By Drazen Kanazir/ info@eurohoops.net
VITORIA-GASTEIZ – After three hard-fought games in the group stage, which was held at Mendizorrotza, the final was set. The two emerging sides were the U18 squads of Real Madrid and Mega Bemax Belgrade. The talented team from the Spanish capital defeated the Serbians and captured the title in the Fernando Buesa Arena with an impressive 95-79 victory.
The Los Blancos went undefeated trough the entire tournament always beating their opponents by a double-digit margin. The Final was no exception. They really took off during the in the second quarter outscoring Mega Bemax by 17 points. Real didn’t let the lead slip away during the second half and the main reason was Mario Nakic. The 17-year-old swingman delivered in impressive fashion putting up 33 points, eight rebounds and four dimes. It probably goes without saying that his performance in front of EuroLeague-CEO Jordi Bertomeu and legendary EuroLeague Head Coach Duda Ivkovic earned him the MVP honors.
Like every ANGT, the youngsters have the chance to showcase their skills and abilities to large crowds and scouts of NBA sides like the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Washington Wizards, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons and Phoenix Suns that were gathered at Vitoria-Gasteiz.