Josep Pérez ('94), All-Tournament Team last U-16 European Championship in Bar (Montenegro), was unstoppable for Real Madrid and Regal FC Barcelona won the final of the Euroleague's Nike Intenational Junior Tournament of L'Hospitalet (95-90). Team coached by Joan Carles Pie had in the guard -at the pic- his best player, finishing with 32 points (6/9 threes), 6 steals and 4 assists. But he wasn't alone. Center Aitor Gómez ('93) collected a double-double (23 points with 10/15 twos and 9 rebounds) and guard Lluis Costa ('93) added 18 with 7 assists. For Real Madrid Daniel Diez ('93), gold at the 2009 U-16 EC, sent great sensations: 28 points with 4/5 threes, 10 rebounds and 3 assists. African center Placide Nakidjim ('94) -signed this summer from Estudiantes Lugo- added 16 points and 9 boards. Game was tied during the 40 minutes, but always with Barcelona leading the scorer with small advantages. At the winners side their two best prospects couldn't play due to injuries: Nicholas Spires ('94), from Sweden, and Alexandr Zhigulin ('94), from Kazahkstan. With these two players recovered are one of the main outsiders to win the spanish U-18 championship.
In the fight for the final third position Zalgiris Kaunas beat Catalana Occident Manresa (42-67) behind guard Marius Grigonis ('94): 22 points with 6/7 behind the arc and 9 boards. Since the beginning lithuanians took the lead (10-24 m.10), with other players shining, like guard Tomas Dimsa ('94): 14 points with 2/6 threes and 4 rebounds. Easy for them, even at catalan squad swedish Marcus Eriksson ('93), the MVP of the tournament, fought with 11 points (3/5 threes) and 6 rebounds. African center Johan Kody ('93) added 10 points, 9 rebounds and 2 steals. This third position can give a good present for lithuanians. Maybe a spot in Barcelona NIJT final round. We will see.
Khimki ended fifth after beating DKV Joventut (75-63), with the catalans facing the game with only seven players due to many injuries. Alexander Zakharov ('93) led the winners with 22 points (9/13 FG) and 6 rebounds. Roman Afanasyev ('93) also made a good job with 17 and 7/15 FG, even 9 turnovers. For DKV Joventut Guillem Vives ('93) finished as the best scorer with 15 points and 3/5 from downtown. The third quarter (28-12), one of the keys of russian win.
Finally croatians of Cedevita were seventh after winning hosts (61-71). Power-forward Filip Bundovic ('94), too much for catalans: 19 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks for a 32 ranking. Guard Xavi Llagostera ('93), the best scorer at the losing effort with 14 points (5/11 FG).
Let's check what happened in the rest of the tournament games.
Semifinals:
-FC Barcelona 70 Catalana Occident Manresa 69: Carles Gasqué ('93) 22 points (11/13 FG) and 13 rebounds; Marcus Eriksson ('93) 25 points (4/8 threes) and 8 boards.
-Zalgiris 60 Real Madrid 63: Tauras Jogela ('93) 16 points, 5 steals and 4 assists; Daniel Diez ('93) 21 points (9/19 FG) and 7 rebounds.
First round group A:
-FC Barcelona 94 Khimki 87: Josep Pérez ('94) 24 points (13/17 FT) and 5 assists; Alexander Zakharov ('93) 25 points (5/9 threes) and 6 boards.
-Real Madrid 98 L'Hospitalet 62: Daniel Diez ('93) 16 points (2/5 threes) and 3 rebounds; Jose Luis Valencia ('93) 16 points (4/6 threes) and 2 boards.
-FC Barcelona 75 Real Madrid 67: Carles Gasqué ('93) 14 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals; Daniel Diez ('93) 20 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists.
-Khimki 94 L'Hospitalet 51: Elvis Saulitis ('93) 11 points, 17 rebounds and 1 block; Fernando Cerqueira ('93) 16 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals.
-FC Barcelona 66 L'Hospitalet 64: Nacho Marin ('93) 14 points (2/4 threes) and 4 rebounds; Fernando Cerqueira ('93) 14 points, 6 steals and 4 assists.
-Khimki 68 Real Madrid 70: Maksim Chislov ('93) 14 points, 7 rebounds and 1 steal; Daniel Diez ('93) 15 points (6/11 FG) and 3 boards.
First round group B:
-DKV Joventut 61 Cedevita 53: Albert Homs ('94) 20 points (8/23 FG) and 2 steals; Filip Bundovic ('94) 15 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks.
-Catalana Occident Manresa 62 Zalgiris 76: Marcus Eriksson ('93) 23 points (4/10 threes) and 5 rebounds; Tauras Jogela ('93) 19 points, 9 rebounds and 2 steals.
-DKV Joventut 69 Zalgiris 85: Albert Homs ('94) 29 points (11/27 FG) and 4 rebounds; Tauras Jogela ('93) 17 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals.
-Catalana Occident Manresa 63 Cedevita 53: Marcus Eriksson ('93) 20 points (4/9 threes) and 4 rebounds; Luka Saric ('93) 18 points (7/11 FG) and 6 boards.
-DKV Joventut 62 Catalana Occident Manresa 80: Guillem Vives ('93) 14 points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals; Johan Kody ('93) 16 points (6/6 FG) and 5 rebounds.
-Zalgiris 81 Cedevita 67: Valdas Karinauskas ('93) 21 points (7/10 FG) and 11 rebounds; Martin Junakovic ('94) 14 points (4/7 threes) and 4 assists.
Photo: Joma Garcia i Gisbert
