Partizan downs CFBB to reach ANGT Finals for first time

U18 Partizan NIS Belgrade advanced to the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals for the first time after beating U18 CFBB Paris 79-67 to take first place at the ANGT Belgrade. Nikola Radovanovic led Partizan with 12 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks and Dordije Jovanovic had 10 points and 8 rebounds. By taking first place in the Serbian capital, Partizan joins U18 Herbalife Gran Canaria, U18 Real Madrid and U18 Rytas Vilnius as the four direct qualifiers for the ANGT Finals at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in May in Cologne, Germany. CFBB, which won the continental title in 2010 and 2017, was paced by Daniel Batcho with 24 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks.

Despite the loss, Batcho was named tournament MVP. He averaged 14.8 points on 69.7 percent two-point shooting, 11.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks for a PIR of 24.3. He led the tournament in rebounds tied for the best PIR. Batcho was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Nikola Radovanovic of Partizan, Luka Paunovic of U18 Mega Bemax Belgrade, Egor Sytnikov of U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana and Nikola Manojlovic of U18 Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade.

U18 Mega Bemax Belgrade clinched third place by defeating U18 Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv 80-96. Mihailo Musikic was the top scorer with 26 points for Mega, which finished in first place at the ANGT Belgrade last season. Fifth place went to U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, which collected a 59-66 victory over host U18 Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade. Sytnikov led the way with 20 points for Olimpija, which earned three victories in the Serbian capital. U18 Asseco Arka Gdynia secured its first victory at the tournament in beating U18 Panathinaikos OPAP Athens 75-94 to finish seventh. Nikodem Czoska paced seven scorers in double figures with 17 points for Arka, which was making its first appearance in the competition since the 2007-08 season.