ANDORRA LA VELLA (FIBA U16 European Championship 2017, Division C) - Tournament hosts Andorra got their FIBA U16 European Championship 2017, Division C campaign off to a victorious start, holding off Albania to take a 55-52 victory on Sunday evening at the Poliesportiu Sports Hall.

Having started the game well, Andorra ran out to an early double-digit lead but saw the Ergys Muhametaj-led Albanians mount a vicious second-half comeback to make things interesting down the stretch.

Sergi Serrato had a team-high 16 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals for Andorra, team captain Albert Pons added a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds, while Muhametaj led the game in scoring with 19 points.

Tsone Nodia had a game-high 24 points for Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan also started Group B play on a positive note, downing the Principality of Monaco 74-63, with big man Tstone Nodia leading the way with 24 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists.

Jabrayil Akbarov added a double-double of 22 points and 13 boards and Papuna Kirtadze filled the box score with 12 points, 13 boards and 10 assists, but also committed 10 turnovers, while Nicolas Vanel collected 15 points, 7 rebounds and 7 steals in a losing effort.

Meanwhile, Armenia and Moldova began the tournament with wins across in Group A, defeating Gibraltar and Wales respectively on the first day of action in Andorra La Vella.

Armenia held off Gibraltar in the fourth quarter

Paced by a 23-point and 14-rebound double-double by Mikia Avedian, Armenia edged Gibraltar 66-59 despite seeing their opponents rally from a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter and make it a one-possession game in the closing stages of the contest.

Moldova had an up-and-down game but stayed the course against Wales to inscribe a 64-55 victory behind 15 points, 14 rebounds and 7 blocks by Ivan Hmirov for the winners.

FIBA