Great Britain U18

Damjan Danev

North Macedonia U18 · 25 min★★★★

16 pts3 reb3 ast42.5 TIB EFF

Damjan Danev carried North Macedonia U18 through a losing effort against our GB side at FIBA U18 EuroBasket Division B, finishing with 16 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals in the 83–73 defeat. The North Macedonian guard was the lone consistent offensive threat for his team, shouldering much of the playmaking burden in a contest where Great Britain's defence ultimately proved too stern. His three steals underlined his appetite on the other end, though it was not enough to bridge the ten-point gap by the final buzzer. Our GB U18 side controlled the second half sufficiently to secure the win—a statement of their defensive intensity rather than any collapse from Danev's end. He did his part; the margin simply grew too wide.

Great Britain U18 held off a determined North Macedonia side to claim a 10-point victory at FIBA U18 EuroBasket Division B, earning a hard-fought 83–73 win after a contest that swung repeatedly through three quarters. The opening half saw neither team gain decisive control. North Macedonia led 29–23 early, but our GB squad clawed back to level at 39–39 by the interval. The third quarter remained tightly contested at 54–54 before the decisive moment arrived in the fourth: a sharp 9-0 run pushed GB clear from 62–59 to 71–59, finally creating the breathing room needed to close out the result. Emmanuel Ahamefule led the scoring effort with 16 points on solid 4-of-6 shooting from the field, adding 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Alexander Ikechukwu Nwabueze provided efficient support off the bench, finishing 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting and an impressive 3-of-4 from three. Maxx Tjongondjoza chipped in 11 points. For North Macedonia, Damjan Danev matched Ahamefule's 16-point total on 7-of-11 efficiency, while Grigorij Gjorgjevikj distributed 10 assists alongside 14 points despite a more difficult shooting night. GB's control of the fourth quarter proved the difference—a display of composure when the margin mattered most.

Grigorij Gjorgjevikj arrives at this Division B final with numbers that demand attention. The North Macedonia U18 playmaker has posted 47.1 TIB efficiency over recent outings, averaging 13.3 points and 5.8 assists—the kind of orchestration that has sustained his team through this tournament. Our GB counter comes through Tristan Curran. At 28.9 TIB efficiency, he's averaging 11.9 points and 3.7 assists in current form. A solid platform, though the arithmetic favours Gjorgjevikj's influence in the half-court. The wider test sits there plainly: can Great Britain's defence funnel Gjorgjevikj's playmaking into difficult angles, or will his comfort in transition overwhelm our rotations? Curran will need to be sharper in pick-and-roll situations if our GB are to control tempo. North Macedonia have built this run on offensive balance; we cannot afford to let it flow. This tips off in three hours. Watch it unfold.

Emmanuel Agbason

Azerbaijan U18 · 37 min★★★★★

14 pts15 reb1 ast61.5 TIB EFF

Ifeanyichukwu Emmanuel Agbason put up a commanding performance in the paint for Azerbaijan U18, finishing with 14 points, 15 rebounds and 6 blocks—a bruising individual effort that could not quite carry his side past our Great Britain team. The Azerbaijani forward's dominance on the glass and rim protection proved costly for GB's attack throughout, yet Great Britain's defensive system held firm enough to secure a 67–55 victory in this Division B encounter. Agbason's work rate—particularly his six swats—made life difficult in the paint, but our GB squad's balance on both ends proved decisive. For Azerbaijan, Agbason's rebounding prowess and shot-blocking will be the takeaway from a defeat that leaves work to do in the group. For Great Britain, this win underlines the squad's capacity to weather strong individual performances and emerge with control.

Great Britain held off a determined Azerbaijan side to secure a 67–55 victory in Division B action, though the scoreline flatters neither team's second-half execution. Azerbaijan led by six early (15–9) and stayed competitive through three quarters, trailing only 46–40 at the midway point of the third. The decisive moment came in the fourth: our GB ripped off a 12–0 run from 49–49 to 61–49, a burst that put the game beyond reach despite Azerbaijan's late resistance. Ismayil Abdullayev and Ifeanyichukwu Emmanuel Agbason kept the hosts within touching distance throughout—Agbason in particular was a handful in the paint with 14 points and 15 rebounds—but shooting efficiency let them down when it mattered. Abdullayev finished 5 of 18 from the field. Tristan Curran orchestrated our GB's offence with 17 points and 7 assists on solid splits (7/14 FG, 2/6 threes), while Emmanuel Ahamefule contributed 11 points and a pair of steals. TOBY GASS was another bright spot with 8 points, 7 rebounds and an eye-catching 6 steals, evidence of our GB's defensive intensity when locked in. A hard-fought win, but one that exposed defensive lapses and inconsistent shooting stretches. Our GB will look to tighten up before their next fixture.

Agbason carries the load for Azerbaijan, averaging 15.7 points per game with a 79.7 TIB efficiency rating — a commanding presence that our GB side will need to contain early. Nwokolo leads the British effort at 7.2 PPG, though his 26.8 efficiency suggests there's room for him to impose himself more forcefully on the boards and in transition. The matchup hinges on how much space Great Britain can afford Agbason in open court. Azerbaijan will look to run, and if our defence doesn't set quickly, his scoring burden — 1.3 assists per game notwithstanding — could become a one-man operation that stretches us thin. Nwokolo's task is simpler: stay active on both ends, limit turnovers, and trust the system rather than hunt for shots. This is Division B territory, which means every possession carries weight. Tip-off in three hours.

Malik Skalonjic

Bosnia and Herzegovina U18 · 12 min★★★

12 pts8 reb1 ast37.5 TIB EFF

Andrew Nwokolo was our standout performer in a heavy defeat, finishing with 14 points, 5 rebounds and a game-leading 6 steals as Great Britain U18 fell to Bosnia and Herzegovina U18 by 30 points at FIBA U18 EuroBasket Division B. The 6-steal haul underlined Nwokolo's defensive intensity on a night when Bosnia's offence overwhelmed us across the board. He was the bright spot in an otherwise difficult outing—active on both ends, willing to scrap for possessions even as the scoreline slipped away. That kind of effort and productivity in a lopsided loss warrants recognition; it's the foundation to build from. The 94–64 margin tells its own story. We'll need significant improvements in both offensive execution and defensive discipline when we return to action.

Bosnia and Herzegovina arrived in Division B unbeaten and left no doubt why. Our GB U18s were overpowered from the opening possession, as their opponents built a 10-0 lead before we registered a point. The gulf widened steadily: 30–11 after one quarter, then 65–44 by halftime. Bosnia and Herzegovina's lead swelled to 30 in the fourth, and though we improved in the final frame, there was no serious threat to a thoroughly one-sided result. The damage was done early. Our defence had no answer to Bosnia and Herzegovina's pace and spacing in the opening minutes, and the subsequent 19-point first quarter proved insurmountable. They controlled every possession thereafter, leading start to finish without the slightest wobble. Dženis Hodovic led the way with 14 points on efficient shooting (4/8 FG, 4/6 from three), whilst Edin Preldzic and Malik Skalonjic anchored the boards with eight rebounds apiece. For GB, Andrew Nwokolo scraped together 14 points and a team-high six steals, and Alexander Ikechukwu Nwabueze grabbed a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds—solid individual efforts in a heavy defeat. Our GB side will look to reset quickly as the tournament moves forward.

Preldzic's 61.4 efficiency rating has made him Bosnia and Herzegovina's driving force at this U18 EuroBasket, averaging 16 points and 3.8 assists per game. Tristan Curran will need to operate at a different tempo to disrupt that rhythm — our GB forward is posting 12.6 PPG with 3.4 assists, but at 28.7 efficiency he's had to work considerably harder for his output. This is a mismatch in form. Bosnia and Herzegovina's offence has run through Preldzic's decision-making, and Great Britain's defence will be tested early. Curran has the nous to make things difficult, yet the numbers suggest he'll be chasing the game rather than setting it. Division B status means both sides are building, but one leaves this match significantly ahead. Tip-off in three hours.

Aaron Ona Embo

Belgium U18 · 38 min★★★★

24 pts4 reb8 ast54.0 TIB EFF

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.

Great Britain U18

73–78

Final

Belgium U18

1

2

3

4

GBR

23

13

12

25

BEL

24

23

19

12

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 🏀.

Great Britain U18

73–78

Final

Belgium U18

1

2

3

4

GBR

23

13

12

25

BEL

24

23

19

12

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 ⚔️

Emmanuel Ahamefule

Great Britain U18 · 37 min★★★★

26 pts6 reb2 ast53.0 TIB EFF

Emmanuel Ahamefule drops 26 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL as Great Britain U18 takes down Ireland U18 70-63 🔥⭐. A thrilling win in the FIBA U18 EuroBasket Division B!

Great Britain U18 secured a hard-fought 70-63 win over Ireland U18 in the FIBA U18 EuroBasket Division B. The British team dominated early, taking a 25-9 lead after one and stretching it to 44-23 by halftime, but Ireland U18 fought back with a strong third quarter. Emmanuel Ahamefule led the charge with 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists, while Tristan Curran added a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds.