Makar Konovnitsyn finished Ukraine U16's campaign with 25 points, 11 rebounds, 3 steals and 4 blocks in 27 minutes — shooting 9-of-13 from the field and 7-of-8 from the line — but it was not enough to close the gap against Hungary U16, who took the classification game 88–64 in Skopje. The 24-point margin told the story. Konovnitsyn's efficiency in the paint (69% FG overall, 88% at the free-throw line) kept Ukraine competitive in stretches, but Hungary's control of the tempo and depth on the perimeter proved decisive. The Ukrainian forward was tasked with carrying too much of the offensive load; his three steals and four blocks indicated he was everywhere on both ends, yet the team could not generate enough secondary scoring. With that result, Ukraine U16 finished 16th in Division B. Konovnitsyn's individual performance was the bright spot in a difficult final outing, but it remains a campaign that ends in disappointment.
Nathan Muleba's 16 points and 11 rebounds proved decisive as our GB U16 side edged Hungary U16 71–66 in a tight contest at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket Division B. The forward's work on both ends of the floor — three steals complemented his double-double — gave Great Britain the platform to hold off Hungary's late pressure. In a five-point finish, that kind of production from the glass and in transition defence was the difference. Muleba finished our efficiency rating's top performer. Next up for our GB U16 squad comes their next fixture in the tournament.
Great Britain U16 survived a second-half scare to edge Hungary U16 71–66 in a back-and-forth contest that stayed within one possession for the final two minutes. The Hungarians led by as much as 8 in the second quarter, building a 37–29 buffer at one stage. Our GB side clawed back methodically through the third, then seized control in the fourth with a decisive 9–0 run that flipped a 53–46 deficit into a 55–53 lead. The margin never stretched beyond 7, but it proved enough to hold firm down the stretch. Nino Satha led the scoring with 20 points on 6–14 shooting, including 3–7 from three. Nathan Muleba delivered a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds, whilst Elijah Imevbore added 15 and 10 boards to anchor the glass. For Hungary, Bence Pecsi's all-round game—12 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists—went close to shifting momentum, but they couldn't quite finish. Great Britain's next test comes Monday against Denmark U16.
Nathan Muleba has been the driving force for our GB side in recent outings, averaging 19 points per game with a TIB Efficiency rating of 65 that sits well clear of his peers at this level. The Hungarian response comes through Zeteny Bajor, who operates at a markedly different tempo — 16 points and 1.5 assists per game, efficiency of 38.3 — a distributor rather than a volume scorer, which shapes how Hungary will likely look to control this one. It is a genuine contrast in approach. Muleba's output has been relentless; Bajor's game is more about orchestration and floor management. Where Great Britain has leant on individual scoring punch, Hungary's structure will test whether our GB side can maintain discipline on the perimeter and limit second chances. The fixture unfolds at the Sports Centre Boris Trajkovski in Skopje as part of the FIBA U16 EuroBasket Division B stage. Tune in to watch both players operate — Muleba under pressure to sustain his scoring rate against a defence built to limit isolation opportunities, Bajor tasked with keeping Hungary's offence ticking over against a GB team intent on making life difficult in transition.
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