Real pulls away from Promitheas for win

U18 Real Madrid was challenged early, but ended up pulling away from U18 Promitheas Patras as the reigning continental champion picked up a 98-67 victory in Group B of the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Munich. Real, which has won the ANGT Munich the previous two seasons, was paced by Eli John Ndiaye scoring 22 points with 15 rebounds while Matteo Spagnolo had 16 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Urban Klavzar picked up 12 points and Juan Nunez added 11 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. Promitheas was led by Lefteris Mantzoukas with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists, while Athanasios Bazinas scored 15 points and Perkilis Kouroupakis had 11 points.

Leonidas Kolios knocked down two three-pointers and Bazinas hit one long-ball as Promitheas went on a 0-11 run to go ahead 2-11. Spagnolo hit five points at the other end in a 10-4 answer to pull within 12-15. Ab Sediq Garuba drained two triples and Nunez connected from the outside to put Real ahead 23-21, and the Spanish giant was leading 26-25 after 10 minutes. Klavzar picked up five quick points and Real was up 39-32. Promitheas made things interesting with a 2-8 surge to cut the deficit to 41-40. But Spagnolo and Ndiaye both had 4 points as Real finished the first half on an 11-2 run and led 52-42 at the break. Mantzoukas converted a three-point play early in the third quarter and Kouroupakis scored to keep Promitheas within 58-49. However, Spagnolo knocked down another triple and Klavzar also hit from downtown as Real finished the third quarter on a 11-2 run to lead 74-54. Promitheas picked up the first six points of the fourth quarter - including a Bazinas three-point play - to pull within 76-60. And a Mantzoukas score had Promitheas still within striking distance at 78-64 but Dan Duscak’s three-pointer started a 16-0 run which also included six points from Nunez for a 94-64 lead as Real closed it out.