Unicaja Malaga won out in a tight 78-81 contest against StellAzzurra Basketball Academy Rome on Friday in the Nike International Junior Tournament, holding on in a game that went right down to the wire. The Spanish team thus moved to 2-1 in the competition and takes second in Group A, while StellAzzurra claims third with form of 1-2.
The Italian team led by 41-36 at halftime, but the game had been extremely close up until then and there was no calling a winner. Unicaja’s superior scoring in the third quarter, 16-23, took it back in front and set up a thrilling finale. Holding onto the lead, Unicaja managed to end the game with a three-point advantage and take a second triumph in the NIJT Rome tourney. Its top scorer was Fernando Alonso, who downed 21 points to lead his team to victory, backed by 16 points from both Ruben Guerrero off the bench and starter Morayoninuoluwa Soluade. StellAzzurra relied on Valerio Cucci’s offense, which saw him claim 20 points, and the contribution from Daniel Donzelli with 18 points and 7 rebounds. Diego Terenzi took 12 points in the game.