Division B: Fometescu's 29-Point Blitz Highlights a Loaded Wednesday

Group play at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket Division B produced its usual mix of routs and nail-biters on July 29, 2026, with the day's individual highlight belonging to Romania's David Fometescu (182-G-2008), who scored 29 points in under 20 minutes on 6-of-9 shooting from three to power an 85-65 win over Norway. Alexandru-Stefan Serban added 12 rebounds and six blocks, and Federico Diaconescu (185-G-2008) chipped in 11 points, as Romania pulled away after tying the game late in the first quarter; Evert Dahlberg (193-F-2008) led Norway with 21.
Czechia was similarly dominant in its group opener, opening with a 13-0 run and never looking back in a 74-46 win over Azerbaijan. Marek Houska (194-PG-2009) ran the show with 11 assists despite a rough shooting night, and Krystof Davidek (203-F-2008) added 15 points off the bench; Emmanuel Agbason turned in a monster stat line of 13 points, 18 rebounds and four blocks for Azerbaijan in a losing effort. Portugal was equally comfortable against Ukraine, never trailing on the way to a 91-68 win behind Miguel Sousa (186-SF-2009)'s 20 points and Francisco Faria (184-G-2009)'s 10 assists against a single turnover. And Poland controlled Iceland from start to finish, with Bartosz Folga (205-C-2008) and Michal Nagel (201-F-2008) combining for three dunks in a decisive win.
The day's tighter contests went right down to the wire. Hungary needed an 11-0 closing run to hold off Georgia 68-62, with Vince Gaspar (180-PG-2009)'s step-back three flipping a one-point deficit into the lead with under a minute left and Davit Pachulia (193-F/G-2008)'s 17-point, 10-rebound effort nearly completing a Georgian comeback. North Macedonia survived a similar late scare from Sweden, with Grigorij Gjorgjevikj (188-PG-2008) scoring all five of his team's points in the final 1:17 to close out a near-triple-double (17 points, eight rebounds, 11 assists) in a 69-60 win. Croatia pulled away from Montenegro in the third quarter behind Patrik Dorotic (208-F-2008)c's 15-point, 11-rebound game, winning 68-59 after trailing at halftime. Belgium held on late against Great Britain, with Aaron Ona Embo posting 24 points and eight assists despite a brutal shooting night, and Tim Waerniers (203-PF-2008) adding 22 in a 78-73 win; Tristan Curran (185-G-2008) led Great Britain with 19. And in the tightest finish of the day, Finland edged Cyprus 66-63 after trailing for more than 31 minutes, with Reino Saivosalmi (188-G-2008) scoring 24 and Valtter Varila (189-G/F-2009) delivering the go-ahead crunch-time buckets; Giorgos Solomou (189-G-2008) matched Saivosalmi with 24 for Cyprus, but his potential game-tying layup in the final two minutes rimmed out.