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Monday July 26th and 27th, 2010 Sofia, Bulgaria! Monday July 26th, 2010 tipped off the 41st annual Sofia International tournament with national teams from four countries playing preparation games for their upcoming summer schedule. Host country Bulgaria welcomed Austria, Cyprus and Czech Republic to Sofia for the two day tournament which was played at Universiada Stadion. For the Czech Republic team, the tournament would be their first test together. TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE Monday July 26th, 2010 Universiada Stadion Sofia, Bulgaria 5pm
CZECH REPUBLIC AUSTRIA Pavel Pumprla scored 20 points hitting 8 of 9 shots including a perfect three for three from three point range in leading the Czech Republic national team to an 87-66 win over Austria Monday night July 26th in Sofia Bulgaria. Center Alez Chan chipped in 14 points 4 boards and Pavel Slezak finished with 13 points 3 assists in the win. Stepping up to lead the team to their first victory, Pumprla, Chan and Slezak all hail from Czech powerhouse Nymburk. Falling behind 7-0 in the opening minutes, Czech Republic overcame the slow start pulling within one at 11-10 at the midquarter mark before veterans Lubos Barton and team captain Petr Benda stabalized the action. Led by 8 points from naturalized Austrian and former Oklahoma Sooner Jason Detrick, the Austrians held a 19-18 lead after ten minutes. The Czech Republic team found a rhythm in the second quarter as Pavel Slezak sank a three and finished an athletic drive. A Lukas Kotas three gave the Czechs their first lead and the balanced team attack drove the squad to a 39-33 halftime lead.
Conditioning coach Vladimir Hjoka directs team warmup as Head coach Pavel Budinsky and assistant coach Honza Slowiak man the sideline. At the half, Austria had outrebounded the Czech team 19-13 but the Czech bench production quietly became a factor as they outscored the Austrian reserves 20-11 in the first twenty minutes. Czechs hit 4 of 10 threes compared with Austria's 1 of 9 and the Czechs shot 52% while limiting the Austrians to 39% in the first half. Encouraged at how the team overcame the slow start, Czech Head coach Pavel Budinsky was very positive with the team at halftime emphasizing an aggressive, attacking mentality on the floor.
Going over matchups with Pavel during pre-game before Monday's game against Austria. The second half started strong for the Czech team as they slowly built momentum. Leading 47-43 five minutes into the third, a 16 run gave the Czech Republic control of the game. Outstanding defense from Pavel Slezak and Pavel Pumprla created several turnovers which the team converted into easy baskets. Pumprla's three point shooting fueled the fire and the Czech team held a 61-49 lead after three. During the third quarter, rebounding evened with Austria holding a 22-21 lead meaning Czechs controlled the boards 8-3 in the third quarter. Bench points became a drastic difference as Czech reserves produced a 40-16 advantage over Austria.
The Czech Republic team proudly stand at respect during the national anthem In the fourth, Czech Republic maintained their margin leading 71-58 at the five minute mark before cruising to the tournament opening win. Toward the end of the action, Pavel Budinsky emptied the Czech bench giving young post player Tomas Hampl some minutes. Every Czech player registered in the scorebook before the final horn sounded on the 87-66 win over Austria. A terrific first game for the Czech Republic, the team shot 60% from the floor while holding Austria to 41%. Czech's shot 10 of 16 from three (63%) and hit 15 of 19 free throws (79%) in the win. Rebounds finished even at 27 apiece, but Czech Republic outscored Austria 40-30 on points in the paint and 62-25 in points from the bench.
With the win, the Czech National team advances to the finals of the Sofia Bulgaria tournament to be played Tuesday night at 5pm where they will meet the winner of Monday's second game between host Bulgaria and Cyprus.
7pm CYPRUS BULGARIA Host team Bulgaria, unbeaten to this point in their summer exhibition schedule, pounded Cyprus 99-51 in Monday nights second game. Not only did the score get ugly, the game got ugly when a bench clearing brawl broke out with just under 9 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter --- so much for a 'friendly'. Officials restored order and the teams completed the final minutes of action without further incident. In the win, Bulgaria shot 60% from the floor making 11 of 27 three (41%) and 14 of 18 free throws. Bulgaria also outrebounded Cyprus 40-20 and dished out 28 assists as a team. Chavdov Kostar led five Bulgarian players in double digits with 18 points while Deyan Ivanov added 17 points in the win. The Bulgarian victory set up a Tuesday schedule with Cyprus playing Austria in the third place game at 3pm and Bulgaria facing the Czech Republic in the tournament finals at 5pm. Click here for link to youtube of Bulgaria and Cyprus 4th quarter fight
Cyprus and Bulgaria stand at attention for national anthems pre-game. After, the action was not so calm and disciplined. Tuesday July 27th, 2010 3pm Losers Game 1 and 2 5pm Winners Game 1 and 2
MEET THE TEAMS FOR THE 41st ANNUAL SOFIA INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT
AUSTRIA click here for Eurobasket link to Austrian National team click here for Wikipedia about Austrian National team
BULGARIA click here for Wikipedia about Bulgarian National team click here for Eurobasket link to Bulgarian National team
CYPRUS click here for Eurobasket link to Cyprus National team Click here for Wikipedia link to Cyprus National team
CZECH REPUBLIC click here for Wikipedia link to Czech Republic National team click here for eurobasket link to Czech Republic National team
Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm and international baketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com! GO ULM! MIKE T
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