A lot of people at Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona (Spain) during the opener of the Euroleague Nike International Junior Tournament Final Round, with Eurohopes staff following the event on live. People attending the gym can follow the games in two different courts, but both at the same espace. Maybe the first contest has been the best (FMP - Ulker Fenerbahce), even in all the games many interesting details were sent to the crowd. Let's check what happened in all of them, with some prospects shining in a great level, like croatian phenom Dario Saric ('94, KK Zagreb) or turkish Berkay Candan ('93, Ulker Fenerbahce).
-FMP 78 Ulker Fenerbahce 80: Serbians arrived to Barcelona without Nenad Miljenovic ('93), who signed some weeks ago with Partizan after playing almost the whole season with Zeleznik kids. Youngster Nikola Rebic ('95) has played good minutes at the PG, showing his ball-handling skills, making lay-ups and his teammates play. Forward Stefan Popovski-Turanjanin ('93) hurted his defenders with mobility when he played inside and using his body when he is outside. Nemanja Bezbradica ('93) has been an important piece of FMP game inside the paint, in a zone where youngser Dusan Ristic ('95) showed good things from the bench. At turkish side forward Berkay Candan ('93) has been capable to post and also hurt facing basket, leading the victory with a 28 ranking, the best of the journey. The prospect scored 22 points (8/15 FG), pulled down 8 boards and put 3 blocks. Great start for him infront many scouts and GMs. Guards Oguzhan Turan ('93), with 12 points and 6 boards, and Erbil Eroglu ('93), with 16 and 5 assists, have shown much intensity, with interesting penetrations. And for FMP? Popovski-Turanjanin (21pt+6rb) and Bezbradica (16pt+13rb), not enough. Both squads struggled at three points line (18% the two teams).
-KK Zagreb 76 INSEP 65: The current champions INSEP started the tournament with a loss, shocking against the great duo Dario Saric ('94) & Mario Hezonja ('95). With four players over 37 minutes and one over 30 KK Zagreb don't have secrets. They show a great physical level. Saric collected a great double-double, with 19 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists (even 7 turnovers) without resting, while Hezonja added 19 with 10 boards and 2 steals (even 1/7 from downtown) in 38 minutes. French team had in Livio Jean-Charles ('93) -MVP of last edition- as his best man with 22 points (9/13 FG) and 3 rebounds, showing once more his physical habilities. Beside him sharpshooter Hugo Invernizzi ('93) nailed 24 with 4/13 threes and 6 boards. William Howard ('93) was injured, while Mouhamamdou Jaiteh ('94) showed that he is improving a lot (10 points, 11 rebounds and 1 block).
-China U-19 46 Zalgiris 73: The intensity of chinese press defense wasn't enough for the asiatic squad to add its first win. They have a lot of big players, getting ready and preparing for the U-19 World Championship held in Latvia next month. Lithuanian leader, Tauras Jogela ('93) -MPV of U-16 EC'2009-, collected a double-double with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 1 steal, even he struggled at free throws line (2/7). Guard Justas Tamulis ('94) added 14 points with 5/12, shooting many shots in less minutes (15'). 2.08 Arturas Gudaitis ('93) ended as the best valorated at the winning effort (15) with 6 points, 12 boards and 1 assist. Many scoring problems for chinese, who nailed 6 and 9 points in the first and third periods. 2.05 Zhai Xiaochuan ('93), their best element: 12 points, 9 rebounds and 2 steals.
-Regal FC Barcelona 56 Red Star 73: First game and first upset for hosts, who shocked against a Serbian team without Aleksandar Cvetkovic ('93), MVP of Belgrade NIJT and who got injured last week during the U-18 Serbian Final Eight. With Ivan Marinkovic ('93) -12 points and 9 rebounds- and lefty Ivan Saicic ('93) -11 and 8- as their main wheapons Red Star started great the event. Guard Marko Radonjic ('93) helped with 14 and 2/4 from downtown, while Adrija Bojic ('93) -invited from Mega Vizura- nailed 14 points and pulled down 6 boards in only 14'. He collected a 54 index (39 points and 11 rebounds) in the game for the final third/fourth position in the U-18 Serbian Championship. Mega Vizura lost to Mladost. The strenght of balcanic important players became one of the keys of the victory over catalans. At the losing effort Josep Pérez ('94), All-Tournament Team in the U-16 EC'10, missed from downtown (4 points with 0/7), but Lluis Costa ('93) showed good details (15pt+5rb+4as+4st) even he struggled with the shot too (6/19 FG). 2.07 spanish international center Aitor Gómez ('93) finished as the best from FCB with 17 points (8/15 FG) and 7 boards. Swedish Nick Spires ('94), still not on 100% shape after a long injury, only played 10 minutes, enough to have 4 points, 3 rebounds and 4 blocks. With 1/17 from downtown at Barcelona side is very difficult to win.
Standings
Group A: KK Zagreb (1-0), Ulker (1-0), FMP (0-1) and INSEP (0-1).
Group B: Zalgiris (1-0), Red Star (1-0), Regal FC Barcelona (0-1) and China U-19 (0-1).
Photo: Àlex Gozalbo / Ara.cat
