By Drazen Kanazir/info@eurohoops.net
BELGRADE – The Stark Arena was the perfect venue for the final game of the Adidas Next Generation Tournament between Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius and Stellazzurra Rome. And after a hard-fought match, the Lithuanians managed to come out on top with the 76-71 win.
Both teams went flawlessly through the group stage and produced high-level basketball. With so much talent on the court, it was no surprise that besides EuroLeague President & CEO Jordi Bertomeu – who presented the trophy to the winner – Fenerbahce‘s GM Maurizio Gherardini took also the time to watch the game.
Meanwhile scouts from the San Antonio Spurs, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Boston Celtics, the Toronto Raptors, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Miami Heat, the Washington Wizards, the New York Knicks, the Brooklyn Nets, the Orlando Magic, the Atlanta Hawks, the Portland Trailblazers, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Utah Jazz, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Sacramento Kings, the Dallas Mavericks, the Detroit Pistons and the Phoenix Suns were present in the tournament.
Right from the get-go, the team coached by Arvydas Gronskis was determined to take care of business and at halftime, they led 7 points.
But Stellazzurra Rome cut the deficit and tied the score at 69 with 1:23 left to play. Deividas Sirvydis knocked down a crucial three-pointer and followed it up with two successful free throws to secure the victory. The main man for the champions was center Marek Blazevic with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 3 assists in 33:20 minutes of action.