### [U18 ratiopharm Ulm 62-56 U18 Casademont Zaragoza](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/news/ulm-opens-angt-varese-with-win-over-zaragoza-62-56)

U18 ratiopharm Ulm opened the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Varese with a hard-fought 62-56 victory over U18 Casademont Zaragoza. Ulm fended off every Zaragoza comeback attempt to take the opening game in Group B. Tobias Jensen led the way with 24 points while Dominykas Pleta scored 11 points and Jacob Ensminger chipped in 7 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals. Manuel Zapater was the only Zaragoza player in double figures with 12 points with Aday Mara collecting 8 points, 5 rebounds and 7 blocks and Gonzalo Rodriguez adding 4 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists.

### [U18 PFYM INSEP Paris 76-50 U18 AX Armani Exchange Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/news/pfym-rolls-past-milan-in-opener-76-50/?pageTitle=Homepage&historyUrl=/ngt/)

U18 PFYM INSEP Paris rolled to a comfortable 76-50 victory over U18 AX Armani Exchange Milan to tip off its Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Varese campaign. The two-time continental champion PFYM, which did not participate in the competition last season, raced away with a 20-2 run in the second quarter and never looked back in the Group B game. Mael Hamon Crespin paced PFYM with 20 points and 7 rebounds while Rayan Rupert collected 15 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals and Melvin Ajinca picked up 12 points and 7 rebounds. The margin could have been even larger had PFYM not converted just 23-of-38 free throws (60.5%) and hit just 3-of-22 three-pointers (13.6%). Lionel Abega scored 14 points, Samuele Miccoli had 11 points and Andrea Leoni chipped in 10 points for Milan, which committed 26 turnovers.

### [U18 Panathinaikos OPAP Athens 42-77 U18 Joventut Badalona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/news/joventut-dominates-panathinaikos-in-first-win/?pageTitle=Homepage&historyUrl=/ngt/)

U18 Joventut Badalona started the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Varese with a convincing 42-77 victory over U18 Panathinaikos OPAP Athens in Group A. The 2013 continental champion Joventut used a 3-21 run bridging halftime to gain control of the game. Ruben Prey paced the winners with 16 points while Jordi Rodriguez chipped in 13 points and Albert Garrido had 10 points. Panathinaikos, which managed only 13 points in the second half, was led by Emmanouil Dimou with 18 points and Neoklis Avdalas picked up 10 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals.

### [U18 Varese Academy 63-80 U18 Next Generation Team Varese](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/news/ngv-pulls-away-from-host-varese-in-third-quarter/?pageTitle=Homepage&historyUrl=/ngt/)

U18 Next Generation Team Varese started its Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Varese campaign with a comfortable 63-80 win over host side and debutant U18 Varese Academy. NGV gained control of the Group A game with a 5-19 run in the third quarter. Zacharie Perrin was NGV’s leading scorer with 19 points to go with 12 rebounds and 8 fouls drawn for a 32 PIR while Leonardo Marangon had 15 points and Ege Tan Yildizoglu chipped in 7 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Wei Zhou was Varese’s top scorer with 13 points along with 4 assists and 5 steals and Valdo Guimdo had 10 points.

### [U18 AX Armani Exchange Milan 76-66 U18 ratiopharm Ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/news/milan-beats-ulm/?pageTitle=Homepage&historyUrl=/ngt/)

U18 AX Armani Exchange Milan grabbed its first victory of the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Varese by fending off U18 ratiopharm Ulm 76-66 in Group B. Playing in the ANGT for the first time since 2015-16, Milan used a 19-3 third quarter run to improve to 1-1 in the group. Davide Trovarelli and Marco Restelli paced the Italian club with 14 points each, Lionel Abega had 12 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists and Lamine Tandia chipped in 7 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks. Ulm also has a 1-1 record after the loss. Dominykas Pleta was the team’s only scorer in double figures with 17 points to go with 8 rebounds.

### [U18 PFYM INSEP Paris 76-38 U18 Casademont Zaragoza](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/news/pfym-shuts-down-zaragoza-for-2-0-mark/?pageTitle=Homepage&historyUrl=/ngt/)

U18 PFYM INSEP Paris secured its second win on Day 1 of the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Varese by racing past U18 Casademont Zaragoza 76-38 in Group B. The two-time continental champion PFYM put it in overdrive in the second quarter and never looked back for a 2-0 record in the group. Aurele Brena-Chemille scored 13 points for the winners and Rayan Rupert had 12 points. Zaragoza dropped to 0-2 in the group despite Manuel Zapater collecting 11 points.

Day 1 of the first-ever ANGT Varese is in the books and two-time continental champion U18 PFYM INSEP Paris has grabbed two wins to top Group B. In Group A, U18 Joventut Badalona and U18 Next Generation Team Varese both picked up victories in Round 1 action.

ANGT Varese Day 1: INSEP first to two wins

Wilson Jacques - U18 PFYM INSEP Paris - ANGT Varese 2022 (photo Alessia Doniselli) - JT21

U18 PFYM INSEP Paris secured its second win on Day 1 of the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Varese by racing past U18 Casademont Zaragoza 76-38 in Group B. The two-time continental champion PFYM put it in overdrive in the second quarter and never looked back for a 2-0 record in the group. Aurele Brena-Chemille scored 13 points for the winners and Rayan Rupert had 12 points. Zaragoza dropped to 0-2 in the group despite Manuel Zapater collecting 11 points.  

PFYM shuts down Zaragoza for 2-0 mark

Melvin Ajinca hit a three-pointer to start the scoring and Rupert was also on target from deep for an 8-2 lead. Zaragoza was with 11-6 before failing to score for the final 4 minutes of the first quarter and PFYM reeled off seven straight points to lead 18-6 after 10 minutes. PFYM needed more than 2 minutes to score in the second quarter and Zaragoza cut the deficit to 18-10. The French team then ran away from Zaragoza with a 19-3 run over 7 minutes with Rupert collecting six points for a 37-13 advantage. And the cushion was 40-17 at the break.

EB ANGT Varese Round 2 Highlights: U18 PFYM INSEP Paris-U18 Casademont Zaragoza

The onslaught continued in the second half with Ajinca and Mael Hamon-Crespin hitting triples to surge ahead 48-19. Zapater converted a three-point play but PFYM was unimpressed and Maxim Logue threw down six points in a 15-2 run for a 63-24 advantage. The score was 64-30 after 30 minutes. The PFYM reserves didn’t let up at all, opening the final frame on a 9-3 run to not give Zaragoza any further hope.

Rayan Rupert - ANGT Varese 2022 (photo Alessia Doniselli) - JT21

U18 PFYM INSEP Paris v U18 Casademont Zaragoza (2022-04-01T18:00:00.000Z)

U18 AX Armani Exchange Milan grabbed its first victory of the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Varese by fending off U18 ratiopharm Ulm 76-66 in Group B. Playing in the ANGT for the first time since 2015-16, Milan used a 19-3 third quarter run to improve to 1-1 in the group. 

Milan beats Ulm for first ANGT win since 2015-16

Davide Trovarelli and Marco Restelli paced the Italian club with 14 points each, Lionel Abega had 12 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists and Lamine Tandia chipped in 7 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks. Ulm also has a 1-1 record after the loss. Dominykas Pleta was the team’s only scorer in double figures with 17 points to go with 8 rebounds.

Samuele Miccoli gave Milan the first lead with Pleta and Tobias Jensen converting three-point plays to put Ulm up 4-6. Jensen buried a three-pointer and had another basket as the German side led 8-11. Neither side could really pull away as Restelli hit a triple for Milan to tie the game and Simeon Dimitrov and Yannick Zumsteg put Ulm back in front, including a 16-18 advantage after 10 minutes. Marko Rosic’s three-pointer gave Ulm its first four-point lead 18-22. Trovarelli scored twice to keep Milan close until Pleta made it 26-30. Milan came up with some stops and Tandia’s three-pointer put the Italian side back in front 31-30. And Milan led 35-34 at intermission.

EB ANGT Varese Round 2 Highlights: U18 AX Armani Exchange Milan-U18 ratiopharm Ulm

Ulm needed more than 2 minutes to score in the second half and Milan had moved ahead 39-34. Miccoli scored his second basket of the quarter to extend the lead to seven points and five points each from Abega and Restelli pushed Milan’s cushion to 55-39. The momentum continued and Restelli’s three-pointer made it a 20-point game - 63-43 - with the score being 63-45 after 30 minutes. Abega and Andrea Leoni both hit three-pointers and Milan was still ahead 73-54 with less than 5 minutes to play. Ulm did not give up with 12 straight points ending with Samuel Schally’s three-pointer to cut it to 73-66 with 52 seconds left. But Restelli drained a triple of his own with 32 seconds remaining to lock up the win.

Lamine Tandia - U18 AX Armani Exchange Milan - ANGT Varese 2022 (photo Alessia Doniselli) - JT21

U18 AX Armani Exchange Milan v U18 Ratiopharm Ulm (2022-04-01T16:00:00.000Z)

U18 Next Generation Team Varese started its Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Varese campaign with a comfortable 63-80 win over host side and debutant U18 Varese Academy. NGV gained control of the Group A game with a 5-19 run in the third quarter. Zacharie Perrin was NGV’s leading scorer with 19 points to go with 12 rebounds and 8 fouls drawn for a 32 PIR while Leonardo Marangon had 15 points and Ege Tan Yildizoglu chipped in 7 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Wei Zhou was Varese’s top scorer with 13 points along with 4 assists and 5 steals and Valdo Guimdo had 10 points.

NGV pulls away from host Varese in third quarter

NGV started the game with the first seven points and it took Varese more than 2 minutes to finally score through Filipovic Jovan and a Lorenzo Dell’Anna three-pointer made it 6-9. The selection team responded with the next 10 points for a 6-19 lead. Karl Poom picked up four points at the other end in a 9-0 spurt to pull within four points and the score was 15-21 after 10 minutes. Perrin started the second quarter scoring with Vuk Bogunovic cutting the gap to 19-23. Varese went 4 minutes without a point and NGV moved ahead 19-27. Giorgio Franceschi’s triple made it 23-32 and the score was 27-33 at intermission.

EB ANGT Varese Round 1 Highlights: U18 Varese Academy-U18 Next Generation Team Varese

Dell’Anna scored the first basket of the second half but NGV started the third quarter strongly with a 5-19 run including six points each from Perrin and Dorde Curcic for a 33-52 lead. Varese got some defensive stops and Benjamin Marchiaro drained a three-pointer to get the host side within 41-52. NGV finished the quarter with the final six points and it was 41-58 after 30 minutes. Mattia De Martin opened the final frame with a three-pointer and NGV extended the advantage to 41-65. Guimo made sure Varese would not give up without a fight with five points and Jovan and Zhou drained three-pointers and the deficit was just 58-70 with 3 minutes to play. But that was the closest the game would get.

Zacharie Perrin - U18 Next Generation Team Varese - ANGT Varese 2022 (photo Alessia Doniselli) - JT21

U18 Varese Academy v U18 Next Generation Team Varese (2022-04-01T14:00:00.000Z)

U18 Joventut Badalona started the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Varese with a convincing 42-77 victory over U18 Panathinaikos OPAP Athens in Group A. The 2013 continental champion Joventut used a 3-21 run bridging halftime to gain control of the game. Ruben Prey paced the winners with 16 points while Jordi Rodriguez chipped in 13 points and Albert Garrido had 10 points. Panathinaikos, which managed only 13 points in the second half, was led by Emmanouil Dimou with 18 points and Neoklis Avdalas picked up 10 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals.

Joventut dominates Panathinaikos in first win

Prey scored the first points of the game for Joventut with Georgios Xoxakos doing the honors for Panathinaikos. Conrad Martinez knocked down two three-pointers and the Spanish side led 4-10. Dimou responded with two triples of his own to knot the game 10-10. And after failing behind 10-15, the Greens held Joventut scoreless for the final 5 minutes of the first quarter and it was 15-15 after 10 minutes. Rodriguez opened the second quarter with a three-pointer but Joventut went 4 minutes without a score and Avdalas scored four points as Panathinaikos jumped ahead 23-18. A Dimou three-pointer had the Greek side up 26-21 but Joventut put together the biggest run of the game as Prey and Rodridguez both had five points in a 0-15 surge to lead 26-35. Avdalas drained a three-pointer to snap the nearly 4-minute scoreless drought and it was 29-35 at the break.

EB ANGT Varese Round 1 Highlights: U18 Panathinaikos OPAP Athens-U18 Joventut Badalona

Joventut scored the first seven points of the second half to pull ahead 29-42, and Panathinaikos did not score until Avdalas’ three-pointer more than 5 minutes into the third quarter. Aristode Dwayne had a three-point play and three-pointer as Joventut remained in control and led 37-52 after 30 minutes. Garrido picked up five points in Joventut’s 0-11 start to the fourth quarter for a 37-63 advantage and the game was finished for good.

Ruben De Oliveira - U18 Joventut Badalona - ANGT Varese 2022 (photo Alessia Doniselli) - JT21

U18 Panathinaikos OPAP Athens v U18 Joventut Badalona (2022-04-01T12:00:00.000Z)

U18 PFYM INSEP Paris rolled to a comfortable 76-50 victory over U18 AX Armani Exchange Milan to tip off its Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Varese campaign. The two-time continental champion PFYM, which did not participate in the competition last season, raced away with a 20-2 run in the second quarter and never looked back in the Group B game. Mael Hamon Crespin paced PFYM with 20 points and 7 rebounds while Rayan Rupert collected 15 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals and Melvin Ajinca picked up 12 points and 7 rebounds. The margin could have been even larger had PFYM not converted just 23-of-38 free throws (60.5%) and hit just 3-of-22 three-pointers (13.6%). Lionel Abega scored 14 points, Samuele Miccoli had 11 points and Andrea Leoni chipped in 10 points for Milan, which committed 26 turnovers.  

PFYM rolls past Milan in opener, 76-50

Marco Restelli started the scoring for Milan while Hamon Crespin followed with the next seven points at the other end. Milan picked up the next six points to reclaim the lead only to see Hamon Crespin pick up five more points in a 13-5 surge to put PFYM up 20-13. Lionel Abega hit a three-pointer for Milan and the Italian side trailed 24-19 after 10 minutes. Milan could not get anything going offensively in the second quarter, going nearly 3 minutes before an Abega layup snapped an 6-0 run before Ajinca hit two three-pointers early on in a 14-0 surge for a 44-21 advantage, which was 44-23 at halftime.

EB ANGT Varese Round 1 Highlights: U18 PFYM INSEP Paris-U18 AX Armani Exchange Milan

Leoni tallied the first five points of the second half but Ajinca countered with four points in an 8-0 run as PFYM seized control again. A Miccoli three-pointer trimmed the deficit to 20 points - 56-36 - and it was 63-41 after 30 minutes. Little changed in the fourth quarter as even PFYM’s reserves limiting Milan’s offense and the French side rolling to the win.

Mael Hamon Crespin - U18 PFYM INSEP Paris - ANGT Varese 2022 (photo Alessia Doniselli) - JT21

U18 PFYM INSEP Paris v U18 AX Armani Exchange Milan (2022-04-01T10:00:00.000Z)

U18 ratiopharm Ulm opened the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Varese with a hard-fought 62-56 victory over U18 Casademont Zaragoza. Ulm fended off every Zaragoza comeback attempt to take the opening game in Group B. Tobias Jensen led the way with 24 points while Dominykas Pleta scored 11 points and Jacob Ensminger chipped in 7 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals. Manuel Zapater was the only Zaragoza player in double figures with 12 points with Aday Mara collecting 8 points, 5 rebounds and 7 blocks and Gonzalo Rodriguez adding 4 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists.

Ulm opens ANGT Varese with win over Zaragoza, 62-56

Pleta scored the first four points of the tournament for Ulm and it took more than 4 minutes for Zaragoza to finally score through Mara. Lucas Langarita drained the first triple of the game for Zaragoza before Ulm got a three-pointer from Lenny Liedtke for a 16-10 lead, which was 16-12 after 10 minutes. After Mara evened the game 16-16 early in the second quarter, Liedtke hit a second three-pointer. Zaragoza had major problems scoring, failing to produce a point for nearly 5 minutes while Jensen had four points and Ulm led 26-20. Javier Fernandez hit a three-pointer at the buzzer and it was 26-24 at the break.

Rodriguez tied the game to start the second half only to see Jensen bury two triples and Ensminger also hit from deep for a 37-26 cushion. Zaragoza countered with a Zapater three-point play and three-pointers from Rodriguez and Alejandro Moreno to get within 44-41. Ulm however was up 50-43 after 30 minutes. Ulm went scoreless for more than 2 minutes to start the fourth quarter but Zaragoza only got a three-pointer from Pavle Stosic to pull within 50-46. Pleta finally got the German side on the board with two scores and the margin was 54-46. Stosic knocked down another triple to trim the gap to 54-51 but Jensen and Simeon Dimitrov scored to reestablish a seven-point lead. Dimitrov added a layup with 31 seconds to end any doubts at 62-54.

Tobias Jensen - U18 ratiopharm Ulm - ANGT Varese 2022 (photo Alessia Doniselli) - JT21

U18 Ratiopharm Ulm v U18 Casademont Zaragoza (2022-04-01T08:00:00.000Z)

Watch the ANGT Varese games live!

Noah Penda - U18 PFYM INSEP Paris - ANGT Varese 2022 (photo Alessia Doniselli) - JT21

The Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament qualifiers move to Italy this week. The ANGT Varese tips off on Friday, April 1. Here are some of the young talents to keep an eye on.

ANGT Varese players to watch

### Neoklis Avdalas U18 Panathinaikos Athens 

Avdalas will be playing at his first ANGT event. The 2006-born guard has also not yet played for Greece’s youth national teams, but he has made his debut for Panathinaikos’s first team. Avdalas in December 2021 became the youngest Greek player to score in the EuroLeague when he did so against ALBA Berlin. He is already 2.00 meters tall and still growing. Avdalas has good ball control for his height as well as great court vision and basketball IQ. He also is a good midrange pull-up jumper. Once he becomes stronger that will help him be more aggressive and attack the rim more as his drive and finishing around the basket still must improve.

### Jacob Ensminger U18 ratiopharm Ulm

Ensminger will be playing in his third ANGT after he collected 5 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in a combined 30 minutes in two games at the 2019-20 ANGT Munich and then averaged 8.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.8 steals at the 2020-21 ANGT Valencia. Ensminger, who is the younger brother of former ANGT participant Zach Ensminger and the son of long-time German League star Chris Ensminger, is currently averaging 7.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.3 steals in the German third division. He is also playing in the fourth division Regionalliga and the U19 NBBL league. Ensminger is a 2.04-meter point guard who is a team player and can impact the game in a variety of ways, including rebounding, passing, defending multiple positions and scoring from the perimeter or inside. He also has an excellent basketball IQ.

### Aday Mara U18 Casademont Zaragoza

Mara will be lining up for his second ANGT after he collected 8.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks at the 2020-21 ANGT Istanbul, including 18 points, 14 rebounds and 6 blocks in the opening game against U18 Anadolu Efes Istanbul. The 2005-born big man has yet to play for Spain at the national team level because his generation did not play internationally last summer. The 2.18-meter tall Mara plays predominantly in the Spanish fourth division, where he has averaged 10.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.8 blocks. He has also played in the Spanish second division and also made his FIBA Europe Cup debut with 2 points and 2 rebounds in 7 minutes against Reggio Emilia. Mara is a smart player with a great basketball IQ who must improve his strength and his hook shot in the paint.

### Benjamin Marchiaro U18 Varese Academy 

Marchiaro will be making his second ANGT appearance after he played on loan with U18 Stellazzurra Rome at last season’s ANGT Istanbul and he averaged 8.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 steals. The native of Argentina came to the Varese Academy in 2020 from Ceres, Santa Fe, where he won the national U15 championship in 2019. Marchiaro can play as a combo-guard, relying on very good shooting range plus the ability to finish close to the basket with both hands. He can also pull up from mid-range or find an open man for the assist. 

### Samuele Miccoli U18 AX Armani Exchange Milan

Miccoli will be making his ANGT debut in Varese. The 2006-born Miccoli is 1.90 meters tall and can play both guard positions. He has averaged 17.5 points, 3.2 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 2.7 steals in the U17 Italian League as well as 10.1 points, 2.7 assists, 4 rebounds and 2.2 steals in the U19 Italian League. He was named the MVP at the last Iscar Tournament with the U16 Italian national team and was the top scorer with 20.3 points. Miccoli is an explosive player with great game vision, and he is a good passer. He can play well in one-on-one situations thanks to his great athletic skills and physical power. Miccoli is also a solid on-ball defender. 

### Jordi Rodriguez U18 Joventut Badalona

Rodriguez is playing in the ANGT for the second time after contributing 3.3 points, 0.5 rebounds and 0.5 assists at the ANGT Valencia. He played at the FIBA U18 European Challenger 2021 and averaged 14.6 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.8 steals per game for Spain. The Barcelona native has been with Joventut since he was 4 years old. The shooting guard mainly plays on Joventut’s fourth division team - where he averages 14.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 steals - but also has appeared in seven games in the second division LEB Gold. Rodriguez has great skills as a shooter and also has the offensive talent to create his shot. He is still developing his passing skills though.

### Zacharie Perrin U18 Next Generation Team Varese

Perrin will be playing his first ANGT tournament. The French power forward plays for French club Antibes Sharks. He played at the FIBA U18 European Challengers 2021 and averaged 9.2 points. 6.0 rebounds and 0.8 blocks. The left-handed big man likes to get out and run - and immediately looks to get out in transition - and can handle the ball in the open court. He’s quick for his size, likes to finish at the rim, including on alley-oops. Perrin is a crafty passer with good vision, which he often uses to look for quick outlet passes after rebounds. He is a good shot-blocker and rebounder.

### Rayan Rupert U18 Paris PFYM INSEP Paris

Rupert will be playing in the ANGT for the second time after appearing at the ANGT Belgrade in 2019-20 at two years under the maximum age. He compiled 4 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal in 18 minutes over two games. Rupert played for France at the FIBA U18 European Challengers 2021 where he averaged 10.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.6 steals. The PFYM captain has been worth 13.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.2 steals per game in the French third division this season. Rupert is an all-around excellent offensive player and the shooting guard has a great pull-up jumper as well as a strong mentality.

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