Latvia’s U16 men’s national team (players born in 2010/2011) defeated France 75–69 (19–21, 32–33, 56–44) in the final of the FIBA U16 European Championship Division A in Oradea, Romania, on Saturday, 15 August, claiming Latvia’s first European championship title in traditional basketball since the senior national team’s triumph in 1935.
Latvia’s team leader Bendžamins Beruē was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, while Markuss Jahovičs was also selected for the All-Star Five.
The champions will be welcomed home on Sunday, 16 August, at approximately 12:20 p.m. at the basketball square next to Daugava Sports Hall.
The new European U16 champions learned the fundamentals of basketball at RBS “Jugla” (Rolands Teikmanis), RBS “Centrs” (Ralfs Barlots), Bertānu Valmiera Basketball School (Kristians Martinsons, Gustavs Ķirsons), RBS Basketbola klase (Markuss Jahovičs), Ogre Basketball School (Gustavs Vilcāns, Emīls Hauka), Jūrmala Sports School (Juris Sičkars), Tukums Basketball School (Mārtiņš Rasnačs), Sigulda Sports School (Matīss Preimanis), Balvi and Gulbene BJSS (Markuss Aleksandrovs), as well as in the United States (Bendžamins Beruē).
At the start of the final, France made use of its greatest strength — athleticism and pressure close to the basket — taking an early lead (0–5, 2–7). By the end of the first quarter, France had already earned 12 free throws, converting nine of them. Latvia’s offence was more varied, but not all opportunities were converted, including just two of seven three-point attempts, and France maintained a narrow advantage for most of the period.
Latvia produced its first mini-run, 7–0, at the beginning of the second quarter to move ahead 26–21 in the 15th minute, but the advantage disappeared by halftime.
The next run, early in the second half, proved much more significant. Latvia moved ahead 49–38 in the 25th minute, laying a solid foundation for victory and demonstrating its superiority both in offensive variety and in the organisation and quality of its defence.
Latvia protected the advantage until the closing stages, although there were still fluctuations. Midway through the second half, Markuss Aleksandrovs produced an excellent offensive play, while France’s first comeback attempt — from 60–46 to 60–53 — was halted in the 35th minute by a Markuss Jahovičs three-pointer and another moment of brilliance from Bendžamins Beruē, making it 67–53 in the 37th minute.
Even then, victory was not yet secured. With their backs against the wall, the French finally made their first three-pointer of the game and repeatedly stopped Latvia’s increasingly static offence, cutting the deficit to 70–66 with 75 seconds remaining.
But the undisputed hero of the tournament, Beruē, together with Matīss Preimanis’ alert play and the collective defensive effort of the entire Latvian team, effectively settled both the game and the championship. With 31 seconds remaining, Latvia led 74–66. France scored the final three points of the game, setting the final score at 75–69.
Latvia had the better shooting percentage from the field: two-pointers 23/44 to 20/48 and three-pointers 5/22 to 2/14, with both of France’s successful three-pointers coming in the final three minutes. France gained more from the free-throw line, 23/31 compared with Latvia’s 14/19. The teams were evenly matched in rebounding (43–42) and turnovers (17–18).
In the final, Latvia’s scorers were: Bendžamins Jānis Beruē 22 points (13 rebounds; a double-double in all seven games), Markuss Jahovičs 15 (8 rebounds), Markuss Aleksandrovs 14 (4 assists), Matīss Preimanis 10, Rolands Teikmanis 4 (4 assists), Gustavs Vilcāns 4, Kristians Martinsons 3, Emīls Hauka 2, Mārtiņš Rasnačs 1, Juris Sičkars.
Latvia U16 head coach Edijs Šlesers said:
“When you have completed a long journey step by step, there is no strength left for emotions, although perhaps they will come later.
“What does it take to become champions? You need talent — first and foremost the kind Bendžamins Beruē possesses, but also the talent of the other boys. We are certainly not short of it. And you need a united team in which individual goals are subordinated to the common interest. A team where every player and every member of the coaching staff is happy to be part of it, regardless of playing time or status.
“We talked a lot about this during our preparations, discussing both positive and less positive examples, and I was pleasantly surprised by the level of responsibility and professionalism — unusual for players of this age — that they demonstrated both during games and off the court.”
Latvia’s youth teams have now won medals at European men’s youth championships on six occasions. Previously, Latvia won silver at the U20 European Championship in 2013, U16 in 2014 and U18 in 2018, while the U18 national team won bronze twice, in 2007 and 2010.
FIBA U16 European Championship, Cadets (born 2010/2011)
Round of 16 (11 August): Lithuania – Italy 80–72; Israel – Germany 75–78; Türkiye – Romania 62–71; France – Georgia 89–54; Poland – Czechia 96–68; Spain – Belgium 97–60; Latvia – Serbia 99–59; Slovenia – Greece 78–83.
Quarter-finals (12 August): Lithuania – Germany 82–75; Romania – France 69–108; Poland – Spain 74–86; Latvia – Greece 92–80.
9th–16th place quarter-finals: Italy – Israel 86–75; Türkiye – Georgia 79–71; Czechia – Belgium 93–88 (OT); Serbia – Slovenia 95–91 (OT).
Semi-finals (14 August): Lithuania – France 82–92; Spain – Latvia 87–92.
5th–8th place: Germany – Romania 79–52; Poland – Greece 84–102.
9th–12th place: Italy – Türkiye 60–82; Czechia – Serbia 63–95.
13th–16th place: Israel – Georgia 91–72; Belgium – Slovenia 85–82.
Final: Latvia – France 75–69
3rd place: Lithuania – Spain 93–96.
5th place: Germany – Greece 85–77.
7th place: Romania – Poland 62–88.
9th place: Türkiye – Serbia 73–75.
11th place: Italy – Czechia 82–90.
13th place: Israel – Belgium 85–68.
15th place: Georgia – Slovenia 66–67.
Source: u16v.basket.lv
