U18 Stellazzurra Rome booked its spot in the first place game of the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Patras after knocking off debutant U18 Helsinki Basketball Academy 60-85 in Group B.
Stellazzurra books spot in ANGT Patras first place game
Game Report
2 Mins read
Stellazzurra led by 21 points already in the first quarter en route to improving to 2-0 in the group. Lucas Fresno led the way with 23 points for the Italian side which reached the ANGT Championship Game in 2018. Matteo Visintin picked up 22 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists and 5 steals, Emmanuel Innocenti tallied 16 points, 5 assists and 6 steals and Fabrizio Pugliatti added 14 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Ville Karhu collected 15 points for Helsinki, which dropped to 1-1 in the group. Miro Little added 14 points and 6 rebounds.
Stellazzurra did not waste any time and scored the first seven points, holding Helsinki scoreless for nearly 3 minutes. Visintin picked up five points as the lead grew to 4-16. Fresno knocked down a three-pointer in pushing the margin to 8-25 and Innocenti’s three-pointer had Stellazzurra ahead 11-32 before it was 13-32 after 10 minutes. Stellazzurra extended the lead to 20 points early in the second quarter 16-36 before Fresno hit two three-pointers and Pugliatti and Visintin both had one triple in building a 26-52 advantage, which was 33-52 at the break.
Little had four points early in the second half but Helsinki could not get stops and the Italian side went on a 5-15 spurt and held a 42-69 cushion. The lead was 47-75 after 30 minutes. Helsinki had a strong start to the fourth quarter, holding Stellazzurra scoreless for the first 4 minutes and reeling off eight straight points to make it 55-75. And Karhu’s three-pointer trimmed the deficit to 19 points before Stellazzurra started executing again on offense. Stellazzurra also kept Helsinki scoreless for the next 4 minutes in building a 58-85 lead.