Sonja Vasic’s Serbia, mvp of Eurobasket After her display of talent and leadership, she was proclaimed European basketball champion after beating France in the Fonteta final, in Valencia, with a defensive display (54-63). The French were unable to overcome the competitive strength of their rival and, for the fifth time in a row, they finished runners-up in the tournament (three finals lost to Spain and two to Serbia). Belgium beat Belarus in the match for third and fourth place (69-77) and clinched the bronze medal.
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The Serbian team, European champion in 2015, Olympic bronze in 2016 and continental bronze in 2019, once again reaches the top of the podium, six years after its first crown, in the proud competitive journey of its emblem and captain Sonja Vasic. The 32-year-old former Uni Girona player, who three months ago announced her final retirement from basketball after the Tokyo Games, led her team from start to finish, in a tournament turned into an intimate and patriotic mission at the same time. In the first phase, Serbia surpassed Italy, Greece and Montenegro; in the quarterfinals, Spain in extra time (after Cristina Ouviña had a free kick to sentence); in the semifinals to Belgium (thanks to the Belgian coup de grace fell out of time); and, in the final, to France, incontestably, from the initial jump to the We Are the Champions.
The points of Yvonne Anderson (18) and Jelena Brooks (15), the rebounds of Tina Krajisnik (13) and the hierarchy of Sonja Vasic at full court (12 points, eight rebounds, six assists and a PIR of 20 in the final), They were an insurmountable wall for France, who reached the Eurobasket as favorites, managed their way to the final with sufficiency, and fell again without finding arguments or character on the decisive day. Barely Valeriane Vukosavljevic responded to the level required by the appointment. No sign of Gruda, Miyem, Chartereau, Johannes and Williams. The poor shooting percentages portrayed a France gripped by the voracity of the enemy and its own mental weakness. Two triples by Ana Dabovic marked the Serbian takeoff, which reached +18 (28-46, m. 24). The French reaction was inconsistent and fell short (40-48, m. 30). Serbia devoured the gold.
In her penultimate dance, Sonja Vasic closed the conquest with 15.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists on average on her record for a PIR of 19.2 per game. Other classics such as Ana Dabovic, Jelena Brooks, Nevena Jovanovic, Dajana Butulija and Sasa Cadjo, reach as Vasic the fourth medal with the Serbian team. All with Marina Maljković leading the bench. Tina Krajisnik and the nationalized American Yvonne Anderson, have underpinned the competitive vigor of a team that will rival Spain (along with South Korea and Canada) in the first phase of the Tokyo Games tournament, which will take place on July 26 to August 8.
Bronze for Belgium
Belgium won bronze after beating Belarus (77-69) in the match for third and fourth place. The Belgian team thus repeats its best historical result, third place in the Eurobasket 2017, and hangs the second medal in its history in the senior category, confirming its growth in recent years that has made it one of the best teams on the continent. After her discreet role in the semifinals, Emma Meesseman was the best of the match with 21 points and 9 rebounds, well supported by Antonia Delaere (17) and Kyara Linskens (15). The best quintet in the championship is made up of the indisputable Sonja Vasic, the Belgians Julie Allemand and Emma Meesseman, the French Endene Miyem and the Bosnian Jonquel Jones.
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