FIBA Basketball
GER - France dominates Schweitzer tournament
MANNHEIM (Albert-Schweitzer-Tournament) - The 23. Albert-Schweitzer-Turnier for Under-18s was staged this year under the motto "friendship through sport". The 16-team event, featuring some of the world's emerging stars in basketball
MANNHEIM (Albert-Schweitzer-Tournament) - The 23. Albert-Schweitzer-Turnier for Under-18s was staged this year under the motto "friendship through sport".
The 16-team event, featuring some of the world's emerging stars in basketball, lived up to expectations. Serbia & Montenegro, Croatia, Turkey and France reached the Final Four.
In the third place game, the Serbo-Montenegrins won 78-75 over Croatia after a three-pointer from Mladen Jeremic in the last second. In the title game, defending champions Turkey and their 500 supporters took on a very talented French side that had 2,500 fans backing them.
It was a rematch of a game played between the two in the preliminary round, when the French were pushed to the limit and lost 82-78. In the title game, however, France rolled to a 78-56 triumph for their first-ever Albert Schweitzer Tournament title.
In the opening minutes, France's quickness overwhelmed their opponents and helped them build a 9-2 lead just four minutes into the contest. A sensational alley-oop scored by Alex Ajinca finished off the spectacular opening of the game.
Turkey were struggling at this stage but managed to come back and only trailed 19-16 after the first quarter. The game began to turn in their favour and they seized the advantage after 14 minutes as the French tired and lost some of their concentration.
Turkey, in fact, went on a 10-0 run with a big fighting spirit and were unstoppable for that spurt which saw them lead 26-19 with five minutes to go in the first half. At half-time, Turkey's title defense looked secure as they led 38-26.
France were not about to lose. They began the third quarter with a 12-0 run to tie the game after five minutes (38-38).
Turkey were completely overrun and scored just three points for the entire quarter and trailed 49-41 with 10 minutes to go. By this point, France were loose and in full flow.
Instead of worrying about a Turkish comeback, they provided the crowd with showtime, a glitzy, end-to-end style that is sure to thrill onlookers for years to come from this talented group. The French cadre's largest part comes from the talent smithy "Centre Federal de basketball Paris".
Ajinca, who is 2.14m in height, thrilled those in attendance and the numerous NBA scouts. At just 17 years of age, he's the complete package. He can leap, dribble, and shoot from long range and close to the basket.
Some in attendance were reminded of German star Dirk Nowitzki. Ajinca was presented with the "Burkhard-Wildermuth-Award" as the event's most talented player.
The MVP award went to Nicola Batum of France. Dogus Balbay (Turkey), Nicolas Batum (France), Omri Caspi (Israel), Miroslav Raduljica (Serbia & Montenegro) and Ajinca (France).
Next year's event be the 50th time it has been staged.
PA Sport
source : Hanns-Peter Lützig
The 16-team event, featuring some of the world's emerging stars in basketball, lived up to expectations. Serbia & Montenegro, Croatia, Turkey and France reached the Final Four.
In the third place game, the Serbo-Montenegrins won 78-75 over Croatia after a three-pointer from Mladen Jeremic in the last second. In the title game, defending champions Turkey and their 500 supporters took on a very talented French side that had 2,500 fans backing them.
It was a rematch of a game played between the two in the preliminary round, when the French were pushed to the limit and lost 82-78. In the title game, however, France rolled to a 78-56 triumph for their first-ever Albert Schweitzer Tournament title.
In the opening minutes, France's quickness overwhelmed their opponents and helped them build a 9-2 lead just four minutes into the contest. A sensational alley-oop scored by Alex Ajinca finished off the spectacular opening of the game.
Turkey were struggling at this stage but managed to come back and only trailed 19-16 after the first quarter. The game began to turn in their favour and they seized the advantage after 14 minutes as the French tired and lost some of their concentration.
Turkey, in fact, went on a 10-0 run with a big fighting spirit and were unstoppable for that spurt which saw them lead 26-19 with five minutes to go in the first half. At half-time, Turkey's title defense looked secure as they led 38-26.
France were not about to lose. They began the third quarter with a 12-0 run to tie the game after five minutes (38-38).
Turkey were completely overrun and scored just three points for the entire quarter and trailed 49-41 with 10 minutes to go. By this point, France were loose and in full flow.
Instead of worrying about a Turkish comeback, they provided the crowd with showtime, a glitzy, end-to-end style that is sure to thrill onlookers for years to come from this talented group. The French cadre's largest part comes from the talent smithy "Centre Federal de basketball Paris".
Ajinca, who is 2.14m in height, thrilled those in attendance and the numerous NBA scouts. At just 17 years of age, he's the complete package. He can leap, dribble, and shoot from long range and close to the basket.
Some in attendance were reminded of German star Dirk Nowitzki. Ajinca was presented with the "Burkhard-Wildermuth-Award" as the event's most talented player.
The MVP award went to Nicola Batum of France. Dogus Balbay (Turkey), Nicolas Batum (France), Omri Caspi (Israel), Miroslav Raduljica (Serbia & Montenegro) and Ajinca (France).
Next year's event be the 50th time it has been staged.
PA Sport
source : Hanns-Peter Lützig