CFBB too much for Stellazzurra, takes third place

U18 CFBB Paris captured third place at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Kaunas for the third time in the last five editions after beating U18 Stellazzurra Rome 67-49. Timothe Crusol scored 24 points with 6 assists and 2 steals to lead CFBB, which also finished third in 2015 and 2017 and was fourth in 2016 and 2018. Juhann Begarin chipped in 13 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals for the two-time continental champion. Stellazzurra, which took second place at the ANGT Kaunas last season, finished fourth this time around and was led by Nicola Giordano picking up 11 points.

CFBB opened the first mini-lead at 9-6 after a three-pointer from Leo Billon. A trey by Crusol had the French side up 14-8 and the lead was 17-10 after 10 minutes. Crusol knocked down two three-pointers as CFBB pushed the advantage to 28-15 midway through the second quarter. Crusol added 5 more points and CFBB was leading 33-19 at the break. Stellazzurra picked up the first six points of the second half but CFBB held the Italian team scoreless for more than 3 minutes in surging ahead 40-25. Begarin completed a three-point play and Crusol drained another three-ball and the gap was 49-31. And after 30 minutes, CFBB was on the road to victory with a 55-34 cushion. Stellazzurra tried to get back into the game and cut the deficit to 59-45 with 6 minutes left. But CFBB shut down the Stellazzurra offense for 4 minutes in pushing the margin out to 20 points, 65-45 with 2 minutes left to decide the game.