Belgium U18 Women · 16 min★★★★
13 pts3 reb0 ast52.0 TIB EFF
Audrey Tchako Tchako was the difference. Thirteen points, three rebounds, two steals and a block—the young Cat's footprint across the full 40 minutes as Belgium edged Italy 62–55 at the U18 Women's EuroBasket.
It was a win ground out on discipline rather than flash. Italy kept the tempo low and the margins tight; our youngsters had to earn every basket. Tchako's scoring came in bursts—her ability to finish at the rim and move the ball keeping the offense honest when Italy's defense tightened. She also had her hands in on the defensive end, active on the ball in ways that forced turnovers and set the tone.
The margin tells you what kind of game this was. Not a rout. Not a blowout. Just a team that found a way when it mattered. Next up: the next opponent awaits.
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Belgium's young Cats held off a second-half surge from Italy to secure a hard-fought 62-55 win at the U18 EuroBasket. The game pivoted decisively in the third quarter, where our side outscored their opponents 24-13 to build a commanding 15-point lead at 51-36.
Italy clawed back late. A crisp 8-0 run in the opening quarter (from 3-5 to 11-5) set an aggressive tone early, and the Italians refused to go away down the stretch, outpointing Belgium 15-11 in the fourth. But our Cats' third-quarter dominance proved the difference in a back-and-forth contest marked by 12 lead changes and 9 ties.
Jada Lynch led Belgium with 16 points on 6-of-17 shooting to go with 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Audrey Tchako Tchako was immaculate off the bench, shooting a perfect 5-of-5 from the field for 13 points. Laura Vilcinskas added 9 points and 7 rebounds in a balanced offensive effort.
Italy's Francesca Baldassarre led her team with 12 points and 5 rebounds despite struggling from the floor at 5-of-20, while Divine Obaseki contributed 10 points and 8 boards.
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Laura Vilcinskas is running away with this one before tipoff.
Our young Cats' point guard has lit up the tournament at a 67.8 TIB Efficiency rating—nearly 17 points per game on recent form—and she'll square off against Sofia Zuccon, Italy's engine room at 41.6 EFF with 8 PPG and 2 APG. The gap in those numbers tells you something about where Belgium's offense is flowing right now. Vilcinskas has been the orchestrator; Italy will need Zuccon to impose herself early if they're to slow the pace and control the floor.
Belgium's depth and scoring punch have been the story of this age group. Italy brings a structured, methodical approach. The matchup hinges on whether Vilcinskas can keep finding space in transition and running the offense, or whether Zuccon can steady the Italians' half-court sets and make the game a grind.
Kista Convention Centre 1. Tips off in three hours.
Belgium U18 Women · 36 min★★★★★
18 pts9 reb0 ast67.0 TIB EFF
Annie Kibedi steered our young Cats to a one-point win over Italy with a composed all-around display: 16 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds and 3 steals in a 62–63 victory at FIBA U18 Women's EuroBasket Division A.
The margin never widened beyond a possession or two. Italy fought hard throughout, but Kibedi's decision-making in the final stretches—moving the ball, keeping the tempo controlled—proved the difference when it mattered. She didn't need to dominate the scoreboard; the assist total and the turnover discipline did the talking instead.
One win in a tournament like this sits light. Our next test comes soon, and Kibedi will be central to how the team's form develops from here.
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One point. That's all that separated our young Cats from Italy at the U18 EuroBasket, with Belgium U18 Women holding on for a 63-62 win in a game that swung back and forth nine times before the final whistle.
Italy controlled the opening quarter, building a lead as large as 11 (15-4), but our Cats clawed back steadily. Belgium trailed 27-29 at halftime, then took the game by the scruff in the third. A devastating 12-0 run — from 34-32 down to 34-44 up — put our side in front by 10 heading into the fourth. Italy, though, would not fold. The Italians scored 20 points in the final quarter to force a one-possession finish, but Belgium's defense held just long enough.
Laura Vilcinskas was immovable in the paint: 18 points on 5-9 shooting, 9 rebounds and a game-high 5 blocks. Annie Kibedi ran the offense with 16 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds, her court vision the difference when Italy tightened the screws late. Francesca Baldassarre led Italy with 22 points (4-9 from three), but it was not enough.
This is what U18 basketball looks like — tight, urgent, decided by inches. Our Cats face the next test knowing that margins this thin demand precision.
#FIBA U18EuroBasket #BelgiumWBB #YellowRedsCats #U18Women #EuroBasket #BEL
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Aurelie Vanderstraeten's 21 points per game this tournament have made her the most efficient scorer on our young Cats' roster — and Italy's Sofia Zuccon will feel that weight tonight.
Zuccon brings real craft to the Italian side: 11 points and 2.5 assists a night, sitting at a 58.8 TIB Efficiency rating that marks her as their engine. She can thread a pass and put the ball in the basket in rhythm. But Vanderstraeten is operating on another plane right now — 73 TIB Efficiency, 21 PPG — the kind of form that can carry a group-phase game.
This is about more than one duel, of course. Italy U18 Women and our Cats meet with Europe's youth tier watching. Both sides need the result. But in the first 20 minutes, watch how our young Cats' perimeter defense sets up around Vanderstraeten's scoring; watch whether she gets clean looks or finds herself working harder than usual. Zuccon's passing could unlock Italy's spacing — if our guards give her room.
Tip-off in about three hours. 🏀
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