Katanovic takes home MVP award after leading Croatia back to Division A

PITESTI (Romania) - Borna Katanovic earned the highest individual honor of the FIBA U16 European Championship 2023, Division B by taking home the MVP award for the winners Croatia.

Katanovic scored 26 points to go with 9 rebounds and 4 steals in helping Croatia beat Bulgaria 85-67 in the Final. For the tournament, the small forward averaged 18.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.5 steals.

Joining Katanovic on the All-Star Five were his Croatian teammate Roko Jemo, Ivaylo Skrinski of Bulgaria, Avtandil Bakhtadze of Georgia and Romania's Codrut-Alexander Dinu.

Jemo contributed 21 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 6 steals in the Final and totalled 13.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.1 steals. Skrinski was limited to 11 points in the title game against Croatia and it was his scoring low as he averaged 15.6 points to go with 4.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals.

Bakhtadze played a major role in Georgia taking third place, including registering a double-double of 18 points and 15 rebounds in beating Romania. For the tournament, Bakhtadze averaged 18.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks.

Dinu had a 31-point output against Georgia as Romania just missed the podium and he earned his spot on the team with averages of 19.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.4 steals per game.

FIBA