FC Barcelona nearly wasted a 12-point fourth quarter lead, but held on to defeat FIATC Joventut Badalona 86-79 and win Group B of the ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT in L’Hospitalet with a 3-0 record. Barcelona advanced to the semifinals, where it will take on Baloncesto Seville. Stefan Peno led the way for Barcelona with 19 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals, while Maxim Esteban scored 14 points, Alejandro Mazaira collected 12 points and 10 rebounds, Eric Martinez added 11 points and Atoumane Diagne had 5 points and 11 rebounds. Joventut dropped to 1-2 despite Xabi Lopez collecting 21 points and 8 rebounds, while Oscar Amo had 18 points and Albert Real scored 15.

Lopez scored 4 points as Joventut built a 2-12 lead. Peno stopped the 0-10 run and Pol Figueras nailed a three to trim it to 7-12. A Lopez three-point play extended the lead back to 10 points before Real and Terrence Bieshaar both scored and Matt Haarms hit a free throw for a 9-22 Joventut advantage. Peno nailed a three-pointer to get the deficit down to 12-22 after 10 minutes. Peno started the second quarter with a three-pointer and trimmed the gap to 15-22 before Nenad Dimitijevic and Real nailed back-to-back threes for a 17-30 cushion. Peno sparked a 10-0 run with a pair of assists and 5 points to get the deficit down to 27-30. Esteban free throws cut it to 30-32 before Nedim Dedovic’s triple made it 35-34. Peno added a steal and layup and Esteban knocked down a three for a 40-34 cushion to complete a 23-4 run. Lopez helped Joventut close to within 42-39 with a three-point play and 2 free throws, but Barcelona was up 44-39 at the intermission.

Mazaira’s three and Peno’s bucket increased the Barcelona advantage to 50-42. Lopez knocked down a three and 2 free throws as Joventut pulled to within 52-49. Barcelona responded with scores by Diagne and Martinez and Aleix Font put back an offensive rebound before Martinez nailed a three-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer for a 67-56 lead. Quim Salvans opened the fourth quarter for Joventut with a three-point play to cut the gap to 67-59. Barcelona responded with a Hugo Bartolome triple and a Martinez basket to push the advantage to 72-60. Diagne’s dunk made it 76-64 with seven minutes left and the cushion was still 78-68 with 3:45 minutes remaining. Joventut raced back into the game as Real hit a layup and scored a three-point play before Elies Velasco’s three-ball cut the gap to just 79-77 with 1:50 left. After a Barcelona time out, Esteban made 2 free throws and then Mazaira put back an offensive rebound and drained a three for an 86-77 lead with 39 seconds left. Joventut failed to score on two straight possessions and Barcelona secured the win.