Romania nose out Croatia for historic Division B triumph, Great Britain earn promotion

ORADEA (FIBA U20 European Championship 2017, Division B) - Romania celebrated their first-ever FIBA U20 European Championship, Division B triumph in Oradea after coming out on top in the title-decider against Croatia on Sunday evening at the Antonio Alexe arena.

Trailing at the midway point of the game, the tournament hosts turned things around after intermission, outscoring their Croatian rivals by 20 points in the second half for the final score of 80-67, in front of 2,000 spectators.

România câștiga camponatul european de baschet u20B. Tricolorii înving Croatia în finala la Oradea în fata a peste 2000 fani #FIBAU20Europe pic.twitter.com/kyRmJ0ohL7

— Unibet Romania (@Unibet_Romania) July 23, 2017

Emanuel Cate, who later received the Most Valuable Player award, posted a 20-point and 14-rebound double-double, while Tudor Gheorghe added 16 points, 8 assists and 4 rebounds for the victorious Romanians, who are set to make their Division A debut next year.

Croatia's star swingman Roko Badzim scored a team-high 17 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists, helping his team accomplish the main mission of moving back up to the top division after last year's failed attempt at the FIBA U20 European Championship 2016, Division B in Chalkida.

Earlier in the day, Great Britain won the third-place game against Russia to claim the only remaining ticket to Division A, joining both of the Finalists who had already secured promotion a day earlier.

Akwasi Yeboah, who was named to the All-Star Five, scored 22 points and grabbed 6 rebounds for the 81-65 winners, while his teammate Rayell Eytle-Rock chipped in with 14 points and 5 assists for Great Britain.

Poland rolled away with a 76-57 victory against Belgium in the Classification Game for 5th place, while Georgia inscribed a 61-53 win over Portugal to clinch 7th place in the final standings behind 23 points from Aleksandre Phevadze.

Relegated from Division A last year, Finland and Hungary had to settle for mid-table finishes in Oradea, but both teams finished the tournament on a positive note, with Finland defeating Netherlands 85-66 and the Hungarians taking a 78-53 win against Kosovo in the Classification Games for 9th and 11th places, respectively.

In the battle for the lower places in the standings, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia edged Albania 71-65, Belarus hammered home a 92-61 win over Slovak Republic to claim 15th spot, Armenia downed Ireland 96-75 and Azerbaijan avoided the wooden spoon, finishing ahead of Malta with an 88-63 victory.

FIBA