FIATC Joventut Badalona went through to the final of the Nike International Junior Tournament L’Hospitalet with a tight 58-66 win over FC Barcelona Regal, in a battle between two local teams in the youth competition. Barcelona very nearly caught up with its neighbors with a strong third quarter fightback, but a Jose Nogues triple and three Xavier Assalit free throws late in the fourth quarter put the win for Joventut beyond doubt. Nogues was top scorer for Joventut with 22 points, joined on double digits by Alberto Abalde and David Ariarte with 11 and Agusti Sans with 10. For Barcelona, Mario Hezonja almost mounted the comeback singlehandedly, racking up 35 points.

Barcelona managed just 8 points in the opening quarter, going 8-19 behind early on in the game and never recovering from that deficit. After finding its flow in the second through Hezonja and Xavier Moix, a recovery looked to be on the cards, but Joventut was able to protect its lead after the break. That was despite Barcelona’s game-high 23 point third quarter, which pulled it to within 5 points going into the final period. In that last quarter, important baskets from Agusti Sans and Marc Bauza kept Joventut in front and it held on for the 58-66 win –booking a place in the final.