The semifinals of the U-18 Spanish Final Round are already set after the quarterfinals games played today in Porriño (Spain). FC Barcelona will face Unicaja Malaga and DKV Joventut will do the same with Fuenlabrada. The best performance of the day has been for brit Devon Van Oostrum ('93), from Fundacion Baskonia. The guard collected a 25 valoration against DKV Joventut, but wasn't enough: 20 points (8/15 FG), 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. The second best show of the day has been for youngster "Willy" Hernangómez ('94), from Real Madrid, but the didn't win either: 9 points, 18 rebounds and 2 assists. They lost to Unicaja. Let's check what happened in the four games.
Unicaja 69 Real Madrid 63: In a tied contest Malaga made it to the semifinals with another great performance of their duo Maodo Nguirane ('93) & Álex Abrines ('93), at the pic. The african center had 16 points and 6 boards and the guard 12 points and 7 rebounds. At the losing effort the job of Hernangómez and Daniel Díez ('93) wasn't enough. The forward nailed 20 points and pulled down 5 rebounds, even he made 7/17 FG.
Fuenlabrada 74 CAI Zaragoza 73: Fuenlabrada recovered a 18 points deficit behind the good job of portuguese guard Jonah Callenbach ('93), with 13 points and 3 rebounds, and spaniard Hector Grande ('93), with 11 points, 9 rebounds and 2/3 from downtown. For CAI its sensation Javier Marin ('94) ended as the best element with 19 points, 6 boards and 3 steals. Beside him guard Jorge Laliena ('93) added 15 points and 6 rebounds.
FC Barcelona 58 Nostracom Granada 52: Team coached by Borja Comenge, after starting the tournament losing easy against Cajasol Sevilla, is already in semifinals winning today behind a good performance of Kazahkstan forward Alexandr Zhigulin ('94): 16 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks. Swedish Nick Spires ('94) added a double-double with 11 points and 11 boards. At the losing effort international point-guard Carlos Alcaraz ('93) scored 15 points with 2/5 threes.
Fundacion Baskonia 50 DK Joventut 53: Catalan squad won after a huge battle against the physical power of the opponent. Albert Homs ('94) led the win with 14 points and 3 steals against a team where Van Oostrum played in a good level. For Baskonia youngster Ilimane Diop ('95) flirted with the triple-double with 6 points, 6 rebounds and 9 blocks. Daniel Dnongala ('93) added 5 points, 13 boards and 2 blocks.
Photo: www.cblasalle.com
