Valencia fends off Barcelona, to play for spot in ANGT Finals

Host side U18 Valencia Basket has reached the final of the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Qualifier Valencia by knocking off U18 FC Barcelona Lassa 81-76 and will face off against U18 Virtus Bologna for a spot in the ANGT Finals. Alejandro Ruiz scored 14 points, Alonso Faure had 13 and Millan Jimenez added 11 points as Valencia finished Group A play with a 3-0 record. Barcelona fell to 1-2 in the group despite Tom Digbeu collecting 19 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks and Haris Bratanovic picking up 17 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks in the loss.

Faure scored two baskets as Valencia led 11-10 midway through the first quarter. But the rest of the first frame belonged to Barcelona, which got two scores from Bratanovic and a three-ball from Gael Bonilla in a 3-13 surge to lead 14-23 after 10 minutes. Valencia was able to trim the gap to 19-23 but Digbeu tallied 5 points and the advantage was 19-30. However, Faure and Daniel Perez both countered with 4 points and Alejandro Requena connected twice from downtown as Valencia moved ahead and led 44-39 at the break. Barcelona was within 48-45 but Jimenez and Ruiz both knocked down three-pointers in a 10-1 spurt to put Valencia ahead 58-46. Barcelona punched back with a 3-12 run with Digbeu picking up 6 points and making it 61-58 after 30 minutes. Bonilla opened the fourth quarter with a three-point play and Bratanovic’s basket put Barcelona ahead 63-65. Valencia moved back ahead 73-69 before two Marc Garcia three-pointers made it 80-73 with less than a minute left to decide the game.