They are the surprise guests in this
year's U16 European Championship Women, having arrived earlier than expected to
this level of competition.
And they're not only appearing as
guests, but stating they're some of the best players in the tournament.
They are the class of 1997.
If there is a team prevailing with
players born in 1997, this team is Croatia.
Not only have they had seven players
in their squad born that year, it is these players who lead the team in
different ways.
Asked to comment on the fact that
she is part of the group of older players, Klaudia Perisa assumes that no one
thinks about it.
"There is no difference between
us," she says.
Ivana Dojkic,still 14 years old, was
the first to show up, delivering dream performances in all Preliminary Round
games.
She is still leading the team both
in points and assists, averaging 15.7 and 2.5, respectively, per game.
Entering the Qualifying Round, Iva
Slonjsak carried the team on her shoulders, and trusted in another player born
in 1997, Anita Kelava, who dominated in the paint so far, averaging 9.2
rebounds.
DESTINED TO BE STARS
According to Zuzana Borgulova,
member of the Slovak coaching staff, Veronika Remenarova is likely to be the
team's leader next year.
It is easy to understand why.
Considered by her peers as one of
the more mature players on the team, Remenarova has "a mind far beyond her
age," confirms Borgulova.
With an average of 8.7 points and
7.8 rebounds, Remenarova feels comfortable playing under the basket, but does
not shy away when it comes to bringing the ball.
She's capable of playing multiple
positions on the court and, with the experience granted in this tournament, all
her attributes are strengthening day by day.
Next season, she will be part of MBK
Ruzomberok's senior team, and as Borgulova states, the challenge is
"getting to play enough minutes to continue evolving at the same level and
pace."
Evaristo Pérez, Spain's head coach,
regrets not having at least one of the players who were crowned champions last
year at the U16 European Championship Women in Cagliari.
"Nobody's better than a
teammate to convey the experience of playing in a European Championship,"
he says.
That's what Angela Salvadores will
do next year. But the young player, integrated in the team of Siglo XXI, does
not think about "the age difference."
"I'm one more player, like all
others," she says.
However there is something that
makes her stand out in this competition.
Salvadores has been the major
driving force of the Spanish victories, summing up 14.7 points, 5.3 rebounds
and 2.0 assists on average.
On court, she is also showing a
determination and a willingness to lead the team that surprises those who know
her shyness off the court.
There is, however, no doubt that she
is destined to be a star.
TEAM PLAYERS GROWING INTO LEADERS
Janis Ndiba has grown into the
Netherlands' main frontcourt presence during the Qualifying Round.
What a year this has been for the
15-year-old power forward.
"Last January, I would not have
said that she will take a place in the team.
But she grew very fast, she has worked
hard and is very strong, "Netherlands head coach Bart Sengers told
FIBAEurope.com
With 9.7 points and 8.3 rebounds on
average, Ndiba is slowly evolving into the team's leader.
"She's a great rebounder, but
has yet to improve and look for more shots."
Sengers has high expectations for
his player.
"This year she can still be
part of the U17 World Championship roster.
She's a very coachable player, she
likes to work, and I just hope she can also grow a few more centimetres, "
he added.
France head coach Arnaud Guppillotte
believes that the 1997 generation is much stronger than the one of 1996.
He thinks that Lisa Berkani still
needs to "evolve more, as a player, she is a bit immature."
But it is undeniable that the French
guard has shown potential and she assumed an important role in France's team,
being the top scorer with 9.7 points on average.
Interestingly, the French
statistical leaders were all born in 1997, as Alix Duchet leads her team with
an average of 2.2 assists and Ornella Bankole is the best rebounder with 6.2
rebounds per game.
In the home team, Hungary, the class
of 1997 is also very well represented in the starting five.
Debora Dubei has amassed 11.0 points
and 5.3 rebounds per game, while Virag Weninger has averaged 7.2 points and 2.2
assists.
They are only two more examples of a
trend that spreads among several teams present in Miskolc.
Evidence enough that one more
glorious season is coming, when the U16 women's teams return to play for a
European title in 2013.
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