Like happened last year in Lanzarote (Canary Islands) FC Barcelona won the U-18 Spanish Final Round after beating DKV Joventut in the big final played this morning in Porriño (64-59). Team coached by Borja Comenge had in Josep Pérez ('94) and Alexander Zhigulin ('94) as their best scorers with 12 points. Guard Guillem Vives ('93), selected the MVP of the final, wasn't enough for Badalona kids even he ended with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Who was selected the MVP of the Tournament? Álex Abrines ('93), from Unicaja. Malaga squad finished third after beating Fuenlabrada also today morning (80-58).

 

FC Barcelona 64 DKV Joventut 59: Not a lot of people expected FC Barcelona earn the title after losing in the tournament opener by 25 points against Cajasol Sevilla. Eventhough they recovered and today they made with a good defense over a good group of talented prospects. Josep Pérez ('94), All-Tournament Team of last U-16 EC, and Alexander Zhigulin ('94), from Kazahkstan, scored 12 points apiece. The guard made 4/10 FG and dished 6 assists, while the forward was 5/10 FG with 6 rebounds. Beside them also made a good job swedish Nick Spires ('94) -also from 1994 generation- with 4 points, 11 boards and 2 blocks, guard Lluís Costa ('93), with 11pt+7as+5rb, and center Aitor Gómez ('93) with 11pt+5rb in only 18'. DKV reached a 15 points difference, but wasn't enough for them. Albert Homs ('94) tallied 17 points (6/13 FG) with 3 rebounds, but with Vives also made good numbers Álex Suárez ('93), 11 and 6 boards, and youngster Agustí Sans ('95), with 10 and 5.

 

Unicaja Málaga 80 Fuenlabrada 58: In the game for the third/fourth final spot Unicaja Malaga crashed Fuenlabrada, the main surprise of the tournament, behind a huge contest of Álex Abrines ('93), the MVP of the event. The guard, who has played in LEB Gold during all the season (Axarquia), scored 28 points (6/10 twos, 3/6 threes and 7/9 ft), pulled down 8 rebounds and dished 2 assists in only 21 minutes. Czech forward Samuel Faifr ('93) also shined with 21 points (3/4 from downtown), 7 boards and 3 steals in only 22 minutes. At half time they were already 23 points up. Enough. 50 to 27 in rebounds. 9/18 to 2/15 behind the arc. No comment. At the losing effort Juan José Gutiérrez ('93) and Héctor Grande ('93) finished as the best scorers with 11 points each, while their leader, portuguese Jonah Callenbach ('93), scored 10 with 4/10 FG, 5 rebounds and 5 steals.

 

Awards

 

Tournament MVP: Álex Abrines ('93, Unicaja)

Final MVP: Guillem Vives ('93, DKV Joventut)

Best Scorer: Jonah Callenbach ('93, Fuenlabrada)

Best Rebounder: Maxine Fall ('93, San Isidro)

Best Passer: Lluís Costa ('93, FC Barcelona)

Fair Play: Carlos Caballero ('94, Fuenlabrada)    

Best Coach: Lluís Riera (DKV Joventut)

 

Photo: www.webpbb.com