Stellazzurra routs Valencia to finish with first win

U18 Stellazzurra Rome finished the 2021 Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals with its first victory as it raced away from U18 Valencia Basket 66-98 in the final game of the group stage. After losing to U18 FC Barcelona and U18 Mega SoccerBet Belgrade in its first two Group B games, Stellazzurra blew the game open with a 5-23 run to close the third quarter. Kevin Ndzie led the way with 18 points and 15 rebounds with Kaspar Kuusmaa and Nicola Giordano both scoring 14 points, Matteo Visintin chipping in 12 and Lucas Fresno tallying 11 points and 5 steals off the bench. Stellazzurra made just 2 three-pointers in the game but dominated the glass 53-44 including 25 offensive rebounds. Host side Valencia failed to win a game and dropped to 0-3 despite Carlos Campillos scoring 15 points and David Barbera adding 11 points. The duo of Freds Bagatskis and Ivan Alexandrov combined for just 7 points.

Pablo Navarro and Campillos both hit three-pointers as the host side surged ahead 12-6. Stellazzurra went down low to Ndzie for two baskets and Nicolo Virginio converted a three-point play to compete a 0-13 run for a 12-19 lead and it was 19-25 after 10 minutes. Diego Rivas knocked down a triple to start the second quarter and Barbera’s three-point play evened the game 27-27. Stellazzurra took control momentarily with a 7-16 run to lead 37-47 at intermission.

Campillos knocked down two triples as Valencia pulled within 47-49 early in the second half. Stellazzurra answered with the knockout punch with Kuusmaa scoring nine points in a 5-23 surge to pull ahead 52-72 after 30 minutes. Stellazzurra did not hit a three-pointer until Kuusmaa’s triple to start the fourth quarter. Stellazzurra didn’t let up and delivered a 2-14 run in the fourth for a 58-91 lead to finish off Valencia for good.