June 16, 2017
The tournament started with group play on Friday as games were played in Hradec Kralove and Prague. Five spots in next year’s World Championship in Spain are on the line. While only the bottom team in each group will be eliminated after this stage, teams will be pushing for the top spot in their groups to advance automatically to the quarterfinals, giving them the added rest they need in this nine day tournament.
Group A:
The hosts played in the third timeslot in Hradec Kralove and debuted naturalized player Kia Vaughn, but Ukraine, which is dealing with some of the most severe absences of the tournament, came out firing and grabbed the 59-47 win as Alina Iagupova will probably make her case for the strongest individual of the tournament again. The day closed with Spain comfortably beating Hungary 62-48.
Ukraine vs. Czech Republic 59-47 UKR Iagupova 21/7r Udodenko 10/16r Moss 7 Olkhovyk 6 Dorogobuzowa 5 Maznichenko 4 Malashenko 4 Bilotserkivska 2 Naumenko 0 Horobets 0 Spitkovska DNP Yatskovets DNP CZE Vaughn 16/6r Hanusova 8 Vyoralova 8 Kat. Elhotova 7 Burgrova 4 Zaplatova 4 Kulichova 0 Bartakova 0 Kar. Elhotova 0 Stejskalova 0 Vorackova DNP Svrdlikova DNP
Hungary vs. Spain 48-62 HUN Krivacevic 11 Vandersloot 11 Hatar 7/8r Fegyverneky 7 Simon 4/6r Zele 4 Raksanyi 4 Nagy-Bujdoso 0 Medgyessy 0 Licskai DNP Varga DNP Dubei DNP ESP Lyttle 17/12r Torrens 10 Cruz 8 Xargay 5 Nicholls 4 Palau 4 Dominguez 4 Romero 3 Rodriguez 3 Gil 2 Sanchez 2 Conde 0
Group B:
This group opened play in Hradec Kralove. Alex Bentley made her debut as the new Belarus naturalized player, but with so many key players missing, they could not compete with Giorgia Sottana and Italy, which won 80-60 and introduced Cecilia Zandalasini on a larger scale. Turkey had a secure lead for most of the game as they beat the Slovak Republic 69-58.
Belarus vs. Italy 60-80 BLR Bentley 17 Snytsina 13 Likhtarovich 7 Ziuzkova 7 Kress 5/7r Rytsikava 5 Papova 2/6r Hasper 2 Inkina 2 Filonchyk 0 Holubeva DNP Ivashchanka DNP ITA Sottana 20 Zandalasini 18/8r Macchi 11 Formica 6 Gorini 6 De Pretto 6 Dotto 5 Pena 3 Ress 3 Masciadri 2 Crippa 0 Cinilli 0
Turkey vs. Slovak Republic 69-58 TUR Hollingsworth 14/6r Vardarli Demirmen 12 Alben 11/6a Senyurek 10 Cakir Turgut 7 Caglar 6/8r Koksal 6 Canitez 3 Ivegin Uner 0 Bilgic DNP Cora DNP Ural DNP SVK Balintova 17/9a Ruzickova 10/6r Vynuchalova 10 Oroszova 9/6r Palenikova 6 Zirkova 4 Jurcenkova 2/6r Remenarova 0 Slamova 0 Dudasova 0 Mikulasikova DNP Kovacikova DNP
Group C:
Greece may have been missing a key player, but their remaining stars gave them a big early lead against the defending champions. Serbia fought their way back, but could not close without their talisman, falling 69-60. Slovenia had some early nerves to shake off, but Nika Baric pushed them to a late lead before France could fight back and escape with a 70-68 win to close an exciting day in Prague.
Serbia vs. Greece 60-69 SRB Milovanovic 17/8r Dabovic 14 Jovanovic 12 Crvendakic 6 Skoric 5 Cado 4 Jovanovic 2 Stankovic 0 Mandic 0 Radocaj 0 Petrovic DNP Krnjic DNP GRE Spanou 18 Maltsi 16/9r Kaltsidou 15/6r Sotiriou 12 Nikolopoulou 5 Spyridopoulou 3 Lymoura 0 Stamati 0 Christinaki 0 Fasoula 0 Kosma 0 Stamolamprou 0
Slovenia vs. France 68-70 SLO Baric 18 Erkic 12 Pirsic 11 Lisec 10/9r Evans 10 Oblak 6/6r Abramovic 1 Zdolsek 0 Trebec 0 Prezelj DNP Jakovina DNP Ocvirk DNP FRA Ciak 16 Miyem 12 Tchatchouang 10 Michel 9 Amant 8 Minte 5 Johannes 5 Dumerc 4/6r/6a Skrela 1 Epoupa 0/6r Ayayi 0 Chartereau 0
Group D:
Play opened in Prague with Kim Mestdagh and Emma Meesseman helping Belgium build a lead on Montenegro, only to see themselves needing to hang on for dear life against Angel Robinson, Jelena Skerovic, and company as both teams wished they had a few more pieces available. Elina Babkina and Latvia started well, but Epiphanny Prince helped Russia fight back and fend off a late comeback to win 71-59.
Belgium vs. Montenegro 66-64 BEL K. Mestdagh 19 Meesseman 18/7r Carpreaux 12 Wauters 8 Delaere 7 Vanloo 2 Hendrickx 0 H. Mestdagh 0 Raman 0 Linskens 0 Geldof DNP Nauwelaers DNP MNE Robinson 19/17r Skerovic 18/6r Perovanovic 10 Jovanovic 8 Mujovic 5/7a Aleksic 2 Popovic 2 Vucetic 0 Matovic 0 Milosev DNP Rakovic DNP Pasic DNP
Latvia vs. Russia 59-71 LAT Babkina 20 Steinberga 15/12r Basko-Melnbarde 9/8r Putnina 6 Brumermane 4 Laksa 3 Krastina 2 Vitola 0 Kreslina 0 Jakobsone 0 Strautmane 0 Dreimane DNP RUS Prince 19/9r Vadeeva 15/12r Beliakova 12 Beglova 9 Maiga 4 Vieru 4 Kirillova 4 Tihonenko 2 Cherepanova 2 Musina 0 Zhedik 0 Levchenko DNP