Andorra edge Azerbaijan right at the death to win Group B
ANDORRA LA VELLA (FIBA U16 European Championship 2017, Division C) - Andorra inflicted the first defeat on Azerbaijan at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2017, Division C to stay undefeated in Group B.
ANDORRA LA VELLA (FIBA U16 European Championship 2017, Division C) - Andorra inflicted the first defeat on Azerbaijan at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2017, Division C to stay undefeated in Group B and move into the Semi-Finals.
The tournament hosts celebrated a 67-66 victory in the battle for top spot in the standings after Marti Obiols tipped the scales in favor of Andorra with a crucial free-throw right with only seconds to spare.
Celebració d'#equipandorra després del gran triomf contra l'Azerbaidjan (67-66) a #FIBAU16Europe @ANDbasquet pic.twitter.com/6FXPKxcWfn
— comiteolimpicandorra (@AndorraOlimpic) July 26, 2017
Albert Pons was the leading scorer for the winners with 15 points and 10 rebounds, Obiols was the only other player in double figures with 10 points, while Papuna Kirtadze continued to display his scoring abilities with 28 points for Azerbaijan.
In the other game of the group, the Principality of Monaco improved to a 1-2 record after handing San Marino a 79-60 defeat behind a 32-point, 9-assist and 5-steal game by playmaker Sacha Piras.
Meanwhile, Gibraltar and Armenia secured tickets to the next round in Group A and will face Group B winners Andorra and runners-up Azerbaijan in the Semi-Finals respectively.
Gibraltar will meet tournament hosts Andorra in the Semi-Finals
Holding the head-to-head advantage over Gibraltar, Armenia booked the first place in the standings with a 79-48 victory over Malta, as Giorgii Shakhnazarov dropped a game-high 32 points and Nikita Galtsev chipped in with 22 points, 16 boards and 6 blocks.
Gibraltar reeled in an 81-66 win over Wales, with Alejandro Garcia Tejon double-doubling with 22 points and 16 rebounds. On the other end of the court, Welsh sharpshooter Benjamin Gordos got hot from beyond the arc with 5-of-11 makes from three-point range for a total of 31 points.
FIBA