‘I love this team' was the simple response of Austria Coach Werner Sallomon in the wake of watching his team take gold and being crowned champions of U20 European Championship Men 2010 Division B on home soil after a hard fought 71-66 win against Sweden.
Finishing top of the podium after a thrilling and highly entertaining final game was the perfect conclusion to a terrific tournament.
Austrian ace Rasid Mahalbasic has paid tribute to the thousand supporters who turned out in Oberwart to cheer the team to promotion after the hosts clinched their place in Division A of the U20 European Championship Men.
The center who is averaging a near double-double during the tournament also fired a warning to head coach Werner Sallomon ahead of the final when gold is up for grabs.
It was party time in Oberwart at the U20 European Championship Men 2010 Division B after Sweden and home town favourites Austria, in front of 1.000 enthusiastic fans, celebrated their new status after gaining promotion to Division A with wins over Poland and Bulgaria.
The hosts were thrilled and also relieved after getting past a strong Bulgaria team 76-71 with a superb 13-0 start to the second half very much the key as was their containment of Bulgarian star Aleksandar Georgiev who could only muster ten points.
;)
;)
;)
;)
