U18 European champions Serbia lead quintet into U19 World Cup

RIGA (FIBA U18 European Championship 2018) - Serbia were crowned winners of the FIBA U18 European Championship 2018 and led a quintet of European countries in booking their spots in the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2019. 

Serbia beat Latvia  99-90 to secure their fourth title at the U18 European level and will appear at the U19 World Cup for the fourth time. The Serbians won the U19 global title in 2007 and finished second in 2011 and 2013. But they did not participate in 2017. Latvia for their part reached the U19 World Cup for the third time following 1999 and 2011 - the latter when they hosted the event.

France took third place in Riga by beating Russia and will play at their fifth U19 World Cup, having grabbed third place in 2007. Russia meanwhile are back for a fourth run at the global highlight including a third place in 2011.

The final European spot went to Lithuania, who beat Germany in the Classification 5-6. The Lithuanians will be making an eighth appearance and have won all three medals - first place in 2011, second in 2003 and third in 2013. 

The host country of next summer's U19 World Cup has not yet been named so a sixth team from Europe could make the 16-team field.

The European quintet joins the four teams that qualified from the FIBA U18 Americas Championship 2018: United States, Canada, Argentina and Puerto Rico. 

The FIBA U18 Asian Championship 2018 runs from August 4-11 - with four teams qualifying for the U19 World Cup.  The FIBA U18 African Championship 2018 will be played from August 24-September 2, with the two teams in the Final qualifying for the global spectacle. 

FIBA