Romania finishes eighth at FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2026 in Oradea

The FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2026 concluded on Saturday evening in Oradea, with Romania securing an eighth-place finish in a competitive tournament.

In the final match for the seventh and eighth positions, Romania faced Poland again, having previously lost to them in the opening game of the tournament. This time, Romania fell short with a score of 62-88, despite showing determination throughout the game.

Sebastian-Petru Lăpuște stood out as Romania's top scorer, contributing 15 points along with 11 rebounds and 6 assists. Eric Crăciun also made a notable impact, scoring 12 points. The match saw Poland's Alan Chojnacki lead the way with 20 points, supported by Alex Pietrzak who added 16 points and 7 assists.

Romania had a momentous victory earlier in the tournament when they triumphed over Serbia, the reigning European champions, with a thrilling 75-73 win. Lăpuște was instrumental in that match, scoring the winning basket in the final second, and finishing with 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists.

Reaching the quarter-finals was another significant achievement for the Romanian team, although they were eventually eliminated by France, losing 69-108. The tournament showcased strong performances and spirited competition, culminating in Latvia winning the championship for the first time by defeating France 75-69 in the final.

With this performance, Romania has demonstrated its potential on the European basketball stage, and while they finished eighth, the experiences gained will surely benefit these young athletes in their future endeavors.