Maor Sela orchestrated Israel U16's 85–68 win over Belgium U16 with a triple-double that defined the Classification Game 13–14: 27 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists across 31 minutes, shooting 10/14 from the field and 6/6 from the line. His control of the game at both ends—two steals to one turnover ratio—gave the hosts a commanding 17-point margin.
The result secured 13th place for Israel U16 in FIBA U16 EuroBasket Division A, with Belgium U16 finishing 14th. For Israel, it was a closing statement after a grueling campaign; for Sela, the performance crystallised what he had brought throughout—efficient scoring paired with the kind of playmaking and awareness that kept the team's offence fluid even when the outcome was already settled.
Maor Sela orchestrated a complete performance to steer Israel U16 to a 17-point victory over our young Lions. The 16-year-old finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in 31 minutes, shooting 10 of 14 from the field and a perfect 6 for 6 from the line—a near-flawless efficiency that defined the gap between the two sides in Oradea.
Belgium U16 couldn't sustain enough offensive rhythm to mount a serious challenge as the match slipped away. The final scoreline, 85–68, reflected a performance where Israel's control and our youngsters' inability to capitalize on their moments proved decisive.
The defeat closes the campaign with a 14th-place finish at FIBA U16 EuroBasket Division A. It's a tournament our squad will need to learn from as they build toward the next cycle.
Israel's U16s never let our young Lions get within striking distance. A 26-point lead at one stage in the second quarter—35-9 at that moment—set the tone for a wire-to-wire win that finished 85-68, comfortable and controlled from start to finish.
Belgium came out cold. The first quarter ended 24-8, and a devastating 15-0 run pushed Israel's advantage to 33-8 mid-second before settling into a 46-23 halftime lead. Our boys fought back in the third, outscoring their opponents 26-18 to make it 64-49 heading into the final frame, but Israel held firm in the fourth, 21-19, to seal the 17-point margin.
Maor Sela ran the show for Israel: 27 points on efficient 10/14 shooting, 10 rebounds and 10 assists—a triple-double performance that dictated pace and accuracy. Ido Ziv added 20 points on 8/13 from the field, including 4/9 from three.
Youssef Zagdoud led Belgium with 20 points—though 11 of his 14 shots missed—and 6 assists, while Alexander Triki (11 points on 5/8 shooting) and Mats Pepermans (10 points, 4 steals) provided solid support. The gap in execution, especially early, proved too wide to overcome.
Our young Lions finish 14th in Division A. A tough campaign ends here.
Youssef Zagdoud delivered 37 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists to steer Belgium U16 past Slovenia U16 85–82 in a Classification round fixture.
Shooting 16 of 31 from the field, Zagdoud ran the offense with precision and converted consistently inside the arc. He added 8 steals and committed zero turnovers across 37 minutes, a control figure in a three-point result that required his ballhandling and decision-making down the stretch. Slovenia stayed within reach but Belgium's ball security—anchored by Zagdoud's mistake-free play—proved decisive in a tight contest.
The margin reflected the thinness of separation at this level; both teams executed, but Zagdoud's volume and care with the basketball shifted the balance.
Youssef Zagdoud has put together a different class of tournament so far. The Belgian playmaker sits at 70.5 TIB Efficiency with 22.5 points and 5.3 assists per game — numbers that will draw heavy scrutiny when Israel U16 arrives in Oradea with Maor Sela, who's averaging 14.7 points and 3 assists at 57.7 TIB Efficiency.
This is the matchup that defines the game. Sela is a capable all-around guard for the Israelis, but he's operating at a different tempo than our young Lion. When Zagdoud's at the controls, the entire Belgian offense moves with intent; when he's off, the rhythm stalls. Israel will likely target him defensively and dare the supporting cast to beat them. Our boys have answered that call elsewhere in the tournament, but the consistency will matter here.
Tip-off is in just under three hours. Catch it live.
Youssef Zagdoud carried our young Lions to a 85–82 win over Slovenia U16 on the final day of their Division A campaign, posting 37 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 8 steals across 37 minutes at Arena Antonio Alexe in Oradea.
The performance was as complete as it gets in a three-point finish. Zagdoud shot 16 of 31 from the floor and 5 of 7 from the line — efficient enough when the margin was this tight — and his eight steals were the real standout, turning the ball over just once in the process. He ran the offense when needed and took what the defense gave him, neither forcing nor disappearing when the game tightened in the final moments.
It was exactly the kind of individual display our boys needed in a classification game that mattered for their seeding. Zagdoud's work across the full span — scoring, facilitating, defending — is what got them over the line.
Belgium's young Lions clawed back from 13 down to steal a three-point win over Slovenia, but the final margin masked how close this truly was until the closing minutes.
Down 24–37 at one stage in the second quarter, our U16s ripped off an 11-0 run to claw within two at 37–39 by quarter's end. The grinding continued through halftime at 37–43 down, then a dominant third quarter — Belgium outscored Slovenia 30–23 — flipped the script entirely. Leading 67–66 into the fourth, our boys stretched it to 77–68, their biggest lead of the night. Slovenia refused to fold. Back-and-forth trading of baskets left it a one-possession game inside the final two minutes, but Belgium held firm to close out 85–82.
Youssef Zagdoud was the engine: 37 points on 16-of-31 shooting, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 8 steals. Joah Ikoma Yaliko added 15 points (5/13, perfect 5/5 from the line), while Lowie Van de Vyver chipped in 12 points and 8 boards. For Slovenia, Anze Auer led the way with 18 points and 6 assists; Tim Hegic grabbed a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Our young Lions cap their EuroBasket Division A campaign with a hard-fought victory in a tournament that tested them across every possession.
Zagdoud carries 55.4 TIB Efficiency into the Slovenia matchup tonight — 19.6 points and 5.2 assists per game lighting up our youngsters' offense. But he'll face a Blazic in sharper form: the Slovenian guard sits at 57.6 efficiency, averaging 15 points with the kind of court vision that's made him the quieter architect in their attack.
This is the duel that decides tempo. Zagdoud thrives in space, running the pick-and-roll and finding cutters; Blazic moves fewer bodies but runs tighter sets. Neither is a shot-volume scorer — both operate as primary facilitators first — which means the game hinges on who controls the rhythm and forces the other into isolation ball.
Belgium U16 and Slovenia U16 tip off in Oradea in roughly three hours. Our young Lions have the offensive artillery, but Blazic's efficiency rating suggests Slovenia won't roll over. Worth your attention.
Belgium's young Lions ran out of gas in extra time. Youssef Zagdoud poured in 35 points on efficient 14-of-24 shooting, and Jeremiah Tchekouyep pulled down 13 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to close out Czechia U16 when it mattered most.
The game swung back and forth throughout regulation — seven lead changes and four ties told the story of two evenly matched sides. Belgium started sharp, leading by as many as 9 early in the first quarter, but Czechia answered with an 11-0 run midway through the second to seize control. By half-time, the gap had narrowed to just three at 43–40. Czechia pushed ahead by 9 in the third quarter (65–56), only for Belgium to claw back. The score was tied at 83–83 at the end of regulation.
Overtime proved decisive. Czechia outscored us 10–5 in the extra period to escape with a 93–88 win. Jan Kopecky led Czechia with 26 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists on 8-of-23 shooting; Matyas Kubjat added 16 points. For Belgium, Lowie Van de Vyver chipped in 14 points and 6 rebounds, but the supporting cast couldn't quite match Czechia's depth when the margin mattered most.
Youssef Zagdoud carried our young Lions on his shoulders in Oradea, finishing with 35 points, 8 assists and 3 steals across 39 minutes—but it was not enough. Belgium U16 fell 88–93 to Czechia, a five-point defeat that closed out their campaign in the classification round of the FIBA U16 EuroBasket Division A.
Zagdoud shot 14 of 24 from the field and made 6 of 11 free throws, though he managed only 1 three-pointer on six attempts. Seven turnovers and four fouls marred an otherwise dominant individual showing; his playmaking—eight assists in a tight game—kept Belgium competitive, but Czechia's depth proved decisive down the stretch.
It was a strong individual tournament for Zagdoud. This result marks the end of the road for our boys at this level, and a chance to build on what these young talents have shown over the past week.
Matyas Kubjat steadied Czechia when the margin was thinnest. Entering the final five minutes down a single point against Belgium, the young Lions clawed toward the line — and Kubjat answered. In that closing stretch and overtime, he put up 8 points on 3-of-4 shooting, added 3 rebounds and a helper, and committed no turnovers across 1 foul. His 1-of-2 from distance and 1-of-2 free throw helped tilt the balance as Czechia closed out a 93–88 win.
It was a composed finish when composure mattered most. Belgium came up five short, but Kubjat's efficiency in the crunch — shooting at 75 percent from the floor when possession counted — proved the difference in a tight classification game.
For our young Lions, the loss closes their FIBA U16 EuroBasket campaign in Division A. The hunt for a better seeding in the final standings continues elsewhere.
Jan Kopecky has been the engine of Czechia's U16 squad, averaging 20 points and 5.5 assists in recent outings with a 53.5 TIB efficiency rating that sits comfortably above the field. Our young Lion Youssef Zagdoud enters with 15.8 PPG and 4.5 APG (49.3 efficiency) — solid numbers, but he'll need to impose himself early to keep pace with Kopecky's playmaking and scoring load.
This is a study in contrasts: Kopecky running the offense, threading passes and attacking downhill. Zagdoud operating more inside the arc, hunting his looks but also threading cutters when the opportunity arises. Kopecky's efficiency edge suggests he's playing with rhythm and conviction; Zagdoud's task is to match that decisiveness while managing Kopecky's tempo.
Czechia will lean on Kopecky to orchestrate. Belgium's answer lies in whether Zagdoud can stay aggressive without forcing it, and whether our supporting cast can punish any defensive lapses Kopecky's offensive load might create.
Tip-off in three hours. This matchup alone warrants your attention.
Sergio Palau ran the floor and finished his shifts with authority: 13 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals and a near-perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in just 17 minutes. Spain's U16 side overwhelmed our young Lions 97–60 in the Round of 16, a 37-point margin that left no room for momentum swings.
Palau's efficiency—4 of 6 from the field, including a three-pointer—was a microcosm of Spain's control. Our boys fought for stretches, but the gap in execution and composure widened as the game wore on. This marks the end of Belgium U16's campaign; the road back starts with honest reflection on where the gaps sit.
Youssef Zagdoud's run through this tournament has been quietly devastating. The young Lion sits at 54 TIB Efficiency with 16 points and 5.3 assists per game — numbers that put him at the centre of everything Belgium is trying to do in Oradea. Spain, though, will counter with Pablo Mera, who's averaging 14 points and 5.3 assists of his own while operating at a 43.3 rating. The gap between those efficiency marks tells you where this matchup tilts.
Belgium U16 takes the floor against Spain U16 in a game that hinges on Zagdoud's ability to control the pace and execute against a Spain side built to compete in the window. Mera is a creator and a scorer in equal measure — watch how our youngsters defend his off-ball movement — but Zagdoud's vision and scoring touch have been the difference for us so far. This is the kind of duel that wins tight tournaments.
Tip-off in about three hours. Follow it live.
Roman Kolka's double-double lifted Slovenia U16 past our young Lions on Wednesday, the Slovenian forward finishing with 23 points and 11 rebounds to anchor a 80–67 victory at Arena Antonio Alexe.
Kolka controlled the paint throughout, adding three steals and five blocks — the kind of two-way work that dictated tempo in the second half. Our youngsters fought back sporadically, notably in stretches where they cut into the lead, but couldn't sustain the pressure needed to flip the result. Slovenia's depth and size proved the difference over 40 minutes.
Belgium U16 now prepare for their next fixture in the FIBA U16 EuroBasket Division A group. There's work ahead, but the frame here is clear: on this evening, the better-rounded side won.
Slovenia's second-quarter sprint proved decisive. Eight ties and lead changes made for an even first half, but at 24–24 the visitors ignited a 9–0 run to seize control. By halftime, our young Lions trailed 43–33, and Slovenia kept the cushion steady through the third. A late fourth-quarter push brought us within reach—21 points in the final eight minutes—but 13 back at the whistle told the real story.
Roman Kolka carried Slovenia throughout. The forward finished with 23 points on 9/13 shooting, yanked down 11 rebounds and blocked 5 shots, a complete inside presence our boys could not contain. Tobias Blazic added 13 on efficient 4/7 work; Anze Auer orchestrated the offense with 12 points and 5 assists.
Youssef Zagdoud led our response with 20 points and 7 assists on a long night (9/20 from the floor, 0/6 from three), and Alexander Triki battled on the glass with 12 boards. The effort was there in stretches, but Slovenia's middle two quarters—a 14-point swing in Q2 and a 19-13 third—proved too much ground to recover.
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Tobias Blazic has been the engine for Slovenia's U16 outfit, averaging 14.5 points and 2.5 assists with a 50.3 TIB Efficiency rating — the kind of calm, efficient half-court operator who slows a game to his tempo. Youssef Zagdoud, our main ball-mover, sits at 38.3 TIB Eff with 14 points per game but leads the charge with 4.5 assists, running in transition and keeping our young Lions sharp on the perimeter.
The gap between them isn't vast, but it tells the story of how these two teams will likely operate. Slovenia will hunt for Blazic in pick-and-roll and iso sets; we'll want Zagdoud orchestrating pace and space. One prefers to dictate; the other to accelerate.
Our youngsters tip off in about three hours in Oradea. Worth your attention.
Taïg Nonga Drieux a porté nos jeunes Bleus à la victoire face à la Belgique U16 avec une copie quasi parfaite : 17 points, 10 rebonds et 2 interceptions dans une domination de 61 à 85.
Le jeune intérieur français s'est imposé sous les deux paniers, trouvant l'équilibre entre efficacité offensive et présence défensive. Ses 10 rebonds reflètent une maîtrise du jeu d'intérieur où la France a fait la différence en seconde moitié, creusant l'écart de manière progressive contre une équipe belge trop souvent dominée au combat.
Avec ce succès net, nos jeunes Bleus ont les bases solides pour poursuivre leur chemin dans ce FIBA U16 EuroBasket. La performance collective a tenu ses promesses, mais c'est bien cet équilibre offensif-défensif de Nonga Drieux qui a scellé l'affaire.
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La Belgique U16 n'a pas pesé lourd face à nos jeunes Bleus, dominés de bout en bout à l'Oradea Arena. France U16 s'impose 85-61, un écart qui reflète fidèlement l'écart de niveau affiché durant les quarante minutes.
Le match a basculé dès le premier quart-temps : 12-24 d'entrée, les Belges déjà distancés. Nos Bleus ont creusé l'écart au fil des périodes, affichant une maîtrise impressionnante jusqu'à mener de 26 points (41-67). C'est surtout en quatrième quart que la domination a pris sa forme la plus radicale : une série de 16-0 a scellé l'affaire, transformant un match déjà plié en démonstration.
Taïg Nonga Drieux a mené la danse avec un double-double de 17 points et 10 rebonds, tirant à 8/10 du jeu. Camron Nonga Drieux l'a épaulé (14 PTS, 5/7 FG, 4/6 FT), tandis qu'Emmanuel Destom Alger a apporté de la solidité intérieure (11 PTS, 8 REB). Du côté belge, Youssef Zagdoud a livré la meilleure copie avec 15 points et 5 passes, bien appuyé par Lowie Van de Vyver (14 PTS, 7/11 FG).
Dimanche, nos jeunes Bleus affrontent l'Allemagne U16. Une nouvelle occasion de confirmer cette supériorité affichée aujourd'hui.
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