Wojciech Leszczyński and Tomasz Szewczyk, players of KK StarBol Boleslawiec, were invited by the coach of the Polish national team to compete in the Super Final of the European Youth Basketball League (EYBL – European Youth Basketball League).
The Bolesławiec players played for the OSSM/PZKosz Sopot team, which was coached in this competition by Poland national team coach Robert Jakubiak. The coach wanted to assess the Bolesławiec players' performance in the context of selecting them for Poland's core 1992-born cadet squad.
At the tournament, held in Gdańsk from 9 to 13 May, the Bolesławiec players performed very well. KK StarBol coach Jarosław Leszczyński, who accompanied the players at the tournament, summed up the young basketball players' performance. "The lack of cohesion among the players representing OSSM/PZKosz Sopot was visible. Wojtek and Tomek performed very well. The commitment shown by both Bolesławiec players resulted in a large number of offensive and defensive rebounds. Numerous steals, fast plays and won one-on-one duels caught coach Robert Jakubiak's attention. Both players were key to the strength of the Sopot team. The hard work awaiting the young basketball players may bring them closer to the U-15 national team (cadet category)," coach Jarosław Leszczyński said after the tournament.
Eight teams took part in the EYBL Super Final: three from Russia (BS CSKA Moscow, BC Trinta Moscow, SDJSOR Olimp St. Petersburg), four from Lithuania (BC ABRO/SAULE, BS Klaipeda, A. Sabonis BS, BS Kaunas) and one from Poland (OSSM/PZKosz Sopot). The matches were played in a knockout format. In the quarterfinal, OSSM/PZKosz Sopot defeated BS CSKA Moscow 70:64 (Leszczyński 13 points, Szewczyk 11 points).
However, in the tournament semifinal, the team representing Poland had to acknowledge the superiority of the Lithuanian team A. Sabonis BS, losing 68:80 (Leszczyński 11 points, Szewczyk 4 points). In the consolation semifinal, OSSM/PZKosz Sopot defeated BC ABRO/SAULE by 3 points, 83:80 (Leszczyński 7 points, Szewczyk 11 points). In the third-place match, however, the Sopot team lost to BS Kaunas 68:86 (Leszczyński 9 points, Szewczyk 1 point).
Plans for the Bolesławiec basketball players
StarBol's immediate plans include travelling to the 14th National Tournament for the President of the Republic of Poland Cup in Stargard Szczeciński (1992 age group and younger), which will take place from 8 to 10 June. It was precisely a year ago, during the 13th edition of the National Tournament for the President of the Republic of Poland Cup, that Wojtek Leszczyński and Tomasz Szewczyk were noticed by coach Robert Jakubiak. Both Bolesławiec players will take part in the Polish national team selection camp at the end of June. Two macro-regional camps will be held then, from which 40 players will be selected. They will compete at the central camp for 20 places in Poland's core 1992-born squad.
EYBL league competition (European Youth Basketball League)
In 2000, NYELB (Northern European Youth Basketball League) was established in Riga. Four years later, thanks to the efforts of managers from Polish teams (UKS 7 Sopot and Prokom Trefl Sopot), the league board adopted a resolution to expand the competition and consequently change its name to EYBL (European Youth Basketball League). The league currently brings together several dozen basketball clubs from nine European countries. Each season ends with a Super Final, in which the eight best teams participate.
(information and photos by P. Matusiak/MZ)