ondrouskova who dislocated her elbow which was a horrific sight.
K is for Kendra Chery of France who is built like few players I have ever seen at this level from an athletic standpoint. Incredible physique, length, wingspan and a great prospect for the NCAA or pro-game if her skills match the body.
👏Congratulations 🇫🇷 as they make first Final of #FIBAU16Europe since 2007! Athleticism triumphed over resilience and smarts of @Italbasket pic.twitter.com/A3WrP8duho
— Paul Nilsen (@basketmedia365) August 11, 2017
L is for Le Prado which is officially my favorite basketball arena anywhere in the world. Just perfect.
M is for my alternative All-Star Five of Nika Muhl, Helena Pueyo, Veronika Pavliuchenko, Aliz Varga, Laura Meldere.
WOW! Play Of The Tournament: 🇭🇷 Nika Muhl the steal, fast-break, soaking up the hard foul and spectacular 'And-1' drop 👏 💪 #FIBAU16Europe pic.twitter.com/DtN8ZA31oy
— Paul Nilsen (@basketmedia365) August 8, 2017
N is for next year we're heading to Lithuania. Something that had to be revealed with the Baltic side finishing in a relegation spot but receiving special dispensation as 2018 hosts which means they won't drop to the second tier.
O is for only two teams will be promoted at the FIBA U16 Women's European Championship 2017, Division B in Skopje which starts this week.
P is for perimeter shooting which was mostly abject again. A common theme in all my A to Z wraps unfortunately.
'The Swat Queen' does it again.......... Not in the 🏚️of @raquell_cq .............. ⛔️ @baloncestofeb @FIBA #FIBAU16Europe pic.twitter.com/DlzdoKIOG6
— Paul Nilsen (@basketmedia365) August 8, 2017
Q is for 'Queen of the Swats' Raquel Carrera who finished with 3.1 blocks per game.
R is for Romania who lost all of their seven games and were unable to take a historic first ever victory
WOW @Italbasket beat champions 🇪🇸 50-49 in Quarter-Finals #FIBAU16Europe Spain only missed SF's 3 times in 16 years. Italy get #FIBAU17 slot pic.twitter.com/XAHb04B7Lz
— Paul Nilsen (@basketmedia365) August 9, 2017
S is for Spain who only missed out on the Semi-Finals for the third time in 16 years. It is an amazing record they have and they will surely be back on the podium soon.
T is for team-ball of Hungary who made the Final for the first time in 41 years and I enjoyed watching their concepts. No real standout stars, they did it collectively and that is my kind of team right there.
U is for U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2018 and France, Hungary, Italy, Latvia and Spain who are all going to Minsk.
Our Euro specialist @pierrepiotr_ with Olympian @valeriane_ayayi who went from #FIBAU16Europe to Rio @ffbasketball @FRABasketball More soon! pic.twitter.com/dqtLRqfz3T
— BlueStar Media (@BlueStarMedia1) August 12, 2017
V is for Valeriane Ayayi and the other French senior team stars who stepped out to watch and support France in person at Le Prado.
Long, long, way to go but agree with @pierrepiotr_ Ilaria Panzera has shades of @Mascia80 .Only potential for now @Italbasket #FIBAU16Europe pic.twitter.com/RaILD4Gul8
— Paul Nilsen (@basketmedia365) August 11, 2017
W is for watch out for the evolution of Ilaria Panzera, since there are definite shades of Raffaella Masciadri. Such a positive future for Italy ahead in the medium to long-term.
X is for 'X-Factor' and the athleticism of France was telling. They were probably the most athletic team I have ever seen at U16 and that is quite some statement.
! 👀 at the supreme athleticism of some of these French players. Quick, long, good fundamentals. We're in Bourges up-close at #FIBAU16Europe pic.twitter.com/6oqkrGEfma
— BlueStar Media (@BlueStarMedia1) August 8, 2017
Y is for YouTube and the FIBA channel has all the games where you can re-live some fantastic action.
Z is for Zoe Wadoux who I feel was the player that stopped the party falling flat for France by hitting shots sat just the right time in games – including the Final.
Paul Nilsen
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