Many basketball players say they remember losses much more than victories. Nikola Saranovic is no different, and he hopes playing at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals can help him overcome a past ANGT defeat that still hurts.


Saranovic hopes ANGT Finals can help forget painful loss

U18 Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade was long a force at the ANGT Belgrade, having won eight straight events in the Serbian capital until 2019. That season Zvezda lost to city rival U18 Mega Belgrade in the ANGT Belgrade first-place game.

Zvezda was ready to get back to the ANGT Belgrade deciding game in 2020. Everything was in place as Zvezda was leading the other city rival, U18 Partizan Belgrade, by 13 points with less than 3 minutes to play in the final group stage game. Down the stretch, Saranovic missed a shot, made 2 fouls and then committed a turnover with 9 seconds left and his team up by one point. Partizan’s Lazar Stefanovic would score on a layup with 1 second left for the comeback victory. Saranovic called that loss the biggest disappointment in his young career.

"I have trained and worked hard so that it won't happen again," said Saranovic, who had 3 points and 2 rebounds in that game and finished with 4.5 points and 4.0 rebounds at the 2020 ANGT Belgrade.

The 2.01-meter guard stepped up his play at the 2021 ANGT Belgrade and collected 8 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists against Partizan to get Zvezda back to the first-place game. Zvezda could not get the job done against Mega though in an 80-82 loss after blowing a 19-point lead to finish second.

Still, getting his team one stage further was an accomplishment for Saranovic, who averaged 15.3 points, 6.8 points, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals for an index rating of 24.3.

"I learned how to be calmer and how to lead my team in tough situations," said Saranovic, who earned a spot on the ANGT Belgrade all-tournament team with his performance.

Saranovic continues to make big strides with Zvezda. About six weeks before the 2021 ANGT Belgrade, senior team head coach Dejan Radonjic invited the guard to join his roster for the Radivoje Korac Cup. Saranovic did not end up playing in the tournament, but the exposure to the professionals helped him.

"I learned that they play much better and stronger basketball than us juniors," said Saranovic, who starting playing basketball in first grade. "My biggest achievement is being a part of the senior team at such young age - to be able to learn from such great players."

Saranovic clearly has shown he can excel at his age group. One of the other highlights this season came on December 20, 2020, as he registered a triple-double of 21 points, 10 rebounds and 14 steals and was close to a quadruple-double with 7 assists as well against Smederevo in the U19 league.

"That day I was feeling very motivated, and I think that there was a little bit of luck involved. But I couldn’t have done it without the help of my teammates," said Saranovic, who averaged 11.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.2 steals in the U19 season.

Saranovic and Zvezda have another highlight coming after the club received a wild card for the ANGT Finals in Valencia, Spain, on June 3-6. They have a chance about which he is very excited.

"I am feeling extra motivated to win and maybe bring one more trophy to Belgrade," he said. "We need to play as a team, to play extra hard defense, run good in transition, play smart offense and show other teams that we are able to win this tournament... I think that it would mean a lot to everybody who supports Crvena Zvezda to see us win this tournament."

Zvezda claimed the 2014 ANGT title and then went to back-to-back ANGT Championship Games in 2015 and 2016 - losing both times. Another triumph this season would make it easier for Nikola Saranovic to forget that painful loss from last season.

Many basketball players say they remember losses much more than victories. Nikola Saranovic is no different, and he hopes playing at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals can help him overcome a past ANGT defeat that still hurts.

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When Gael Bonilla takes the court at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals, winning a second continental crown for U18 FC Barcelona will be his biggest goal. 

Basketball helped Bonilla escape danger to reach Barcelona

But just playing at the continent’s top youth competition is a major step given the dangers of his home city.

Bonilla was born and raised in Ecatepec, located just north of Mexico City. The city of about 1.6 million people is infamous for being one of the most dangerous places in his native Mexico.

"It was difficult to live there, but thanks to my family and sports I kept focused on my goals," said Bonilla, who picked up the game when he was 7 years old.

Countless players in the United States have said that basketball helped them rise out of their tough situations on the streets back home, thanks to a college scholarship. The same can be said about Bonilla, who received a scholarship to attend the Canarias Basketball Academy on the Spanish island of Tenerife in 2016. Bonilla was just 13 years old when he left Mexico for Europe.

"It was a very difficult time because I was separated from my family and friends. I took refuge in basketball and kept myself busy so as not to think too much about Mexico," Bonilla explained.

One thing that helped Bonilla in his first season at the CBA was the presence of fellow Mexican Diego Willis, who was at the academy from 2015 to 2017.

After his first season with CBA, Bonilla was loaned to Real Madrid for the Spanish Castelldefels tournament and he won the MVP award after averaging 20.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and a PIR of 27.7. After the event, both Real Madrid and FC Barcelona recruited Bonilla to join their club, and he eventually chose Barcelona.

"I decided to go to Barcelona because of the good treatment they gave me at the beginning and because of the new opportunities that would come to me by being with one of the best clubs in the world. Also I wanted to prove to myself that I can compete at the highest level," said Bonilla, who joined the club in December 2016.

After having Willis with him at CBA, by the time he had joined Barcelona Bonilla had already met with Gustavo Ayon. The Real Madrid big man also hails from Mexico and is one of the country’s greatest players. Ayon won the EuroLeague with Real in 2015 and 2018 and led the country’s national team for many years including at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2014.

"Meeting one of the best Mexican basketball players was very good as he gave me some tips to improve and keep working. What I like most about him is the way he works and everything he gives for Mexico," Bonilla said.

The Barcelona youngster also has helped his homeland on the international level. He played at the FIBA U16 Americas Championship 2019 and excelled individually with 16.2 points, 14.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.7 steals and 4.5 blocks per game, though Mexico won just one game.

"The most beautiful memory of the tournament for me was having worn my national team's shirt for the first time and playing against Canada and Argentina, who are world powers, and having competed with them," he said.

Later that summer, Bonilla helped Mexico make history by taking first place for the first time at the Centrobasket U17 Championship 2019, including defeating Puerto Rico in the final.

"It was an unforgettable experience because we won the final against Puerto Rico, who were the hosts. Listening to the national anthem when we were crowned champions was an indescribable sensation," said Bonilla, who averaged 14.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.0 steals and 2.4 blocks at the tourney.

The 2.02-meter Bonilla has excelled at the club level as well. This season is his third campaign in the ANGT for Barcelona after collecting 3.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.5 blocks at the 2018-19 ANGT Valencia at just 15 years of age and contributing 10.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2.7 steals and 2.7 blocks at the 2019-20 ANGT Valencia. That experience helped him in Valencia last December.

"I learned from the mistakes of my game and that of my teammates. I also learned how to be more calm during the decisive moments," he said.

Barcelona's only ANGT title came in 2016 and Bonilla is hoping to give the club another trophy: "I believe what is needed is attitude and trust in each of your teammates and all of them to play for the same goal," Bonilla said."It would be very nice because I would finish my junior carer in the best possible way."

And it would mean that much more looking back at how Bonilla’s journey started.

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If there are two things that Nikola Jovic values, they are winning and being a leader. 

Belgrade ANGT MVP Jovic values being a leader

And the Serbian talent showed he has those traits in guiding U18 Mega SoccerBet Belgrade to first place at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Belgrade.

Jovic collected 29.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.8 blocks for the tournament, including 32 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists in Mega's 80-82 win over U18 Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade in the first-place game to take home the Most Valuable Player award. Mega needed every one of Jovic's points as it rallied back from 19 points behind early in the second half to take first place at the ANGT Belgrade for the second time, the other having come in 2019.

"We were losing by almost 20 points but I believed in my teammates and that's all that mattered," he said

Jovic is the Mega captain and he loves leading the team.

"It feels amazing being the leader of the team. I can help the other guys on and off the court," he said.

When asked to comment on Jovic after the game, Mega head coach Dragoljub Avramovic offered up: "What to say? He does everything on the floor. Everything."

Jovic said winning the tournament in Belgrade was the biggest achievement of his still-young career. It's a career that began with Mega in 2018, when he joined the club from the lower level side Sava Belgrade.

"I was playing for a small club in Serbia and Mega gave me the chance," he said.

Jovic was born in Leicester, England and came to Serbia when he was 9 years old. He didn't take up the game of basketball until he was 11. He was a quick study, though. He was expected to be on the Serbian national team for the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019. A wrist injury cost him a chance to play in Italy, where Serbia lost to eventual champions Spain in a heart-breaker in overtime in the quarterfinal.

"My biggest disappointment was not being able to play for Serbia because I was injured," said Jovic, who had to watch from afar as Serbia ended up finishing seventh and failing to qualify for the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2020.

Nonetheless the 2.08-meter forward remains on the radar of talent scouts throughout the world for his outstanding performances. This was actually Jovic's second time playing for Mega at the ANGT Belgrade. He collected 11.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.8 blocks last season. Mega was coming into the tournament looking to repeat its first-placed showing from 2019, but the team lost to U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana by three points in the penultimate game in the group phase. That meant Mega needed to beat U18 CFBB Paris by at least eight points to reach the first-place game again. Jovic and co. could only manage a 69-68 win and ended up taking third place.

"Last year, I learned that every team comes to the tournament to win, so every game is important," he said.

Jovic had watched the 2018-19 Mega team and its impressive run to the top spot at the ANGT Belgrade and then reaching the ANGT Championship Game, where the club lost to U18 Real Madrid at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Vitoria-Gasteiz.

"It was a great experience to watch those guys win," said Jovic, who was only 16 at the time.

That was the second time Mega came up just short of winning Europe's number one youth club competition. The club reached the ANGT Championship Game in 2017, as well, but could not hoist the trophy as it was U18 FCBB Paris that did the honors in Istanbul.

Jovic knows that Mega invests a lot of time and energy in youth development. And he would love to finally give the club an ANGT trophy.

"It would mean everything. And I think we can accomplish it if we all work hard," he said.

Jovic has already exhibited that he has a winning gene and can lead a team. Soon, at the ANGT Finals, he will get a chance to show Europe again.

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Nikola Jovic claimed the Most Valuable Player award at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Belgrade as he helped carry U18 Mega SoccerBet Belgrade to first place in the event. 

Mega's Jovic takes MVP, heads all-tournament team

Jovic collected 32 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists and 11 fouls drawn for an index rating of 41 in Mega’s 80-82 comeback victory over U18 Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade in the first-place game. For the tournament, he averaged 29.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.8 blocks and 8.0 fouls drawn for a PIR of 38.0. The Mega leader ranked first in scoring and PIR, second in rebounds, third in two-point shooting percentage (65.6%), fifth in blocks and seventh in assists. Joining Jovic on the all-tournament team were teammate Nikola Djurisic, Nikola Saranovic of Zvezda, Dordije Jovanovic of U18 Partizan NIS Belgrade and Tomislav Ivisic from U18 Buducnost VOLI Podgorica.

Djurisic contributed 17 points and 7 rebounds in the first-place game and ended the tournament averaging 19.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.8 steals for a PIR of 22.5. He ranked sixth in points, assists and index rating, and third in steals. Saranovic picked up 19 points and 7 rebounds in a losing effort against Mega. For the tournament, he compiled 15.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals for a PIR of 24.3. He was third in PIR, ranked first in three-point shooting accuracy (66.7%), seventh in steals and 11th in points. Jovanovic, who helped Partizan to finish third in the tournament, collected 20.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists including 46.4% three-point shooting for a PIR of 24.3. He was third in points and tied for third in index rating and second in free throw accuracy (87.5%). Ivisic, who finished fourth in the tournament with Buducnost, averaged 21.0 points, 12.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 3.0 blocks for an index rating of 31.0. He led the tournament in rebounds and blocks and was second in scoring and index rating.

Tomislav Ivisic has impressed observers in helping U18 Buducnost VOLI Podgorica reach the third-place game at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Belgrade. 

Buducost's Ivisic is excelling in Belgrade even without twin brother

But the talented big man has been missing a major partner on his side in the Serbian capital.

Ivisic averaged 20.0 points, 13.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 3.7 blocks for a performance index rating of 34.7 in the group phase of the tournament. The the big highlight was his outstanding game against U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, with 29 points, 17 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 4 blocks for a 48 PIR.  

"I'm happy that everyone can see my hard work and my progress. I also have some senior experience, so it helps a lot while playing my age group," Ivisic said. "It's not easy. There are a lot of good teams here and a lot of games in a few days. But I prepared for it."

This is his second time playing in this competition after appearing at the ANGT Valencia in 2019-20, where he played for U18 Cibona Zagreb.

"The biggest thing I learned from Valencia last year is definitely that teamwork always wins, not individuals," said the 2.16 meter center, who averaged 4.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in Valencia.

While Ivisic standing out in Belgrade is not a surprise given his development over the years, it is a little easier to distinguish him this time around. Tomislav has regularly had his twin brother Zvonimir Ivisic as a running mate. But Zvonimir, who is a bit taller at 2.19 meters, is not in Belgrade because he is dealing with a knee injury.

Tomislav said he and his brother have always helped each other with everything -. also in a competitive way.

"We always competed about who is better, and in that way we both push each other to be better players. We complement one another and when one of us makes a mistake, the other is there to correct it. It's the same thing off the court," said Tomislav, who used to play football as a goalkeeper before concentrating on basketball.

And even though the twins look alike, their games do have differences.

"The difference between me and him is that he plays more the outside game with pick-and-pop, and I play the inside game more with pick-and-roll. He is a better shooter, but we can both shoot threes," said Tomislav, who has made 5-of-13 three-pointers for 38.5% in Belgrade.

Tomislav and his brother have been together their whole career, growing up in the small town of Vitez in central Bosnia and Herzegovina about 60 kilometers northwest of Sarajevo and then heading to Croatian club Sibenik and its excellent academy.

"The most important reason why we choose Sibenik was to develop our skills as young players because coaches there teach young players to develop every skill they have or have potential for," said Ivisic, who models his game after Nikola Jokic because of his game style and confidence.

Ivisic received playing time in a couple of games in the Croatian League in 2018-19 and then was a regular with the pro team in 2019-20, averaging 3.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in 14 games. Zvonimir also got into a couple of games last season as well.

The brothers also played together at the ANGT Valencia last season as well as for Croatia at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019. That was actually the second U16 continental tournament for Tomislav, who helped Croatia win the title in 2018.

"Winning the U16 European Championship was a huge thing for me personally and for the whole team. We worked hard that summer and we believed we could achieve good things at the tournament. But to be honest, we didn't expect to take first place," joked Ivisic, who averaged 1.5 points and 2.3 rebounds playing a year younger than the rest of the competition.

This past summer, the twins left Sibenik and signed on with Montenegro side Buducnost.

"We decided that it's time to leave Sibenik for somewhere better for our basketball careers, and Buducnost contacted us and we really liked their history about developing young players," Tomislav explained.

"At this tournament, I am trying to show my potential and my hard work from the last six or seven months, and I hope the team can fight for the ANGT Finals," he said.

Should Buducnost get selected to play at the ANGT Finals, Tomislav Ivisic could once again have his twin brother alongside him, too.

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The final qualifying event in the 2020-21 Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament tips off this weekend in the Serbian capital, where eight clubs will compete for the top spot and an automatic berth at the end-of-season ANGT Finals. 

ANGT Belgrade: Players to watch

The slate features teams hailing from six countries and players from many more. Some of these future stars of the hardwood will introduce themselves to the public at the ANGT Belgrade, as have countless before them. Here's a look at one top player from each team.

### Nikola Jovic, U18 Mega Soccerbet Belgrade

This will be Jovic’s second ANGT after he collected 11.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.8 blocks in Belgrade last season. He is averaging 27.6 points, 11.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.9 blocks in the Serbian U19 league and made his ABA Adriatic League debut this season with 10 points and 9 rebounds against Split. He played in all three games at the Radivoj Korac Cup final eight. The 2.08-meter forward was born in Leicester, England, and joined Mega in 2018. Jovic can play every position other than center and has great mobility for his size. He easily comes to points from different ways. Not only can he shoot, but he can also pass very well. On defense, he can cover all positions and does well blocking shots, too.

### Yuval Levin, U18 Maccabi Tel Aviv

Levin will be playing at the ANGT for the third time. He made his debut at the ANGT Finals in 2018-19 with 3 points and 4 rebounds in 22 minutes over three games. Last season at the ANGT Belgrade, the 2.02-meter forward averaged 15.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.5 steals while shooting 58.8% on three-pointers. In the U18 Israeli League, Levin has been worth 18.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game this season. He is a smart player who can drive to the basket and also shoots well from three-point range. Levin, who is a member of Israel’s U18 national team, is also a very good post-up player.

### Nikola Radovanovic, U18 Partizan NIS Belgrade

Radovanovic will be appearing at the ANGT Belgrade for a second time; he collected 15.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists for a PIR of 18.8 last season in helping Partizan finish first. He was named to the all-tournament team for his performance. Radovanovic has also played for Serbia at the youth national team level and averaged 15.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019. This season, the 2.04-meter forward made his debut in the Partizan senior team and also made his first appearance in the ABA Adriatic League. Radovanovic, who was born in Nevesinje, Bosnia and Herzegovina, is a highly competitive player, who also rebounds well thanks to his athleticism and speed.

### Nikola Saranovic, U18 Crveza Zvezda mts Belgrade

Saranovic will be appearing in his second ANGT tournament after contributing 4.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.0 steal at the ANGT Belgrade last season. He also has played for Serbia’s youth national teams and averaged 7.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.7 steals at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019. He helped Serbia to finish third at the 2019 European Youth Olympic Festival, too. This season Saranovic is averaging 12.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.1 steals with five double-doubles in the Serbian U19 league. The 2.01-meter wing has all the predispositions for modern basketball: good athleticism, strong defense and a good feel for rebounding.

### Danil Sheianov, U18 Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar

Sheianov will be making his debut in the ANGT this season. He has played on the international stage with averages of 5.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in helping Russia reach the semifinals of the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019. This season, the 2.02-meter forward has produced 5.8 points and 2.9 rebounds in the U21 VTB Youth League as well as 14.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 1.3 steals in the U19 Russian Youth Championship. Sheianov is a versatile forward with great athleticism who can finish either at the basket and from long distance. Despite his size, he has great mobility and speed. He is also capable of guarding multiple positions and running the fast break.

### Vukasin Todorovic, U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana

Todorovic will be making his ANGT debut this season. The 2004-born point guard plays for Olimpija’s U16 and U18 teams and has already debuted in the Slovenian first division, with averages of 4.0 points and 1.3 rebounds in 12 minutes a game. At 2.00 meters in height, Todorovic is very good in pick-and-roll situations and has good full-court vision. He can be dominating in one-on-one situations against opposing point guards. He can also rebound well and is successful in switching defense situations. Todorovic possesses a high basketball IQ and can easily recognize different situations on defense and offense.

### Fedor Zugic, U18 Buducnost VOLI Podgorica

Zugic will be playing his second ANGT tournament; he was one of the leaders for U18 Stellazzurra Rome at last season’s ANGT Munich, where he helped the team to the first-place game and averaged 18.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists as a player on loan. The guard became the youngest player to appear in a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague game when he played against Zalgiris Kaunas in Round 23 of the 2018-19 season. This season he has averaged 5.3 points, 0.9 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 0.5 steals in the 7DAYS EuroCup. The combo guard also was the second-leading scorer at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2018 with 18.9 points plus 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.9 steals for Montenegro. Zugic has great basketball instincts and a feel for the game. He has a long, wiry frame and good height for a shooting guard. He is a creative ball-handler and does a good job driving to the lane, where he can finish above the rim. The 1.98-meter guard has a promising outside shot with excellent form, a good release and he shoots with a lot of confidence. Zugic has a scorer’s mentality and won't lose his confidence even if he misses a few shots in a row.

Stefan Grasu, U18 U-BT Cluj Napoca
Just like Cluj, Grasu will be making his ANGT debut this season. This will not be the first time he plays on the international stage though. He played for Romania at two FIBA U16 European Championship Division B tournaments - in 2017 as a 14-year-old and in 2019. He averaged 14.6 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals in the second of those events. The 2.00-meter center has already made his Romanian senior national team debut, too. In November 2020, he played against Poland and Spain in the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Qualifiers and collected 6 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist in 25 combined minutes. Grasu, whose parents both were athletes and represented Romania at the Olympics, is one of the top prospects in Romanian basketball and is also a regular for Cluj’s senior team with averages of 5.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists in the Romanian League. He runs the floor well and can also hit three-pointers and grab important rebounds. Grasu’s maturity, ambition and work ethic make him a special player.

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For several years, the biggest storyline of the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Belgrade was if anybody could beat local side U18 Crveza Zvezda mts Belgrade. 

Zvezda seeks return to glory at ANGT Belgrade

This time around, the question is whether the 2014 U18 continental champion can finally reclaim first place in the Serbian capital after U18 Mega Soccerbet Belgrade and U18 Partizan NIS Belgrade took top honors the past two seasons. Mega is looking to start the road to a third ANGT Championship Game – and hoping the third time is a charm. The three Belgrade clubs will duke it out at FMP Arena from March 26 to 28 alongside U18 Buducnost VOLI Podgorica of Montenegro, U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana of Slovenia, Russia's U18 Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar, U18 Maccabi Tel Aviv of Israel and Romanian club U18 U-BT Cluj Napoca, which will be making its debut in the competition.

There will be two four-team groups with each team playing each other in round-robin style. The two group winners will square off on Sunday in the first-place game with the victor of that contest locking up the third qualifying spot at the ANGT Finals. U18 FC Barcelona booked the first ticket to the ANGT Finals after winning the ANGT Valencia in December. U18 Real Madrid followed suit by taking first place at the ANGT Istanbul last week. The remaining five teams to compete in the field at the ANGT Finals will be determined by wild cards.

Group A includes Zvezda, Partizan, Maccabi and Cluj. Zvezda dominated this qualifying tournament from 2011 to 2018, taking first place each year and accordingly advancing to the ANGT Finals. Zvezda won the U18 European trophy in 2014 and reached the ANGT Championship Game in 2015 and 2016 as well. Zvezda lost to Mega in the 2019 ANGT Belgrade first-place game, snapping a winning streak of 38 games. Zvezda, however, received a wild card to the ANGT Finals in 2019 and went 2-1 there. Last season, Zvezda crashed to sixth place, going 1-2 in the group stage and then losing to Olimpija as well. The local side will try to reclaim the trophy this year. Partizan enters the event after winning the ANGT Belgrade for the first time last season. Partizan beat Zvezda on a Lazar Stefanovic layup with 1.7 seconds left to reach the first-place game, where it knocked off U18 CFBB Paris to qualify for the ANGT Finals for the first time. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, denied Partizan a chance to compete at the end-of-season event. Now Partizan will try to repeat its first-place showing. Maccabi finished fourth at the ANGT Belgrade last season after going 1-2 in the group stage. The Israeli champion took second place at the ANGT Munich in the 2018-19 season. The final team in the group is Cluj from Romania, which will be making its ANGT debut.

Group B is made up of Olimpija, Buducnost, Lokomotiv and Mega. Olimpija will be playing in the ANGT competition for the 13th time in the last 14 seasons. Last season it placed fifth at the ANGT Belgrade after knocking off Zvezda with a 2-1 record in the group stage. Buducnost has not played in the ANGT since 2015-16 when it was winless at the ANGT Belgrade. It will be the club’s fifth appearance. Lokomotiv will be participating for the second time after the Russian side took seventh place at the 2018-19 ANGT Kaunas. Mega took first place in Belgrade in the 2018-19 season and reached the ANGT Championship Game for a second time following 2017. Last season, Mega took third place in Belgrade after losing to Olimpija in the group stage.

After Eli Ndiaye helped U18 Real Madrid win the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Istanbul and secure a spot in the ANGT Finals, he was recognized for his skills and hard work by earning ANGT Istanbul MVP honors.

U18 Real big man Ndiaye thankful for his chance

Ndiaye was crucial in Real fending off a fight from U18 Stellazzurra Rome to capture a 77-85 victory in the ANGT Istanbul first-place game. The center collected 28 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 8 fouls drawn for a PIR of 36 in the win.

"I have to thank Real Madrid for helping me to compete every day at a great level."

"The level of this competition is incredible and that makes this the best tournament in Europe. So winning it is special for us," said Ndiaye, who averaged 17.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals for an average index rating of 23.8 to earn the Most Valuable Player award.

"He deserves that a lot. He is a good teammate. He always thinks about the team and what he must do for them. I'm very happy for him because if there was one player who deserves it, it’s him," said Real’s U18 head coach Mariano De Pablos about Ndiaye.

The Senegal native is a key component in Real’s chances of winning a third U18 continental crown following its titles from 2015 and 2019. And he would love to give that to the club.

"For us the players, for the club, it would be very important. The club is helping us every day to improve in every aspect of our lives – on and off the court, and for that, I am very grateful," Ndiaye said. "Winning titles is the ultimate success that we all work for. But on the way to that success, there is a lot of work behind that, which has almost the same value."

Ndiaye certainly has put in the work to improve since coming to Europe from Senegal in 2017 as a 13-year-old. He hails from Guediawaye, which is along the coast of the western tip of Senegal near Dakar.

"Life in Senegal was different, but I enjoyed that time a lot. I spent all the time with my family and friends, who encouraged me to practice basketball when I grew up and started to be taller than the average kids because I used to play soccer. It was a good decision," he explained.

"When I arrived in Madrid, everything was different compared to my life in Senegal: the city, the customs, the language. I remember that I arrived with great expectations and enthusiasm, and that helped me during those first months."

The 2004-born Ndiaye gradually rose the ranks with Real, going from the "Infant A" in 2017-18 to "Cadet B" in 2018-19 and "Cadet A" in 2019-20 and finally the "Junior" level this season. Along the way, he helped Real win the 2019 Spanish U16 domestic title. He collected 10 points, 17 rebounds and 2 blocks in the final and won the MVP trophy.

Despite not turning 17 until late June, Ndiaye is playing this season in the Spanish fourth league EBA, where he is averaging 11.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 0.9 steals.

"I have to thank Real Madrid for helping me to compete every day at a great level. This season I've had the opportunity to play in EBA, where I face good young players and also more experienced players," said Ndiaye, who scored in double figures four times in a five-game stretch from mid-February to mid-March. "That’s something new for me. That helps in my growth as a player and forces me to play basketball in a different situation in which I learn a lot of things."

And that leads him to putting in more work to get even better.

Ondrej Hustak was already two years into his basketball journey in Spain when the chance arose to return to his native Czech Republic and work with one of the country's best retired players. 

Work with EuroLeague champ Barton brings Hustak back home

He made the move and the opportunity also landed him in the spotlight of the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Istanbul.

Hustak shined at the ANGT Istanbul as he averaged 15.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.8 blocks and 4.8 fouls received for an average index rating of 20.0 for U18 Basket Brno, which was making its debut in the ANGT competition. He ranked seventh in the tournament in scoring, tied for third in rebounds and fifth in index rating.

"For me, the most important thing about attending this event is the experience I can gain, since we play against really good teams," said Hustak, who got to test himself against U18 Anadolu Efes Istanbul, U18 Casademont Zaragoza and U18 Stellazzurra Rome in the group stage and then U18 Tofas Bursa in the seventh-place game. "I believe the experience of playing against teams that good itself is something that will teach me a lot."

The 17-year-old Hustak has not played much this season. He practices with Brno's professional team in the Czech League as well as the Next Generation youth squad. But Czech Republic COVID-19 protocols have not allowed the youth team to play games, so Hustak has only gone through scrimmages with that team. And he has appeared in five games in the Czech pro league.

"I would say I have improved a lot. I see a huge impact of training with the A-team," said Hustak, who is averaging 3.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in those games including getting 8 points and 9 rebounds against Ostrava.

Hustak is playing alongside Czech internationals Viktor Pulpan, Simon Pursl and Radek Farsky as well as Bulgarian national team forward Aleksandar Yanev for a Brno club that is co-owned by former EuroLeague-winning head coach David Blatt.

"I like Brno and the Czech Republic in general. I have a chance to be part of a great club and also have the best coaches. I am very satisfied here," Hustak said.

Ondrej's best characteristic, besides being 212 centimeters tall, is his relentless work ethic and love for the game.

It was a EuroLeague connection that brought the 2.12-meter center back to his homeland. Hustak's coach in the youth team is Lubos Barton, who helped FC Barcelona to the 2010 EuroLeague title and Joventut Badalona to the ULEB Cup crown in 2006. Barton also played for the Czech Republic senior team for more than 15 years, appearing in the 2007, 2013 and 2015 FIBA EuroBaskets.

"He was one of the best Czech players, and I am sure playing in his team is going to have a huge impact on me," said Hustak.

"Ondrej's best characteristic, besides being 212 centimeters tall, is his relentless work ethic and love for the game. He became student of the game," said Barton, who served as an assistant coach in Barcelona's youth ranks before joining Brno. "He moves well on the court and has a very nice touch. He improved his body, his strength and now he is able to play faster and more physical basketball."

Despite not turning 18 until November, Hustak has already gone through a major maturing process as well. He and his twin brother Adam left the Czech Republic in 2018 when they were still 14 to join Spanish club TD Systems Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz.

"We left without family so we were on our own, but we still had each other there as a support," said Ondrej, who is 7 minutes younger than Adam. The older brother also made the move to Brno and is also at the ANGT Istanbul. "We wanted to try moving to a foreign country and get familiar with their game philosophy and strategy."

There were a lot of non-basketball adjustments to go through as well. "One of the main things was learning a new language for sure. I also had the opportunity to meet guys from different cultures," said Hustak, who also played with his brother for Czech Republic at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019, Division B.

Hustak has opened the eyes of a lot of scouts watching the ANGT Istanbul, who believe the big man with good moves inside and some range to the outside could be a high-level prospect down the road. And he was able to show that thanks to him taking the opportunity of returning home to play for a former EuroLeague champion.

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