By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Igokea m:tel claimed the title of the inaugural Youth Basketball Champions League with the Bosnia and Herzegovina club fighting past hosts Tofas Bursa 73-66 in the Final on Saturday for an undefeated run to the trophy.
Four Igokea players played at least 33 minutes and Ognjen Radosic led the team in scoring with 26 points. But special mention must go to Makitan, who collected 15 points, 17 rebounds, and 6 blocks. Cengiz finished with 26 points and 9 assists in the loss for Tofas.
Igokea m:tel captain Dusan Makitan hoisted the Youth BCL cup to the heavens at the Tofas Nilüfer Spor Salonu in Bursa to send off celebrations.
Makitan was also named Most Valuable Player of the Tournament. He was joined on the All-Star Five by Igokea teammate Ognjen Radosic, Ozgur Cengiz of Tofas SC, Roe Averni of Hapoel Jerusalem, and Ernestas Matulevic of BC Rytas.
Igokea m:tel will go down in history as the first winners of the Youth Basketball Champions League. They played their first two games without two of their best players – Ognjen Radosic and Ognjen Stankovic – and still managed to mount a perfect six-game run to history.
Third place in the inaugural Youth Basketball Champions League went to BC Rytas, which prevailed 78-73 over Hapoel Jerusalem despite squandering a 14-point lead. Rytas led 35-21 in the second quarter but watched Jerusalem come back and pull ahead 61-60. The Lithuanian side however reclaimed the lead and never gave it back up. Ernestas Matulevic flirted with a triple-double with 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists for Rytas.
Lenovo Tenerife rolled to a 74-62 victory over Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg to collect fifth place. The Spanish side led by 15 points after 10 minutes and never looked back. Mohamed Sangare paced Tenerife with 17 points and 8 rebounds.
Oostende CORETEC Basketball Academy snatched seventh place as they rallied to beat UCAM Murcia COC Oftalmologia 78-71 in overtime.
FINAL STANDINGS
1. Igokea m:tel
2. Tofas SC
3. BC Rytas
4. Hapoel Jerusalem
5. Lenovo Tenerife
6. Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg
7. Oostende CORETEC Basketball Academy
8. UCAM Murcia COC Oftalmologia
9. Bnei Herzliya
10. Basketball Academy Nymburk