The European Championship Men – B is on!

First victories for Croatia, Lithuania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Latvia

The European Championship for Men – Division B has started at the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Athens, Greece. Eight are the participating teams and only two the spots available for the European Championship Men – Division A that will take place in Madrid this coming December.

SERBIA – CROATIA 43-65

Croatia starts the European Championship Men – Division B leading the first quarter of the game against Serbia, creating a gap of 10 points with a first partial of 13-23. Serbia counterattacks in the second period. Scoring twice the points as the opponent, it is able to decrease the gap created in the first ten minutes of the game. After the first half, closed at 28-30, Serbia is able to bring the game to a tie (30-30) as the third period started. Soon after, Croatia takes the lead again creating another gap of 8 points by the end of the quarter. The attemps of the Serbian team to turn the game one more time are not enought. The Croatian team, led by Ademir Demirović and Ante Štimac, closes the game at 43-65 securing their first victory.

Leaders of the game

Ademir Demirović (CRO): 26 points, 23 total rebounds

Ante Štimac (CRO): 21 points, 12 assists

Full Statistics: https://bit.ly/statsECMB_game1

AUSTRIA – LITHUANIA 59-63

The second game of the group B beginns as a point-to-point match. In the last three minutes of the first quarter Lithuania takes the lead closing it at 13-24. In the second quarter, Austria starts to counterattack on every point made by the opponent. After a half-time score of 24-40, Austria takes the lead and is able to close the gap to just 2 points at the end of the third quarter. In the last quarter a tie is reached six minutes from the end of the game (53-53). The Lithuanian players do not let the Austrian ones take the lead and at every tie they respond with a 2-points shot. The game is finally closed by Lithuania at 59-63. Top scorers are Mehmet Hayirli from Austria and Edgaras Ciaplinskas from Lithuania.

Leaders of the game

Mehmet Hayirli (AUT): 22 points

Edgaras Ciaplinskas (LTU): 20 points, 10 total rebounds, 8 assists

Hubert Hager (AUT): 10 total rebounds

Full Statistics: https://bit.ly/statsECMB_game2

RUSSIA – BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA 50-58

Bosnia & Herzegovina creates a comfortable gap in the first quarter of the match against Russia with a partial of 9-21. The second period starts with a closer game with points made by both teams, keeping the gap constant. In the last minutes of the quarter, Bosnia & Herzegovina is able to increase the gap from the opponent and closes the first half at 20-39. Russia tries to close the created gap by leading the second half. However, a partial of 13-6 and one of 17-13 are not enough to turn the game, leading to Bosnia & Herzegovina securing their first victory at the European Championship Men – Division B. The Bosnian team closed the game at 50-58 led by Nazif Arnaut and Nihad Majstorić.

Leaders of the game

Nazif Arnaut (BIH): 17 points, 11 total rebounds

Nihad Majstorić (BIH): 16 points, 5 assists

Full Statistics: https://bit.ly/statsECMB_game3

GREECE – LATVIA 52-81

Starting with a score of 0-8 three minutes from the start of the match, Latvia leads the first part of the game against the host, Greece, in the last match of the day. After creating a confident advantage of 6-25, Latvia keeps taking distance from the opponent and closes the first half of the match at 18-47. In the third quarter, Latvia reaches a gap of 40. However, Greece finds new energy and responds and is able to bring the gap down to 30 at the beginning of the last quarter. It follows a point-to-point game which leads to a final score of 52-81. Top scorers are Karlis Podnieks and Raimunds Beginskis from Latvia.

Leaders of the game

Karlis Podnieks (LAT): 16 points

Anagnostis Tsilis (GRE): 8 total rebounds

Raimunds Beginskis (LAT): 15 points, 6 assists

Apostolos Moumtzoglou (GRE): 7 assists

Full Statistics: https://bit.ly/statsECMB_game4

Today’s schedule (14.07.2021):

11:00 Bosnia & Herzegovina – Greece

13:30 Latvia – Russia

16:00 Lithuania – Serbia

18:30: Croatia – Austria