Magbegor and Gems eye up Third-Place game success

CHEKHOV (2015 FIBA U19 Women’s World Championship) - If Eziyoda Magbegor doesn't get onto the podium at the 2015 FIBA U19 Women's World Championship in Chekhov, there's every chance she could do so at the next edition.

Staggeringly still only 15 years old, or at least for a few more weeks, the Australian rising star wants to ideally help her team win their last day match-up against Spain in the Third-Place Game.

But whatever happens on Russian soil, she looks odds-on to rack up a second appearance at the next edition of the tournament in 2017.

Indeed her current team-mates Tahlia Tupaea, Lauren Scherf and Alicia Froling are playing at this level for a second time and there will be a sense of deja vu when they line up against Spain, having beaten them into third two years ago in Lithuania.

The trio will be expected to lead the charge onto the precious last podium step and behind the Gems' big-hitters and coming off the bench will be Magbegor - who despite being outshone by her more experienced colleagues, has some seriously huge potential.

"She is a special talent and a really great kid to be able to coach," stressed Australia head coach, Paul Gorris.

"Being the youngest player we have, she understands the game very well and she always wants to compete - that's for sure.

"She has got a really bright future and yes, she has a way to go in her development, but she is exciting and a very talented young lady.

"We are also mindful of her age and so are her team=mates who are absolutely great with her and see her as the youngest sister of the group.

“We are just trying to bring her along slowly and giving her minutes in a way that means we are looking after her.

"That is because she is the kind of talent who will be around the Australian national teams in the future if she keeps working hard."

Both Australia and Spain will need to pick themselves up from relatively one-sided Semi-Finals which saw their respective tilts at the title comprehensively derailed.

Spain are hoping it will be a case of third time lucky in the fight for third place, having not only been edged out in Lithuania two years ago, but also in 2007 in Slovak Republic.

Laura Quevedo will have to continue her fine form in the paint and the Spaniards' cause will be helped further if FIBA Europe Young Women's Player of the Year Angela Salvadores can sign off the tournament in the same vein as last year, when she scored 40 in her final outing at the 2014 FIBA U17 Women’s World Championship.

FIBA