The second Euroleague's Nike Junior International Tournament of this season started today in L'Hospitalet (Spain), with lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas ('92) breaking the stats but not winning his game. Lietuvos Rytas (the champion last year) lost against Unicaja Malaga after an overtime (60-58), and the center didn't shine as usual because Malick Fall ('92) made a great defense over the lithuanian. Looking the final stats there is a question that comes to our mind: what could happen if Fall didn't play? Valanciunas finished with 18 points (6/8 twos and 6/9 free throws), 24 rebounds (6 in offense) and 8 blocks, with a 40 index rating (all the lithuanians made 50). Amazing. Guard Tadas Mazelis ('92) -2/5 threes at Baltic League with Neptunas in two games- made an horrible 0/11 behind the arc, while Mantas Mockevicius ('93) -silver on last U-16 EC averaging 12.8 points- made a -6 valoration. Valanciunas was too alone. At spanish squad shined Miki Servera ('92), with 22 points and 4/8 threes, most of them in important moments. Fall made a great work over lithuanian star, but finished with 7 points (3/13 twos), 8 rebounds and 6 turnovers for a -1 valoration.
DKV Joventut started well the tournament with an important victory over Valencia (97-83). Forward Albert Ventura ('92) led catalan squad with 25 points, while power-forward Alex Suárez ('93), gold on last U-16 EC, showed good things with 20 points and 2/3 threes in 22 minutes. Very interesting job of forward Anton Regal ('93), with 14 points (4/8 FG). Keep this name in your notes. For Valencia Antonio Tirado ('92) collected 20 points, 9 rebounds and 1 assist.
The best game of this opening day have been the one between Estudiantes and Regal FC Barcelona, with victory from Madrid team (72-70) after loosing by 29 points this morning against Alba Berlin (52-81). Germans surprised spaniards at the morning even one of its important pieces, Kevin Bright ('92), stayed home due to an injury. Julius Wolf ('93) led the winners with 20 points and 6 rebounds in only 19 minutes. For Estudiantes Alvaro Lobo ('92) scored 13 with 2/3 bombs. At the evening all was different. With brazilian Lucas Riva ('92) in the roster (at the morning he wasn't with the team) things changed. Golden boys in Kaunas Javier Medori ('93) and Jaime Fernández ('93) played great with 13 and 12 points, helped by Riva: 11 points, 6 rebounds and 4 blocks, even he put 7 or 8 but most of them illegal.
Real Madrid had a tough start against local team of L'Hospitalet. White squad finally won (70-74), but with a lot of problems because at half time they were losing 39-25. Power-forward Albert Olmedo ('92) finished as the best prospect of "Hospi", with 16 points and 6 rebounds. Real Madrid wake up at the third quarter with a great Daniel Diez ('93): 26 points with 2/3 threes and 9 rebounds. 2.08 center Victor Arteaga ('92) showed his skills: 6 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals in 19'.
Finally, on the first game of the day L'Hospitalet lost against Cajasol Sevilla (65-77). Olmedo finished as the best local scorer also (18+7), but not enough to stop the african forward Pape Amadou ('93). The prospect collected 20 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks, making a good job at both sides of the court. Keep him in mind. His teammate Pablo Villarejo ('92) scored 23 with 5/9 bombs.
Standings
Group A: DKV Joventut (1-0), Valencia (0-1) and Split (0-0).
Group B: Estudiantes (1-1), Alba Berlin (1-0) and FC Barcelona (0-1).
Group C: Unicaja (1-0), Lietuvos Rytas (0-1) and Gran Canaria (0-0).
Group D: Sevilla (1-0), Real Madrid (1-0) and Hospitalet (0-2).
