Reigning EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT champion U18 FC Barcelona Lassa started its quest for a repeat by beating U18 Union Olimpija Ljubljana 79-56 in the opening game at the ANGT Qualifying Tournament Torneig de Bàsquet Junior Ciutat de L'Hospitalet on Friday. Arnas Velicka led the way for Barcelona with 11 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists while Omar Dieng, Andrija Marjanovic, Luka Samanic all tallied 11 points as well. Barcelona will play U18 ALBA Berlin later Friday in its second game in Group A. Olimpija, which will take on U18 Herbalife Gran Canaria Las Palmas in the final game of the day, also had four players score 11 points with Nemanja Scekic adding 9 rebounds and David Kralj chipping in 4 rebounds and 4 assists as well.

Olimpija jumped ahead 2-3 but Barcelona went on a big run to lead 15-3, spurred on by Sergi Martinez's all-around game on offense and defense. The advantage was 19-9 after 10 minutes. Barcelona pushed the margin to 30-16 before Olimpija trimmed the gap to 32-28 as Kranlj and Scekic were able to get to the basket for the Slovenian side. And the score was 35-28 at the break. Barcelona never let Olimpija get back into the game in the second half, continually increasing the lead out to 21 points in the third quarter thanks to its depth including Samanic and Marjanovic. The champs were ahead 59-40 after 30 minutes. And Olimpija could not get closer than 16 points the rest of the way.