From the viewpoint of our junior team nearly lost fight for medals on U18 European Championship Women in Romanian Bucharest got after fifth playing day real contours. We may say not only because of the results of their opponents in GROUP F, but mostly owing to second triumph of Slovak U18 team in Second round – this time against Slovenia.

Slovenia - SLOVAKIA 54:72 (15:20, 10:15, 20:15, 9:22)

Slovakia: Slamová 18, Hruščáková 17 (9 rebounds), Páleníková 13 (3 three-pointers), Bálintová 14 (Raková 2, Krivosudská 4, Hadačová 4, Filicikova, Dudášová 0). Coach: M. Matyáš

Slovenia: Kastelič 6, Gjerkeš 5, Gabrovšek 6, Liseč 15, Šut 2 (Meden 18 /3 three-pointers/, Bosnjak 2, Sever, Ursič, Petrovič, Perič 0). Coach: S. Rebernik

Quartet of our girls scored Slovenians double-digit number of points, while the best one in this perspective was Angelika Slamová. She beat in "a small marksman derby" Žofia Hruščáková, who lacked one rebound to prolong the series of her "double-doubles" on 4 and also 3 three-pointers weren’t enough for Tereza Páleníková to "catch up" her teammate point guard born In Šamorín.

Basic pillar of the next important Slovak triumph on championship was the fact they were losing only once in the game – 0:2 even in absolute beginning. They survived two crisis moments – at the end of the first quarter, when they lost 5 points advantage and opponents leveled the score on 15:15 and in the third quarter in which our NT lost by 5 point. On the contrary our girls didn’t allow the dramatic ending of the game.

Dramatically, but quite positive from our perspective looks before the last playing day situation in GROUP F. This situation was caused by the two facts – Holland won over Serbia 68:66 in overtime and Italy after loss against Slovakia, lost second match in a row and this time against Croatia after result 56:75.

Current scoreboard of Second Round - GROUP F:

1. Holland 3/1 233:213 7

2. Serbia 2/2 265:247 6

3. Croatia 2/2 254:242 6

4. SLOVAKIA 2/2 238:244 6

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

5. Italy 2/2 239:249 6

6. Slovenia 1/3 224:258 5

Slovaks fought their way on advancing position and may remain there irrespective of their last duel in Second round against Serbia, but only in case, if Italy loses against Holland. Advancement certainty can our girls secure by possible triumph over Serbia – what would mean that they don’t have to calculate with other results in GROUP F.

Schedule of the last round in GROUP F (Wednesday, 1st August 2012):

12.30 pm. CET: Italy – Holland

5 pm. CET: Serbia – SLOVAKIA

7. 15 pm. CET: Croatia – Slovenia