Romania U16 vs Poland U16

Poland's 33-13 third quarter was the decisive phase. After a competitive first half, Poland shot efficiently from deep (27.6% 3PT on the night) and capitalised on Romania's cold spell from beyond the arc (18.2%). The 20-point swing in the third effectively ended the contest before the final period began.

Alex Pietrzak (Poland) — 23 points. The tournament leader in assists (5.1 per game) and steals (3.3) for Poland, Pietrzak led all scorers in the classification decider and showed the two-way game that made him Poland's second-leading scorer in the tournament at 14.7 points per game. Player of the match.

Alan Chojnacki (Poland) — The tournament's leading scorer for Poland at 18.3 points per game and top efficiency rating (17.4), Chojnacki contributed another double-digit scoring night alongside Pietrzak, helping Poland's backcourt control the tempo.

Sebastian-Petru Lapuste (Romania) — 15 points, team-high. The tournament's statistical leader for Romania across points (20.0), rebounds (8.0), assists (6.9) and steals (5.0) per game, Lapuste was the lone bright spot for the hosts. His all-around production throughout the week was a hallmark of Romania's campaign.

Emilio Szewczyk (Poland) — A presence inside with a tournament average of 2.1 blocks per game and 10.7 points, Szewczyk anchored Poland's interior defence and helped limit Romania's second-chance opportunities.

Poland's 49% shooting on two-point attempts (against Romania's 40.4%) tells the story of a game controlled inside the arc. The 35-point biggest lead reflects a game that was never truly in doubt after the first quarter — Poland's wire-to-wire control (39:20 time leading vs. 0:00) is backed by 0 lead changes. Romania shot just 18.2% from three on what was likely a high volume, which compounded their problems. The hosts' 88.9% free-throw shooting was excellent but came from limited attempts, unable to bridge the gap created by Poland's superior field-goal volume.

Poland finish seventh in the 2026 FIBA U16 EuroBasket, matching a solid mid-table finish in a field of 16. Romania end eighth as tournament hosts — a respectable showing after advancing through the group phase and reaching the quarter-finals, where France ended their run. The result means Poland hold a 1-0 head-to-head record over Romania dating back to 2026, with a combined aggregate of 193-124 across two meetings this tournament.

Latvia won the tournament, defeating France 75-69 in the final, while Spain beat Lithuania 96-93 for third place.

Poland's superiority was evident from the start. The third-quarter blitz removed any doubt against a Romanian side that competed in stretches but lacked the offensive firepower to keep pace. Lapuste was exceptional individually for the hosts, but Poland's deeper roster and superior shooting told over 40 minutes.