Host Crvena Zvezda Telekom won its fifth consecutive title

Reigning ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT champion Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade knocked off city rival Partizan Belgrade 51-73 to capture its fifth straight Belgrade qualifying tourney title, booking the fourth spot in the ANGT Finals at the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four in Madrid. In a repeat of the 2012 final, which Crvena Zvezda won 74-73, Nikola Popovic led the way with 14 points for Zvezda. Aleksa Radanov added 11 points and four assists while Vojislav Stojanovic collected 10 points, six rebounds and five assists for the winners. Aleksandar Aranitovic chipped in eight points, three rebounds, four assists, two steals and three blocks and Stefan Kenic had four points and 11 rebounds. Partizan was paced by Milos Glisic with 15 points and six rebounds while Slobodan Jovanovic scored 12 points and Mladen Armus had 10 points and seven rebounds.

Nikola Rakicevic’s lay-in to open the game was matched by a Jovanovic jumper and Stojanovic’s tip-in was matched by a Glisic put-back to make it 4-4. Zvezda put together its first mini-run with Rakicevic and Aranitovic lay-ups for a 4-10 lead and a Partizan time out. Jovanovic knocked down two three-pointers from the left wing to get Partizan to within 11-12. Radanov however converted a three-point play and Stojanovic nailed a three-ball in the waning seconds of the first quarter for a 13-19 Zvezda lead. Dusan Antic opened the second quarter with a three-pointer and Nikola Tanaskovic threw down a break away dunk after a steal as Partizan trailed just 18-19. Popovic and Aranitovic scored to give Zvezda an 18-23 cushion. But Jovanovic nailed another trey from the left wing and Glisic hit a hook shot off the glass to knot the game at 23-23. And Armus gave Partizan its first lead with a free throw to make it 24-23. Nemanja Kapetanovic gave the reigning champs the lead back with a lay-up and it was 26-28 after a Kapetanovic three-pointer from the right corner. Armus came back with a three-point play with Stojanovic answering with a three-pointer. Zvezda pushed ahead 29-35 after four Radanov free throws. Partizan received an unsportsmanlike foul on Radanov but only could get one Armus free throw to cut the deficit to 31-35. Borisa Simanic broke out on the ensuing possession for a layup and Popovic hit a layup after a Zvezda offensive rebound on a free throw as the reigning champs led 31-40 at the break.

After Popovic started the second half with a score, Glisic banked in a shot off the glass to make it 33-42. Zvezda got a put back from David Miladinovic and then a fast break dunk from Radanov for a 33-46 advantage - and a quick Partizan time out. Zvezda was unable to convert offensively and Glisic nailed a three-ball and a layup on the break to get Partizan to within 40-46. Aranitovic knocked down a jumper to snap Zvezda’s 4:11 minute scoreless drought. Rakicevic scored inside and Popovic put back an offensive rebound and hit the bonus free throw as Zvezda pushed the margin to 40-53. Strahinja Stansic’s free throw made it 41-53 after 30 minutes. Kapetanovic started the fourth quarter with a layup to increase the margin to 41-55. Jovanovic and Tanaskovic both split two free throws for Partizan, which got the rebound off the Jovanovic missed foul shot but failed to hit three three-pointers after offensive rebounds on a single possession. Simanic came down at the other end and nailed a three-pointer to give Zvezda a 43-58 lead with less than eight minutes to play. Popovic scored another inside basket as the advantage grew to 43-61. Glisic did nail a three-pointer and Armus’s inside basket had Partizan within 48-63. But Radanov hit a driving layup and Aranitovic made two free throws as the lead was up to 48-67 with four minutes to play. And Partizan did not get closer than 17 points the rest of the way.