Alma Kapetanovic supplied 19 points, 11 rebounds, 8 steals and 4 blocks in 38 minutes, but Switzerland U16 Women could not find a way past Slovakia U16 Women in the 3rd Place Game at the FIBA U16 Women's EuroBasket Division B, falling 49–61 in Piestany. Kapetanovic shot 9 of 16 from the field and anchored both ends of the floor — her eight steals led the defensive effort, and she cleaned the glass on both sides to keep her team in a game that Slovakia controlled through much of the second half. The 11 rebounds reflected the work required just to stay competitive; the efficiency of her shot selection (56 percent from two) kept Switzerland within reach longer than the final margin suggests. The 12-point deficit at the end marks fourth place for Switzerland in the competition. Kapetanovic's two-way display was not enough to overturn Slovakia's rhythm, but it ensured the Swiss had a genuine presence in a contest where the outcome was decided by execution and intensity in the final stretches. The campaign closes here.
Eflin Nalli steered our young Cats to the Semi-Finals T1 with a commanding performance: 20 points on clean 8-for-12 shooting, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals across 32 minutes. Belgium won 73–56 at home in Piestany, a 17-point margin that reflected a thorough effort. Nalli's shot selection was sharp — she made 2 of 3 from three-point range and 2 of 4 from the line — and her ball security was mostly sound across a half-hour workload. Five turnovers kept the performance from being flawless, but on a night when our team's depth and defensive intensity showed, her individual contribution was the clearest engine of the win. Slovakia offered little resistance. With the Semi-Finals T1 now in the books, attention turns to what comes next for our squad.
Belgium's young Cats dominated the second quarter to seal a comfortable semi-final victory, outscoring Slovakia 27–7 in that stretch alone and opening up a 21-point lead by half-time (42–21). The hosts never threatened a genuine comeback — Slovakia won the third quarter 20–13, but Belgium's cushion proved too large to erode, and the final 17-point margin reflected a controlled performance. Eflin Nalli led the way with 20 points on 8/12 shooting and 2/3 from three, adding five rebounds and three steals. Eulalie Toussaint contributed 16 points and six rebounds despite a difficult night from range (2/9), while Lina Claessens anchored the boards with seven rebounds and solid defence. Slovakia's Stella Kolenova shot cleanly at 6/6 from two, and Vilma Nedielkova chipped in 12 points, but neither found enough support to keep pace once Belgium's second-quarter run took hold. The early signs had been tight — just 15–14 after one — but the decisive burst in Q2 put the game beyond reach. This semi-final win caps a strong campaign for our young Cats in Division B.
Eulalie Toussaint's 44.7 TIB efficiency has been the motor of our young Cats' run through Division B, and she'll face her sharpest test yet when Slovakia's Zoja Ivanova rolls in with 40.8 of her own. The matchup is as clean as they come: Toussaint at 14 points and 4 assists per game, orchestrating from the perimeter and in transition, against Ivanova's steadier 11-point output. On paper, Toussaint holds the edge in creation and volume. But Ivanova's consistency—and Slovakia's defensive structure—means our young Cats can't afford a passive first quarter. Belgium will need that pace and those extra possessions where Toussaint can work her range. Tipoff is in three hours at the Diplomat Arena. This is the kind of individual duel that decides tight tournaments in the division.
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