Real Madrid booked its spot in the final of the 2015 ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT and a repeat of last season’s final against reigning champion Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade by beating VEF Riga 85-60. Five Madrid players scored in double figures, paced by Luka Doncic, who had 14 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two steals. Felipe Dos Anjos had 11 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks while Emanuel Cate scored 13 points, Andres Rico chipped in with 12 and Guillermo Mulero had 11 points. Madrid claimed first place in Group A with a 3-0 record. VEF, which still had a chance to reach the final with a big-enough victory, dropped to 1-2 despite Rodions Kurucs scoring 16 points while Karlis Silins had 10 points.

VEF opened the scoring and led 4-2 before Doncic’s three-point play gave Madrid its first lead at 4-5. The home side was still up 8-9 after a Cate free throw. Zigmars Raimo sandwiched a free throw and basket around back-to-back three-pointers from Eduards Hazners and Kristers Zorkis in a 9-0 surge for a 17-9 lead. Hazners added another three-ball as the advantage grew to 20-10. But Madrid scored the final five points of the quarter, including Mulero’s half-court buzzer-beater to make it 20-15 after 10 minutes. Mulero’s basket early in the second quarter gave Madrid back the lead 20-22 before Zorkis nailed a trey for the team’s first score at the 6 minute mark. The 23-22 lead proved to be VEF’s final of the game. Andres Rico pushed Madrid back ahead and the margin grew to 23-29. A Silins three-pointer brought VEF as close as 30-31 before Madrid hit the final six points of the half to go into the break ahead 30-37.

The margin was double digits for the first time on two Doncic free throws, which were part of a 3-15 run including six points by Santiago Yusta for a 35-54 lead. Raimo and Kurucs knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to trim the deficit to 43-58. But Madrid still led 43-62 after three quarters. Matiss Kulackovskis opened the fourth quarter with a three for Zalgiris, but Madrid reeled off nine straight points to extend the margin to 48-73. Kurucs did hit a three to bring the deficit under 20 points but it was way too little too late.