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European Promotions Cup Section
European Promotions Cup
Andorra, 6-10 June 2000
Scots, Welsh miss out as Andorra finish on top of the pile
Let the inquests begin. How the two largest nations by population at the European Promotions Cup could fall so far short of their tiny competitors casts an unfavourable shadow upon basketball in Scotland and Wales.
Granted, the Scots were without Iain Maclean and Robert Archibald, their two finest players, and Wales similarly short-handed, but both sides fell far short of their expectations.
The eventual victors for the second consecutive time were Andorra, the hosts completing their unbeaten programme with a narrow 79-76 defeat of Scotland, a result which left Toni Szifris' team in third place on points differential.
It could have been a different result in fact had Andorra not benefitted from an incredulous hail mary three pointer which put them ahead in the final minute. Scotland were without point guard Ross Szifris, whose injury from the previous game was confirmed as torn ligaments.
On the bright side was the recovery of captain Phil Birch, who had sat out the first two games after sustaining a broken hand in training, but hit a game-high 19 points.
Alongside them lay the Welsh, whose 74-66 loss to Malta sealed a miserable campaign on the continent. How much the late withdrawal of Lee Walker hurt his nation though will remain an unknown factor.
Additional Information: Glenn Hardaker
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