Lithuania U16 vs Spain U16

The game had two turning points — one for each side. Spain's first-half blitz, especially a 29-point second quarter (29-16), effectively won them the game in the opening 20 minutes. The real drama came in the fourth quarter when Lithuania made the decisive swing, producing a 9-0 scoring run — the game's biggest — to flip the contest from a rout into a nail-biter. Spain's inability to score for long stretches in the final period (12 points, their lowest by far) nearly cost them the bronze.

• Danielius Jasikevicius (Lithuania): A game-high 19 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. The nephew of Lithuanian legend Sarunas Jasikevicius was the focal point of Lithuania's offence throughout and nearly dragged his team to an improbable comeback. FIBA profiled him earlier in the tournament as "the next Jasikevicius."

• Rapolas Klisauskas (Lithuania): 17 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and a game-high efficiency rating of 26. His all-around production in the fourth quarter was central to Lithuania's fightback.

• Rhys Robinson (Spain): 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Efficient and calm, he was Spain's most reliable offensive option throughout.

• Pablo Mera (Spain): 14 points and 7 assists. The guard controlled tempo in the first half and kept Spain's offence flowing before Lithuania's defensive pressure disrupted their rhythm.

• Jan Martin (Spain): Delivered the game-sealing free throws with 14 seconds remaining under maximum pressure.

Player of the match: Danielius Jasikevicius (Lithuania) — game-high 19 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists in a losing cause.

Spain's 59% field-goal percentage to Lithuania's 50% tells only part of the story. The decisive gap came inside the arc: Spain shot 72.3% on two-point attempts against Lithuania's 58.5%, dominating the paint during the first three quarters. From deep, Lithuania held a slight edge (34.8% to 30.4%), and at the free-throw line they were exceptional (87.5% to 63.6%), which fuelled their late surge. The boxscore margin at the line — Lithuania hit 14 of 16, Spain 14 of 22 — meant Spain left eight points at the stripe, a near-fatal flaw in a three-point game.

The 29-point gap at Spain's peak, combined with zero lead changes and 38:54 of Spanish control, underscores that this was not a back-and-forth affair. Lithuania's fourth-quarter 31-12 margin (a 19-point swing) was the statistical outlier against 35 minutes of Spanish dominance.

Spain collect bronze for the 22nd time at U16 level, adding to a medal collection second only to their own historical haul. Lithuania exit the tournament in fourth place, a step down after reaching the Semi-Finals where they fell to eventual champions Latvia.

Latvia defeated France 75-69 in the Final to claim their first-ever U16 EuroBasket crown, while Spain's victory secured the final podium spot in Oradea.

For 35 minutes, Spain looked like a team that would win bronze by 20. For the last five, they looked like a team that might lose it. Lithuania's refusal to quit — and Jasikevicius's composure in the clutch — turned a forgettable consolation match into a memorable finish. But dominance over three quarters outweighs one brilliant quarter, and Spain's early firepower earned them the medal.