Record-setting Camara helps Virtus beat Estudiantes

U18 Virtus Bologna got a record-setting performance in opening its Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Qualifier Valencia with a hard-fought 61-63 victory over U18 Movistar Estudiantes Madrid in Group B. Gora Camara scored 15 points while grabbing an ANGT record 26 rebounds to go with 11 fouls drawn for a performance index rating of 39 for Virtus. Camara, who grabbed 23 rebounds in a game last season at the ANGT L’Hospitalet, eclipsed the previous best mark of 24 rebounds from Jonas Valanciunas and Marko Pecarski. Matteo Nicoli scored 16 points and Lorenzo Deri added 12 points and 6 assists for Virtus, which survived hitting just 7-for-17 (41.2%) free throws by out-rebounding Estudiantes 56-40. Estudiantes got 10 points from Antonio Guerrero while Hector Alderete had 8 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists.

After Estudiantes jumped out to a 7-2 lead, Tommaso Tintori scored 5 points in a 2-11 Virtus run to go up 9-13. And the Italian side led 12-16 after 10 minutes. An Arcangelo Guastamacchia three-ball extended the advantage to 12-20 early in the second quarter. Estudiantes fought back with a 10-4 run with Eduardo Manzano and Ignacio Condes both hitting from long range to make it 24-24. The game stayed tight and was tied 31-31 at halftime. Gabriele Procida hit 5 points in a 1-9 spurt early in the second half for a 34-40 lead. And the cushion was back to 8 points, 40-48, after the second of two three-pointers from Nicoli. After 30 minutes, Virtus was up 43-48. Estudiantes got back to within 49-50 only to see the Italian club pull away for a 51-56 lead. But Estudiantes charged back with the next 7 points to go up 58-56. Camara knotted it at 58-58 and Nicoli nailed a three-ball to make it 59-62 with 18 seconds left. Up 61-62 with 6.8 seconds left, Camara missed two free throws but Nicoli grabbed the offensive rebound and then split two free throws for the win.