Triple-double history in European youth championships

Ukrainian young superstar Alina Iagupova made history today by recording only the second triple-double in European U20 Championship division A history.

Iagupova had 24 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists as Ukraine defeated Serbia 85-63 today.

There had been only one other triple-double since FIBA Europe moved to two division annual competition format in 2005. That belongs to Bulgarian wing Ekaterina Dimitrova who scored 16 points, had 10 rebounds and 10 assists in 2006 Bulgarian win against Czech Republic.

Back when the competition had the same format as senior competitions with qualifying round and final round held every two years there were two more triple-double’s achieved. In final round of 2002 tournament Russia’s Olga Podkovalnikova had 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocked shots in Russia’s win against Spain. In Qualifying round of 2004 tournament Turkey’s Birsel Vardarli had 10 points, 10 assists and 14 steals in their win against Austria.

While we’re at it let’s take a look at U16 and U18 championships.

Most notable performance in those age groups was by Anastasia Verameyenka who has produced thus far the only quadruple-double, back in 2003 during Challenge round of U16 championship against Czech Republic where she had 21 points, 10 rebounds, 10 steals and 12 blocks.

In European U18 championships in division A there has yet to be a player with triple-double. In division B there’s no need to look further than July when Belorussian Maryia Papova had 23 points, 12 rebounds and 10 blocks against Germany.

Another division B triple-double comes from Austria’s Sarah Schicher who collected 11 points, 16 rebounds and 10 blocks against Denmark.

In the pre-division times the records are available only from 1998. Since then Turkey’s Isil Alben (11 points, 10 rebounds, 10 steals), Netherlands’ Leonie Kooij (26 points, 10 rebounds, 10 steals) and Hungary’s Anna Vajda (11 points, 12 rebounds, 11 steals) have racked up triple-doubles.

In U16 age group there have also been five triple-doubles.

In division A play there were two – Turkey’s Olcay Cakir had 19 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in 2009 4 overtime thriller against France and Poland’s Ramona Cossengue had 19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in 2008 win against Turkey.

Division B has brought two more U16 triple-doubles. Montenegro’s Jelena Vucetic had 43 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in win against Austria in 2009. In 2004 Lithuanian Gintare Petronyte had 21 points, 22 rebounds and 10 blocks in win against Finland.

And before the division era there’s a triple-double by Anastasia Verameyenka who had 12 points, 21 rebounds and 10 blocks in win against Bulgaria.