France U16 vs Latvia U16

Latvia's third-quarter blitz was the defining passage of the game. After a cagey first half where neither side could establish control, Latvia came out of the break with renewed defensive purpose. The 24-11 swing flipped a one-point deficit into a 56-44 lead entering the final quarter, and France never got closer than six points thereafter.

Benjamin Berrouet (Latvia) — 22 points, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks. The centre dominated the interior, finishing with a game-high efficiency rating of 36. His tournament averages of 23.6 points, 15.0 rebounds and 3.6 blocks earned him MVP honours and a place in the All-Star Five.

Messie-Guethan Iwani (France) — 19 points, 8 rebounds. The forward carried France's offence through long stretches and was the primary reason the French stayed in the game during the fourth-quarter push.

Emmanuel Destom Alger (France) — Led France in efficiency (20) with a strong all-round contribution in the losing effort.

Markuss Jahovics (Latvia) — Named to the All-Star Five alongside Berrouet, providing key secondary scoring and ball-handling throughout the tournament.

Latvia's field-goal percentage advantage (42% to 36%) tells the story of a game decided by shot quality. The Latvians shot 52.3% from two-point range compared to France's 41.7%, reflecting Berrouet's interior dominance. From beyond the arc, both teams struggled — Latvia hit 22.7% of their threes, France just 14.3% — but Latvia's superior inside game compensated.

The lead tracker underlines the narrative: Latvia led for 26 minutes and 1 second, France for just 8 minutes and 13 seconds. Despite seven lead changes and seven ties in the first half, Latvia's third-quarter surge gave them control they never relinquished.

Latvia's first U16 European title caps a remarkable tournament run. They become the 11th different nation to win the FIBA U16 EuroBasket, joining an exclusive club that includes France, Spain, Serbia, Lithuania and Croatia. France finish as runners-up after entering the Final as four-time champions.

The two sides will now move on from the age-group level as these players progress through their national-team systems. For Latvia, this result signals the depth of talent emerging from a nation of fewer than two million people.

Latvia were deserved winners on the night, riding a brilliant third-quarter spell and the unstoppable force of Benjamin Berrouet to make history. France will rue a slow start to the second half that cost them dearly, but Latvia's physicality and interior presence were the difference throughout. A maiden title that feels like the start of something for Latvian basketball.