Lithuania upset Turkey to set up Spain Final

HELSINKI (FIBA U20 European Championship 2016) – Lithuania defied the odds, injuries and foul trouble to upset Turkey and reach the FIBA U20 European Championship Final.

The Green Machine had been comfortably beaten when these teams met on the opening day of competition in Helsinki, Finland seven days ago.

But despite the continued absence of talismanic guard Martynas Varnas and foul trouble limiting top scorer Martynas Echodas to less than 17 minutes of action, the Lithuanians rallied late to prevail 68-64.

Martynas Sajus and Ignas Fiodorovas fuelled a 7-0 run inside the final four minutes to put the game beyond Turkey, before finishing with 17 points each.

Defeat means the core of Turkey’s squad miss out on the chance to add U20 European gold to the titles won at U16 and U18 level.

Lithuania will meet Spain in the Final, after Francisco Alonso inspired a 61-52 Semi-Final success against Germany.

Juan Orenga’s side struggled to cope with their opponents' physical approach for much of the contest before outscoring the Germans 22-10 in the final stanza.

Alonso finished with a game-high 22 points, having converted all 11 of his free-throw attempts, as Spain advanced to a third consecutive Final at this level.

France and Belgium will fight to avoid being the final team relegated to Division B, after inflicting that fate on Finland and Hungary with wins on Saturday.

For more on today's action visit the #FIBAU20Europe live feed.

Saturday’s results:

SEMI-FINALS

Germany 52-61 Spain

Turkey 64-68 Lithuania