Day 2 recap: Spain stifle Serbia, Slovenia supply second surprise, Russia rout Portugal

MUNICH (Germany) - The second day of the FIBA U16 Women's European Challengers was headlined by Slovenia grabbing their second win in as many days while Spain shut down Serbia defensively to remain perfect.

Headlines:
- Slovenia remained the story of the competition as they defeated Belgium in Matosinhos
- Spain used some stifling defense to stop Serbia in San Fernando
- Russia answer back from opening loss with blowout of Portugal in Matosinhos
- Greece shrug off big deficit to down Bulgaria in OT in the Helsinki Challenger

Day 2 Standout Performers:
Helsinki: Lydia Chatira (Greece) - 18 EFF / 15 PTS /  10 REB / 4 STL
Helsinki: Annika Patricia Soltau (Germany) - 29 EFF / 28 PTS / 12 REB / 4 BLK
Tbilisi: Brikena Mucenji (Albania) - 30 EFF / 20 PTS / 11 REB / 9 AST / 6 STL
San Fernando: Karolina Skare (Croatia) - 24 EFF / 22 PTS / 11 REB / 4 STL
San Fernando: Kateryna Koval (Ukraine) - 29 EFF / 35 PTS / 15/21 FGs / 11 REB
Matosinhos: Ajsa Sivka (Slovenia) - 30 EFF / 11 PTS /  19 REB / 4 AST / 4 STL

Helsinki Challenger:

Group A

6/15 games played

		GAMES				STREAK	GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	Last 5	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	France	2	2	0	100		173	117	56	86.5	58.5	4
2	Latvia	2	1	1	50.0		132	132	0	66	66	3
3	Germany	2	1	1	50.0		121	104	17	60.5	52	3
4	Finland	2	1	1	50.0		148	161	-13	74	80.5	3
5	Greece	2	1	1	50.0		103	116	-13	51.5	58	3
6	Bulgaria	2	0	2	0		96	143	-47	48	71.5	2

Day 2 results: France grabbed sole possession of first place by knocking off Finland 86-72. The French gained control of the game with a 29-13 second quarter. Greece came back from 13 points down midway through the third quarter to defeat Bulgaria 56-51 in overtime. The Greeks gave up just five points in the third quarter and just two in the extra session. Latvia, for their part, bounced back from their one-point loss in their opener to Finland to defeat Germany 57-56.

San Fernando Challenger:

Group B

6/15 games played

		GAMES				STREAK	GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	Last 5	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Spain	2	2	0	100		156	89	67	78	44.5	4
2	Croatia	2	2	0	100		155	127	28	77.5	63.5	4
3	Serbia	2	1	1	50.0		98	113	-15	49	56.5	3
4	Hungary	2	1	1	50.0		137	106	31	68.5	53	3
5	Lithuania	2	0	2	0		121	159	-38	60.5	79.5	2
6	Ukraine	2	0	2	0		103	176	-73	51.5	88	2

Day 2 results: Hosts Spain were too tough defensively in picking up a 58-40 win over Serbia. Spain forced 26 turnovers and held Serbia to just 12 percent shooting for the game. Croatia remained perfect in San Fernando with an emphatic 78-54 victory against Ukraine. Hungary evened their record at 1-1 thanks to a convincing 82-48 win over Lithuania, blowing the game open with a 30-7 second quarter.

Matosinhos  Challenger:

Group C

6/15 games played

		GAMES				STREAK	GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	Last 5	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Slovenia	2	2	0	100		128	107	21	64	53.5	4
2	Portugal	2	1	1	50.0		114	120	-6	57	60	3
3	Russia	2	1	1	50.0		126	109	17	63	54.5	3
4	Czech Republic	2	1	1	50.0		115	129	-14	57.5	64.5	3
5	Belgium	2	1	1	50.0		118	125	-7	59	62.5	3
6	Poland	2	0	2	0		121	132	-11	60.5	66	2

Day 2 results: Slovenia registered their next surprise as they downed Belgium 62-47 a day after defeating Russia. It was a three-point Slovenia lead early in the fourth before the Balkan side, which was playing in the Division B in 2019, ran away for a 2-0 mark. Russia roared back after the loss to Slovenia by hammering Portugal 66-43. The Russians led by 10 points after 10 minutes and never looked back. Czech Republic meanwhile picked up their first triumph in the group as they downed Poland 61-58 in a back-and-forth game with 11 lead changes.

Piestany Challenger

Group D

0/15 games played

		GAMES				STREAK	GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	Last 5	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Romania	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Israel	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Ireland	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Slovakia	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0	0
5	Switzerland	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0	0
6	Luxembourg	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0	0

The Piestany Challenger tips off on Wednesday, August 11th.

Tbilisi Challenger:

Group E

4/10 games played

		GAMES				STREAK	GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	Last 5	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Albania	2	2	0	100		125	74	51	62.5	37	4
2	Malta	2	1	1	50.0		124	119	5	62	59.5	3
3	North Macedonia	1	1	0	100		91	53	38	91	53	2
4	Georgia	2	0	2	0		65	135	-70	32.5	67.5	2
5	Armenia	1	0	1	0		37	61	-24	37	61	1

Day 2 results: North Macedonia played their first game of the competition and rolled to a comfortable 91-53 victory over Malta.  Albania improved to 2-0 with another blowout as they cruised past hosts Georgia 64-37, giving up just four points in the first quarter.

FIBA