Nakic dominates as Real claims its third ANGT crown

U18 Real Madrid captured the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament crown on Sunday with a 76-95 rout of U18 Mega Bemax Belgrade at Fernando Buesa Arena in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. Mario Nakic was the star fo the show as he setting championship game records with 33 points and a performance index rating of 41. He drew 10 fouls and made 16 of 19 free throws. Usman Garuba added 21 points and Amar Sylla posted 16 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. Nakic's PIR total bested freshly-crowned EuroLeague Rising Star Goga Bitadze for the most in an ANGT Finals title game. Bitadze posted a PIR of 38 for Mega two seasons ago. Nakic's scoring total was the highest in the deciding game since Milan Macvan had 28 for U18 FMP Belgrade in 2007. Aleksandar Langovic, Aleksa Markovic and Marko Kljajevic scored 12 points each for Mega and Marko Brekic had 11. Markovic also grabbed 10 rebounds.

Bemax started well with Langovic scoring 5 points as his team jumped to a 9-4 lead. Real turned up the pressure on defense and scored 8 unanswered points – half of which came on Nakic free throws. The teams parted ways at 20-20 after 10 minutes. Real took charge in the second quarter with Garuba throwing down a number of slams in a 4-22 charge. The boys from the Spanish capital rode Nakic and Garuba to a 33-50 halftime lead. Mega came out aggressive for the second half and – aided by the three-point shooting of Brekic – drew within 53-62. Sylla and Nakic helped Real right the ship and surge to a 55-72 advantage through three quarters. Real remained in control the rest of the way, allowing Coach Mariano De Pablos to send all his players into the game before celebrating the title.