Ilias Van Hecke took over in the first half and our young Lions never let Czechia back into it. The 21-point, 6-rebound, 3-assist performance from Van Hecke set the tone early, and a 17-point halftime lead proved too much to overcome for the Czechs. Final score: 81–64.
It was the kind of dominant, two-way showing that moves games out of reach before the fourth quarter matters. Van Hecke's efficiency across the board — scoring off the dribble, moving the ball, defending with intent — gave our side control from start to finish. This is what a U18 tournament performance looks like when a prospect plays within the flow of the game rather than chasing numbers.
Next up for our boys: the closing round of group play.
Belgium's young Lions dominated Czechia in Division B play, cruising to an 81–64 win that was never in doubt after the opening minutes.
Our youngsters raced to a 28–18 first-quarter lead and never surrendered it. Czechia briefly threatened early (trailing 0–6 at one stage) but Belgium methodically expanded their cushion through the second and third quarters, leading 68–52 entering the final period. The fourth quarter saw our boys seal it with a devastating 12–0 run that turned a comfortable lead into a 20-point margin at its peak.
Aaron Ona Embo was the engine, posting 26 points, 9 assists and 5 rebounds on efficient free-throw shooting (11/12 from the line), though his overall field-goal accuracy (6/20) showed Czechia's perimeter defense had moments of bite. Ilias Van Hecke proved far more reliable from deep, hitting 7 of 11 three-pointers for 21 points. Tim Waerniers contributed 17 points and 9 rebounds to control the glass.
Marek Houska led Czechia with 21 points on solid 9-of-16 shooting, but support dried up around him — no other Czech player reached double figures in a true bench effort.
Belgium moves forward with this commanding performance in hand.
Aaron Ona Embo has been unstoppable for our young Lions in Division B — 25.1 points per game on a 66.7 TIB Efficiency rating that sits well clear of the field. He'll face a sterner test of his scoring instincts tonight when Czechia U18 sends Marek Houska onto the floor.
Houska is the Czech orchestrator, threading 7.9 assists per game while chipping in 14.3 points of his own (58.5 TIB EFF). The mismatch is real: we have a volume scorer operating at elite efficiency; they have a floor general. It's the kind of personnel duel that tends to set the tone for entire stretches.
Belgium and Czechia tip off in just over three hours. Watch how our youngsters navigate the pressure on the perimeter.
Aaron Ona Embo carried our young Lions through a narrow defeat in Kaunas, dropping 37 points on efficient shooting to nearly pull off the comeback against Poland U18. His 5 rebounds and 2 assists kept Belgium in the fight until the final minutes, but it was not enough: the scoreboard read 89–81 in Poland's favor.
The performance stands as a bright spot in an otherwise difficult result. Ona Embo's scoring load—nearly half of Belgium's total output—underlines how much the offense leaned on him down the stretch. He fought for possessions, hunted for his shot, and gave our boys every chance to level the score. That he did so against a Poland side that came prepared makes the effort all the more noteworthy.
Still, a loss is a loss, and two points of separation stings. Belgium will need to reset fast and tighten up the details that slipped away in this one. The work continues at this Division B stage.
Poland U18 held off a late rally from our young Lions to claim an 89–81 win in a back-and-forth Division B thriller that never settled until the final buzzer.
The Poles controlled the third quarter decisively, outscoring Belgium 28–21 to build a 12-point lead at 68–56. But our boys refused to fold. A one-possession game inside the final two minutes kept hope alive, yet Poland's experience in the closing stretch proved the difference. The first half had been a near-perfect chess match—seven lead changes and seven ties, with Belgium leading by as many as nine early on before Poland erased that deficit with a devastating 13–0 run in the second quarter to level at 40–40.
Aaron Ona Embo was unstoppable for Belgium, pouring in 37 points to lead all scorers. Christian Elocobe added 12 and Tom Kasongo contributed 10, but it wasn't enough to overcome August Chałupa's 24-point night for Poland or Hubert Swirydowicz's 18 points and seven rebounds.
Our young Lions showed genuine character in the comeback bid, yet missed opportunities in the fourth quarter cost them. Next up is Game for 3rd place.
Aaron Ona Embo arrives as the clear separator in this matchup.
Our young Lions' standout is running a 64.5 TIB Efficiency rating through recent games, averaging 23.2 points and 4.3 assists per outing. That kind of scoring load and creative flow at U18 level is rare — he's not just putting the ball in the basket, he's moving it and dictating tempo. Poland sends Hubert Swirydowicz, a solid contributor at 36.7 TIB EFF with 9.3 PPG, but the gulf in current form is stark.
This is a chance for Belgium to assert control early and often. The onus falls on Ona Embo to maintain that efficiency and set the tone defensively as well — youth tournaments are decided by which team's best player can wring out four or five consecutive stops in a row. Poland will need Swirydowicz to find secondary scoring and catch our Lions sleeping on movement, but the burden of proof rests elsewhere.
Tip-off in three hours. Watch it live.
Ilias Van Hecke kept our young Lions ahead when it mattered most. The Belgium U18 guard finished with 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals in a 69–61 win over Hungary U18 in FIBA U18 EuroBasket Division B play, orchestrating the kind of defensive pressure that proved decisive in the final stretches. Van Hecke's ball pressure — those three steals stand out in a game decided by eight points — forced turnovers when Hungary needed clean possessions.
It was not a vintage offensive performance, but it was the kind of role-player game this stage demands: floor management, effort on the other end, the willingness to be the third or fourth option and not force it. In a tournament where young Lions need to find their rhythm across multiple games, Van Hecke's two-way consistency is exactly what builds wins.
Our youngsters move on with this one secured.
Belgium U18 held off a second-half Hungarian rally to secure an 8-point win in Division B play, 69–61..
Our boys were ruthless early. An 18-0 run in the opening quarter — sparked by a 3-2 deficit that became a 3-20 advantage — left Hungary chasing from the start. By the end of Q1, Belgium had built a 29–13 cushion. A quieter second quarter (6 points scored) allowed Hungary back in at 35–31 by half-time, but our youngsters regrouped in the third, extending the lead to 56–42. The fourth quarter remained close: Hungary outscored Belgium 17–12 as desperation defence tightened, and four lead changes made the closing minutes very tense.
Aaron Ona Embo carried the offensive load with 26 points along with 5 assists and 2 steals. Christian Elocobe added 12 points and 3 assists; Ilias Van Hecke chipped in 10 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals. For Hungary, Vince Gaspar led with 15 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds, while Miklos Asztalos and Zalan Bartik each scored 11.
Belgium's next assignment Poland awaits... in the Semi-Finals!
Aaron Ona Embo comes in hot against Hungary. Our young Lion is posting 22.6 points and 4.2 assists per game — a TIB Efficiency rating of 64.7 that leads this matchup by a distance. Across the floor, Miklos Asztalos has been Hungary's anchor at 14.8 PPG with a 43.9 rating, but the gap in recent form is stark.
Belgium U18 has the sharper player on the floor tonight. Ona Embo's court vision and scoring touch have him operating at a different level to what Hungary can match through their own engine room. The question isn't whether our youngster can impose himself — it's whether Hungary can stay close enough to keep it competitive.
Tipoff is about one minute away. Follow live.
Aaron Ona Embo posted an impressive stat line of 24 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1 block to steer Belgium U18 to a narrow 78-73 win over our GB U18 side in the FIBA U18 EuroBasket Division B.
This performance was a significant factor in the outcome, as Belgium U18's victory was largely built on Embo's ability to both score and create for his teammates. Our GB U18 team can take heart from a strong defensive effort, but ultimately, Embo's influence proved too great to overcome.
Moving forward, our GB U18 side will need to regroup and reassess ahead of their next fixture, with the aim of bouncing back from this defeat. For now, credit must go to Embo for a standout display that earned him the player of the game accolade.
Belgium U18 edged Great Britain U18 78-73 in a thriller that came down to the wire, with the outcome decided in the final minutes. Level after one, Belgium U18 blew it open with a 14-0 run in the second quarter, led by as many as 18, but Great Britain U18 battled back to make it a one-possession game inside the final two minutes. Aaron Ona Embo led the charge for our Lions with 24 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1 block, supported by Tim Waerniers' 22 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block, and Christian Elocobe's 9 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals, while Great Britain U18's top performers included Tristan Curran with 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists, Andrew Nwokolo with 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist, and Emmanuel Ahamefule with 9 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist 🏀.
The stage is set for a thrilling showdown at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 🔥. Great Britain U18's Emmanuel Ahamefule takes on our Lions' Aaron Ona Embo in a battle of youth basketball's finest. Ahamefule brings 14 PPG and 1.2 APG, but Ona Embo's 57.5 TIB EFF and 18.8 PPG make him the man to beat. Catch Great Britain U18 vs Belgium U18 live in 18 minutes 🏀.
#FIBAU18EuroBasket #BelgiumU18 #GreatBritainU18 #YouthBasketball ⚔️
Aaron Ona Embo drops 24 PTS, 11 REB, 6 AST, 6 STL, 1 BLK in a dominant display ⭐. Our young Lions take down Finland U18 71-55 🏀. What a performance by Embo! 🔥
Belgium U18 takes down Finland U18 71-55 in a thriller at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket Division B 🏀! Aaron Ona Embo led the charge with 24 PTS, 11 REB, 6 AST, 6 STL, and 1 BLK, while Christian Elocobe added 13 PTS, 2 REB, and 1 STL, and Tom Kasongo chipped in with 11 PTS and 7 REB. For Finland, Reino Saivosalmi scored 18 PTS, 4 REB, and 2 STL, Amani Haruna had 9 PTS, 9 REB, and 2 BLK, and Santeri Manninen contributed 7 PTS, 6 REB, 7 AST, and 1 BLK. Our young Lions are on fire 🔥!
The stage is set for a thrilling showdown 🏀. Our Lions' Aaron Ona Embo takes on Finland U18's Reino Saivosalmi in a clash of youth titans, with Embo boasting 55.8 TIB EFF and 18.6 PPG, while Saivosalmi counters with 33.9 TIB EFF and 14.6 PPG. Catch Belgium U18 vs Finland U18 live in 2 hours ⚔️.
#FIBAU18EuroBasket #BelgiumU18 #FinlandU18 #TIBEfficiencyMatters 🔥
Tim Waerniers drops 19 PTS, 8 REB, 2 AST to lead our Lions to a 63-88 win over Ireland U18 in the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 🏀⭐! His dominant performance secures the W 🔥
Ireland U18 fell to Belgium U18 63-88 in the FIBA U18 EuroBasket Division B, with Tim Waerniers leading the charge for our Lions with 19 PTS and 8 REB, while Aaron Ona Embo added 18 PTS, 5 REB, and 2 STL, and Tom Kasongo chipped in 14 PTS, 4 REB, and 2 STL, opposed by Ireland's Michael Cunningham Smyth with 15 PTS, 8 REB, Nathan Gbinigie with 14 PTS, 3 REB, and Mark Burns with 8 PTS, 3 REB 🔥🏀
The stage is set 🔥 for a thrilling FIBA U18 EuroBasket showdown between Ireland U18 and our Lions, Belgium U18! The duel to watch pits Aidan McGrath against Aaron Ona Embo, with McGrath bringing 16.7 PPG and Ona Embo countering with 18.5 PPG and 3.9 APG. Ona Embo's 57.7 TIB EFF makes him the man to beat ⚔️. Watch it live in 3 hours!
Belgium U18 fell to Netherlands U18 with a final score of 77-86 🏀. Our young Lions fought hard, led by Aaron Ona Embo with 22 PTS, 5 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, Christian Elocobe with 12 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL, and Tim Waerniers with 12 PTS, 6 REB, 1 AST, while Netherlands U18's Jayden Anike dominated with 29 PTS, 11 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, Teun van der Heijden added 19 PTS, 10 REB, 1 STL, and Tayshawn Gipson chipped in 15 PTS, 7 REB, 1 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK 🔥.
Jayden Anike torches the court with 29 PTS, 11 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, leading Netherlands U18 to a 77-86 win over our Lions 🏀🔥⭐. Tough loss for Belgium U18, but a standout performance to respect.
