Impressive start of FMP Zeleznik and Zalgiris Kaunas in the opener of the Euroleague's Nike International Junior Tournament final round, held from today till Sunday in Paris (France). Serbians crashed Benetton Treviso (111-85) while lithuanians didn't give options to Cajasol Sevilla (90-66). Let's take a look to both games. FMP is trying to repeat their title of last edition, in this case with a very young team. Todat the youngsters shined, but over all of them, Nenad Miljenovic ('93). The guard played only 24 minutes after starting the game, but enough to show his potential: 14 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds and 4 steals for a 30 valoration. No comment. Serbians started amazing (31-11 m.10). Game over, insert coin. Guest Bogdan Bogdanovic ('92) -at the pic-, from Zitko Basket, sent good details (15 points with 3/7 threes), while Nikola Jankovic ('94), number 2 at Eurohopes'94, didn't waste his time: 14 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists in only 17'. FMP won the rebound battle (46-33) and italians scored easier from behind the arc than inside the paint, even Alessandro Gentile ('92) wasn't in the roster. This didn't help Benetton. Guard Alessandro Zanelli ('92) made a 29 valoration (18 points and 14 fouls drawn) and croatian Armin Mazic ('93) finished as their best scorer (17) but he struggled with the turnovers (7). Bulgarian Pavlin Ivanov ('93), who scored 14 with 4/11 threes, suffered the serbian machine. Eurohopes contacted him: "they are a good team, they can finish first. I wasn't good today, I could play better".
Zalgiris is one of the favorites. With a great group of prospects today they beat Cajasol Sevilla after making a great start also (21-7, m.10). Dovydas Redikas ('92) led the winners with 19 points and 5 steals, helped by Edgaras Ulanovas ('92) -15 with 2/5 threes- and Egidijus Mockevicius ('92), with 12 points and 5 rebounds in 21'. A lot of talent in the squad coached by Arunas Visockas. Great percentages for them: 51% on twos, 53% on threes and 71% on free throws. Brazilian center Gabriel Darin ('92) was the MVP of spaniards with 21 points (9/14 FG) and 8 rebounds and senegalese Pape Amadou ('93) collected a double-double: 15 points (6/18 FG) and 10 rebounds.
The other spanish team, Unicaja Malaga, added its first win over KK Split (43-58). Toni Katic ('92), the croatian leader, had problems to score (12 points with 1/12 FG and 10/10 FT). Bad news for them. Unicaja was led by center Malick Fall ('92), international with Spain, collecting a double-double (12 points and 10 rebounds), while brazilian Rafa Freire ('92) -who has played many minutes this season in Euroleague- finished with 12 (6/16 FG), 6 rebounds and 3 assists.
Finally, in the most tied game of this first day, Olimpija Ljubljana beat INSEP (76-75) due to a great performance of serbian center Bojan Radulovic ('92), who made a 30 valoration with 21 points (8/12 FG) and 9 rebounds. Livio Jean-Charles ('93) made a good job for french group, but not enough: 13 points with 5/6 FG.
