Mega sets date with Zvezda in first-place game

U18 Mega Bemax Belgrade set up a date with host side U18 Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade in the Adidas Next Generation Tournament Belgrade first-place game after locking up the top spot in Group B with a 55-86 victory over U18 Spars Sarajevo. Marko Kljajevic scored 20 for Mega, which has a 3-0 record and returns to the ANGT Belgrade first-place game after losing to Zvezda in 2017. Aleksa Markovic chipped in 13 points and 11 rebounds, Bosko Bumbic had 12 points and 8 assists and Aleksandar Langovic added 12 points. Spars finished group play with a 1-2 record despite Nikola Micic scoring 14 points.

Micic scored Spars’ first 11 points and the Bosnia and Herzegovina team was even 12-12. Kljajevic drained a three-pointer for Mega, which moved ahead 14-18 and was up 16-25 after another three-ball from Kljajevic. And Mega led 19-29 after 10 minutes. Spars tried to fight back and pulled within 27-31 through four points from Djordje Topolovic. But Mega held its opponents to just two free throws the rest of the first half and went into the break up 29-40. Mega did not let Spars cut much into the lead with Aleksandar Bulatovic’s 5 points making it 40-49. Mega responded with a 1-6 run and was leading 43-55 after 30 minutes. Spars could not really get much closer and Mega put the game away when Markovic and Kljajevic hit three-pointers to make it 53-73.