### [U18 Zalgiris Kaunas 60-61 U18 Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/game-center/2021-22-ljubljana/u18-zalgiris-kaunas-u18-real-madrid/JTL21/16/)

Real wasted a 14-point first-quarter lead and could never shake off Zalgiris, which made just 1 of 3 free throws with 1.7 seconds left, missing a chance to win or at least send the game to overtime. Eli Ndiaye collected 14 points and 11 rebounds and Urban Klavzar and Sediq Garuba both scored 11 points as Real finished first in its ANGT qualifying tournament for the ninth straight season. Paulius Murauskas drained 6 three-pointers in scoring 22 points with 11 rebounds in a losing effort.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Eli Ndiaye captured another Most Valuable Player award as he helped U18 <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RMBaloncesto</a> take first place at the Euroleague Basketball <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/adidasNGT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#adidasNGT</a> Ljubljana.</p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1515744189400633346?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [U18 Next Generation Team Ljubljana 81-69 U18 ALBA Berlin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/game-center/2021-22-ljubljana/u18-next-generation-team-ljubljana-u18-alba-berlin/JTL21/15/)

NGL secured third place with an 81-69 victory over ALBA. NGL fell behind 0-16 to start the game but took the lead in the third quarter and never trailed in the fourth. Luis Garcia paced the selection team with 27 points and 12 rebounds while Urban Kroflic scored 15 points and Alvaro Folgueiras added 9 points and 11 rebounds. Nils Machowski and Linus Ruf both scored 18 for ALBA.

### [U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana 77-95 U18 Basket Brno](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/game-center/2021-22-ljubljana/u18-cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana-u18-basket-brno/JTL21/14/)

Brno locked up fifth place with a 77-95 victory over host Cedevita. Simon Svoboda poured in 26 points to lead Brno while Jakub Necas collected 24 points, 11 rebounds, 7 rebounds and 4 steals and Josef Svoboda chipped in 15 points. Tomas Belina paced Cedevita with 21 points.

### [U18 GAK Basketball Academy Gdynia 82-71 U18 Orange1 Bassano](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/game-center/2021-22-ljubljana/u18-gak-basketball-academy-gdynia-u18-orange1-bassano/JTL21/13/)

Gdynia captured seventh place by knocking off BASSANO 82-71. Maksymilian Wilczek drained 5 three-pointers in a 22-0 fourth-quarter run to decide the game. Wilczek fisnihed with 23 points, Mateusz Samiec scored 16 and Szymon Nowicki and Antoni Siewruk both added 13. Dame Sarr totaled 18 points for BASSANO, which failed to get a win in its first appearance at the event.

U18 Real Madrid booked its ticket to the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals after defeating U18 Zalgiris Kaunas 60-61 in a thrilling ANGT Ljubljana first-place game on Sunday evening.

ANGT Ljubljana first place game: Real edges Zalgiris!

U18 Real Madrid champ ANGT Ljubljana 5 (photo Marin Susic) - JT21

### The crowd factor

Partizan enters the eighthfinals undefeated at home and has been one of the most dominant home teams this season, by a wide margin. Partizan won five of its eight regular-season home games by at least 25 points, including each of its last four. The team had a pair of close calls, games against Joventut Badalona and Slask Wroclaw decided in the final seconds, but Partizan scored 86.6 points while allowing on average just 70.0 points at home.

 

What makes Partizan's home-court advantage for this do-or-die clash more significant is the fans, who are set to fill Belgrade's Stark Arena, the same place where the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four will take place almost a month from now. Partizan always gets a great boost from the stands to create one of the best atmospheres in the world of basketball. Playing in front of such a big, loud crowd could be a new experience for many of Bursaspor's players, but embracing and enjoying such an experience could also help them improve their performance.

Mathias Lessort, Balsa Koprivica, Zach Leday, Alen Smailagic, Rade Zagorac Top Plays of the 2021-22 Regular Season

Partizan's big bodies love attacking the rims

### Coaches hold the keys

One person who knows all about what to expect at Stark Arena is head coach Dusan Alimpijevic. This might be the first-ever game on the Serbian soil for Bursaspor, but it’s a return home for Alimpijevic. As the former head coach of city rivals Crvena Zvezda and FMP Zeleznik, Alimpijevic knows everything about fan support in the Serbian capital and he will use all of that knowledge to prepare his players, who won two road games this season.

 

Preparation is what Partizan head coach Zeljko Obradovic has stressed several times this season as crucial for his young team, which has six players born in the year 2000 or later. For Obradovic, this might be his first year in the EuroCup, but he is a man who has guided teams to nine EuroLeague titles, so a single-elimination game is nothing new. Expect Partizan to look prepared from the get-go.

Hayes, Bitim headline Bursaspor s explosive plays

### Highlight-makers collide

Once Partizan and Bursaspor tip-off, they could have the fans on the edge of their seats when it comes to seeing some can't-miss plays. Because this clash will feature several of the most athletic and prominent players when it comes to providing magic moments. Partizan's Lessort, Koprivica, Alen Smailagic and LeDay are fixtures on the highlight reels for their spectacular dunks, alley-oops and blocks that get fans in the arenas on their feet and those at home jump out of their sofas. However, Bursaspor has guys who can match them in every regard.

 

It is hard to find a better alley-oop connection in the competition than the one between Bursaspor's guards and Hayes, who catches just about everything Derek Needham, Andrews or just about anybody else tosses his way and slams it with tremendous power. Meanwhile, Bitim has long been growing into one of the best dunkers in all of Europe and has been elevating for some spectacular slams of his own, too. Fans watching this game might not have much time to blink.

Undefeated at home this season, Partizan NIS Belgrade will try to use its Stark Arena home-court advantage when it welcomes the seventh-place team from Group B, Frutti Extra Bursaspor.

Breakdown: Partizan NIS Belgrade vs. Frutti Extra Bursaspor

Partizan NIS Belgrade v Frutti Extra Bursaspor (2022-04-20T18:30:00.000Z)

In a one-game, do-or-die playoff, anything can happen, but some season-long statistical trends may offer clues to the possible storylines when Joventut Badalona hosts ratiopharm Ulm in their 7DAYS EuroCup Eighthfinals winner-take-all duel.

Eighthfinals clues: Joventut Badalona vs. ratiopharm Ulm

Joventut has been one of the better offensive teams in the EuroCup this season, but it has been by far the most efficient defensive unit. Ulm leaned on its ability to shoot the ball from the perimeter and created quality shots consistently when looking to play inside-out to earn the eighth seed in Group B, but Joventut led all teams in efficiency defending the post and the three-point line in the half-court. 

Joventut’s defense this season has been second to none 

Joventut's defense this season has been second to none 

Ulm's ability to find ways to score figures to be put under the microscope in the eighthfinals. After winning seven games in a row mid-season, Joventut lost its last two road games. Struggling some to score in those road defeats, its finish as the top overall seed among the four teams that finished with 12 wins simplifies the team’s path as it looks to regain the rhythm that made helped it dominate the middle portion of the regular season at Palau Olimpic de Badalona.

How Ulm uses inside-outside passes to create three-point looks 

Eighthfinals clues: Joventut Badalona vs. ratiopharm Ulm 

Brandon Paul celebrates - Joventut Badalona - (photo David Grau - Joventut) EC21-RS15

Jaron Blossomgame celebrates - ratioharm Ulm (photo Larry Langer - Ulm) - EC21

Joventut Badalona celebrates (Photo Marvin Contessi) - EC21

Joventut Badalona v ratiopharm Ulm (2022-04-19T18:30:00.000Z)

### [U18 GAK Basketball Academy Gdynia 64-84 U18 Next Generation Team Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/news/game-report-angt-game7/?pageTitle=Homepage&historyUrl=/ngt/)

U18 Next Generation Team Ljubljana picked up its first victory at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Ljubljana by knocking off U18 GAK Basketball Academy Gdynia 64-84 to improve to 1-1 in Group A. NGL held Gdynia scoreless for the first 3 minutes of the fourth quarter to pull away and forced 26 Gdynia turnovers. Halvin Dzellat paced the selection team with 14 points while Urban Kroflic had 12 points, Elijah Ndi scored 11 points and Alvaro Folgueiras chipped in 9 points and 11 rebounds. Szymon Nowicki scored 14 points to lead Gdynia, which dropped to 0-2 in the group. Jakub Andrzejewski had 13 points, Maksymilian Wilczek added 13 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals and Tymoteusz Sternicki tallied 10 points in the loss.

### [U18 Zalgiris Kaunas 68-53 U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/news/zalgiris-rides-second-half-to-second-win/?pageTitle=Homepage&historyUrl=/ngt/)

U18 Zalgiris Kaunas remained perfect at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Ljubljana with a 68-53 victory over host side U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana in Group A. Zalgiris opened the second half on a 17-2 run and carried that momentum to the win for a 2-0 record despite committing 28 turnovers. Motiejus Krivas collected 17 points, 15 rebounds and 2 blocks while Paulius Murauskas tallied 12 points, 13 rebounds and 3 blocks and Kajus Kublickas scored 12 points. Cedevita dropped to 1-1 in the group despite Vukasin Todorovic scoring 14 points and Vice Zanki chipping in 12 points and 6 steals.

### [U18 Basket Brno 65-68 U18 ALBA Berlin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/news/alba-comes-back-to-beat-brno-for-second-win/?pageTitle=Homepage&historyUrl=/ngt/)

U18 ALBA Berlin grabbed its second victory at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Ljubljana by defeating U18 Basket Brno 65-68 and will play for third place in the event. ALBA came back from 13 points down and scored the final nine points of the game to finish Group B play with a 2-1 record. Rikus Schulte led the way with 19 points and 7 rebounds, Nils Machowski collected 16 points and Linus Ruf chipped in 11 points and 9 rebounds. Brno dropped to 1-2 in the group despite Jakub Necas scoring 19 points to go with 9 rebounds and 3 assists while Simon Svoboda scored 12 points.

### [U18 Real Madrid 86-73 U18 Orange1 Bassano](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/news/real-rights-past-bassano-remains-undefeated/?pageTitle=Homepage&historyUrl=/ngt/)

The reigning continental champion U18 Real Madrid remained undefeated at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Ljubljana as it defeated debutant U18 Orange1 Bassano 86-73 to finish Group B play with a 3-0 mark. Real, which had already secured a spot in Sunday’s first place game, executed better down the stretch to extend its winning streak in ANGT qualifying games to 16 dating back to the ANGT Munich in 2017-18. Jan Vide scored 17 points for the winners with Henri Veesaar collecting 17 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks, Amadou Doumbia tallying 13 points and 13 rebounds, Eli Ndiaye adding 12 points and Kaya Shona Mutambirwa chipping in 10 points. The first-time participant BASSANO fell to 0-3 despite 18 points from Andrea Cecchi while Matteo Porto scored 13 points, Moussa Bamba had 10 points and Leonardo Valesin contributed 3 points and 11 assists.

### [U18 Next Generation Team Ljubljana 65-68 U18 Zalgiris Kaunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/news/zalgiris-grabs-win-sets-up-date-with-real-in-first-place-game/?pageTitle=Homepage&historyUrl=/ngt/)

U18 Zalgiris Kaunas booked a spot in the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Ljubljana first place game by fending off U18 Next Generation Team Ljubljana 65-68 to take top honors in Group A. Motiejus Krivas secured the win with a tip-in basket and blocked shot in the final 13 seconds as Zalgiris finished group play at 3-0 and set up a date Sunday against reigning continental champion U18 Real Madrid. Krivas ended with 19 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks while Paulius Murauskas collected 16 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists and Kajus Kublickas added 11 points. The winner of the first place game will secure a ticket to the ANGT Finals at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Belgrade, where they will join U18 ASVEL Villeurbanne, U18 Stellazzurra Rome and U18 PFYM INSEP Paris, the first-placed finishers at the ANGT Belgrade, ANGT Patras and ANGT Varese, respectively. Urban Kroflic poured in 31 points in the loss but no other player scored in double figures as NGL dropped to 1-2.

### [U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana 64-77 U18 GAK Basketball Academy Gdynia](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/news/gdynia-beats-hosts-for-first-win/)

U18 GAK Basketball Academy Gdynia collected its first victory at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Ljubljana by defeating host side U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana 64-77 and will play for seventh place. Gdynia finished the third quarter on an 8-22 run to finish Group A with a 1-2 record. Tymoteusz Sternicki and Jakub Bereszynski both scored 16 points while Szymon Nowicki collected 15 points and 10 rebounds and Maksymilian Wilczek picked up 11 points. Lon Lican was Cedevita’s leading scorer with 13 points to go with 8 rebounds and 6 assists while Vice Zanki scored 12 points and Vukasin Todorovic chipped in 11 points and 9 rebounds in the loss.

U18 Zalgiris Kaunas is the only roadblock for U18 Real Madrid from taking first place at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Ljubljana as the two EuroLeague teams will face off in Sunday's first place game in the Slovenian capital. U18 Next Generation Team Ljubljana will take on U18 ALBA Berlin for third place, host side U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana will play U18 Basket Brno for fifth place and U18 GAK Basketball Academy Gdynia will square off against U18 Orange1 Bassano for seventh place.

ANGT Ljubljana, Day 2: Zalgiris to face Real in first place game

Joshua Bonga - U18 Zalgiris Kaunas - ANGT Ljubljana (photo Marin Susic) - JT21

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (11-7) enters the EuroCup Playoffs on an eight-game winning streak. It hosts Turk Telekom Ankara (8-8), which won its last three games to finish sixth in Group A. 

Series breakdown: Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs. Turk Telekom Ankara

### Turk Telekom in the knock-out rounds after 14 years

Turk Telekom had to wait a very long time to get this close to a EuroCup title. Its last eighthfinals or Last 16 appearance came in the 2009-10 season, when it reached the second group stage. Led by Lamayne Wilson and Erwin Dudley, Telekom failed to advance to the quarterfinals, finishing the Last 16 with a 2-4 record. A year earlier, in the 2008-09 campaign, Turk Telekom opened the Last 16 with a home win against Zadar, but went on to lose its next five showdowns. 

Its only appearance in elimination rounds came in the 2008 eighthfinals. Turk Telekom had a brilliant regular season, finishing it with a 9-1 record and handing Joventut Badalona its only loss that season. Khalid El-Amin, Chris Williams and Michael Wright led the team to a first-place finish in its group. UNICS Kazan stood in its way, getting a 91-65 win in the first leg of the two-leg series that was too much to overcome.

Alen Omic Top Plays of the 2021-22 Regular Season

Omic a EuroCup champion helping Cedevita

### Cedevita hopes to keep its momentum 

Cedevita has been on fire lately and enters the knock-out rounds on an eight-game winning streak. No other team has won its last four regular-season games this season. Cedevita did so with a very attractive playing style and noisy home crowds at Stozice Arena. Indeed, its outstanding winning streak allowed Cedevita to soar from being 3-7 and fighting for a playoffs spot to an 11-7 record in Group B and the home-court advantage in the eighthfinals. 

Cedevita broke the 100-point mark three times in its ingoing winning streak, getting 103 against Frutti Extra Bursaspor, 104 against ratiopharm Ulm and 105 against Umana Reyer Venice. It averaged 80.7 points in the 10 previous games. Over its last eight contests, Cedevita boosted its scoring average to 94.3 points while getting many different players involved. It is all set for a big basketball party in Ljubljana and Cedevita has the pressure to live up to the high expectations. 

### Champions on both teams 

Both teams have players who know what it takes to lift the EuroCup trophy. Turk Telekom features JaJuan Johnson, who helped Darussafaka Istanbul win the title in 2018. He did so as one of the best players on the team; Johnson was chosen to the 2017-18 All-EuroCup Second Team after averaging 13.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 21 games. He had 8 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks in the title-clinching win against Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar. 

A year earlier, Cedevita center Alen Omic helped Unicaja Malaga win the 2016-17 EuroCup. Omic joined Unicaja midway through that season and averaged 6.4 points and 5.5 rebounds in 11 games. Omic had a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) in Game 2 of the finals against Valencia Basket to help Unicaja tie the series. He was ejected in Game 3 right before Unicaja's fourth-quarter comeback.

Can Ogut, Alex Perez Top Assists of the 2021-22 Regular Season

Perez Ogut are Turk Telekom s key

### Game rhythm may be the key 

Dictating the game tempo is arguably more important in this game than in any other eighthfinals series, mainly because both teams have very different playing styles. Turk Telekom averaged 76.4 points per game this season. Only Slask Wroclaw (74.5 ppg.) has a lower scoring average among the 16 teams that reached the eighthfinals. Turk Telekom has taken 33.0 two-pointers and 24.1 three-pointers per night and gone to the foul line 17.4 times on average. 

Cedevita plays with shorter possessions and a faster rhythm. It has taken 34.7 two-pointers and 28.5 three-point shots on average, while going to the foul line more often (19.7) than its opponent. In that sense, point guards should have the key to this series. Alex Perez and Can Ogut should try to control the game tempo for the visitors. Cedevita has a lot of guards - Jaka Blazic, Zoran Dragic, Jacob Pullenm Yogi Ferrell - who thrive in open court and transition situations and could make the difference. 

Breakdown: Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs. Turk Telekom Ankara

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v Turk Telekom Ankara (2022-04-19T17:00:00.000Z)

The matchup between Group A’s fourth-place team, MoraBanc Andorra, and Group B’s fifth-place side, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica, should be a tight one. 

Eighthfinals clues: MoraBanc Andorra vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica

Highlights of Buducnost VOLI Podgorica’s attack 

Highlights of Buducnost VOLI Podgorica s attack _5346240.mp4

After starting out 7-2, Buducnost went 3-6 over during the second half of the regular season. Justin Cobbs and Willie Reed helped set a tone for Buducnost early, though the latter is likely out for the season. The team’s ability to regain the rhythm it established to start the year figures to determine how high its ceiling truly stands. Buducnost scored at least 80 points six times in its first nine games and did so only half as often after that, so monitoring its offense could be an indicator of the team’s chances to go far. 

MoraBanc Andorra turns defense into offense 

MoraBanc Andorra turns defense into offense _5334289.mp4

Andorra was one of the most balanced teams in the EuroCup this season, but when it has played its best, its perimeter defense has often been a bright spot.  The team has done an impressive job of closing out shooters – opponents have made just 33.2% of their threes against Andorra, which is third-lowest in the league. Strong defense by the backcourt often leads to turning defense into offense and when Andorra is doing that, it becomes much more dangerous.

MoraBanc Andorra v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2022-04-19T18:45:00.000Z)

### [U18 Orange1 Basket 73-75 U18 Basket Brno](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/news/angt-ljubljana-game-report-bassano-brno/?pageTitle=Homepage&historyUrl=/ngt/)

U18 Basket Brno opened the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Ljubljana with a 73-75 victory over ANGT debutant U18 Orange1 Basket in Group B. Brno rallied from 15 points down and Simon Svoboda converted the game-winning three-point play with 48 seconds left. He led the Czech team with 16 points while Lukas Olbort and Jakub Necas both chipped in 15 points. BASSANO, which committed 20 turnovers, was led by Dame Sarr with 16 points with Matteo Porto scoring 15 points and Tiefing Diawara contributing 5 points and 14 rebounds. 

### [U18 Real Madrid 103-53 U18 ALBA Berlin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/news/angt-ljubljana-game-report-real-madrid-alba-berlin/?pageTitle=Homepage&historyUrl=/ngt/)

Reigning continental champion U18 Real Madrid cruised to a 103-53 victory over U18 ALBA Berlin to open its Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Ljubljana in Group B. Real used a 21-2 run spanning the first and second quarters to take control of the game. Urban Klavzar paced six Real players in double figures with 16 points and 5 assists. Jan Vide scored 15 points, Ismaila Diagne collected 14 points and 10 rebounds, Eli Ndiaye had 14 points and both Baba Miller and Amadou Doumbia scored 11 points in the win. Elias Rapieque was ALBA’s leading scorer with 11 points and both Nils Machowski and Rikus Schulte scored 10 points. 

### [U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana 77-66 U18 Next Generation Team Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/news/host-cedevita-beats-ngl-for-first-win/?pageTitle=Homepage&historyUrl=/ngt/)

Host side U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana started its first-ever Euroleague Basketball Adidas Generation Tournament Ljubljana with a 77-66 victory over U18 Next Generation Team Ljubljana in Group A. Cedevita had a 20-2 run early in the game and never was threatened the rest of the way. Lon Lican collected 18 points and 7 assists to lead the winners while Tomas Belina scored 13 points and Gasper Kocevar picked up 10 points and 10 rebounds. Niv Lempert came off the bench to lead NGL with 13 points with Luis Garcia scoring 11 points and Alvaro Folgueiras tallied 10 points and 11 rebounds and Halvin Dzellat chipped in 4 points and 10 rebounds.

### [U18 Zalgiris Kaunas 103-52 U18 GAK Basketball Academy Gdynia](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/news/zalgiris-way-too-much-for-gdynia/?pageTitle=Homepage&historyUrl=/ngt/)

U18 Zalgiris Kaunas avoided a misstep to start its Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Ljubljana with a dominant 103-52 victory over U18 GAK Basketball Academy Gdynia in Group A. The two-time continental champion scored the game’s first 14 points and led by 21 points in the first quarter in cruising to the win, taking the rebound battle 61-23 and holding Gdynia to just 1-of-24 (4.2%) on three-pointers. Paulius Murauskas led the way for Zalgiris with 22 points and 17 rebounds while Joshua Bonga collected 14 points and 7 rebounds and Motiejus Krivas chipped in 11 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals. Jakub Andrzejewski was the sole player for Gdynia in double figures with 16 points.

### [U18 ALBA Berlin 78-74 U18 Orange1 Bassano](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/news/alba-rallies-to-beat-bassano-for-first-win/?pageTitle=Homepage&historyUrl=/ngt/)

U18 ALBA Berlin collected its first victory at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Ljubljana by coming back to defeat U18 Orange1 Bassano 78-74 and improve to 1-1 in Group B. After trailing by 14 points, ALBA kept BASSANO scoreless for more than 3 minutes in the fourth quarter and won the game thanks to a 60-46 rebound advantage including 27 offensive rebounds. Elias Rapieque and Nils Machowski both scored 17 points and Rikus Schulte picked up 16 points and 17 rebounds. The ANGT debutant BASSANO was led by Moussa Bamba with 17 points and 15 rebounds while Dame Sarr chipped in 11 points in the defeat.

### [U18 Basket Brno 61-92 U18 Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/news/real-books-spot-in-angt-ljubljana-first-place-game/?pageTitle=Homepage&historyUrl=/ngt/)

 U18 Real Madrid booked its spot in the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Ljubljana first place game by defeating U18 Basket Brno 61-92 for a 2-0 record in Group B. The defending continental champion pulled away with a 0-15 run in the second quarter while also out-rebounding Brno 62 to 34. Eli Ndiaye collected 17 points and 11 rebounds, Urban Klavzar scored 17 points, Baba Miller had 16 points and Henri Veesaar chipped in 11 points and 11 rebounds. Martin Studnicky totalled 17 points and 7 rebounds to lead Brno, which dropped to 1-1 in the group. Jakub Necas added 13 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists.

U18 Real Madrid grabbed two victories in Group B on Day 1 of the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Ljubljana to lock up a spot in Sunday's first place game. ALBA Berlin and Basket Brno both picked up one win in the group while U18 Zalgiris Kaunas and host team U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana both secured wins in Group A.

ANGT Ljubljana: Real wins group on Day 1

Baba Miller - U18 Real Madrid - ANGT Ljubljana (photo Marin Susic) - JT21

### Different offensive philosophies

There is a clear difference between how these teams think about offense. Despite very similar efficiency rates on two-point shots, Metropolitans attacks inside much more often than Reyer. Indeed Metropolitans' league-leading 45.4 two-point attempts and 24.6 made shots inside the arc per game are both the most by any EuroCup team in more than five years.  Meanwhile, Reyer ranks third-to-last with averages of 18.4 shots made on 33.9 tries even though it edges Metropolitans slightly in two-point efficiency, 54.4% to 54.2%. The reverse is true in three-point shooting. Despite making triples at a rate of 36.3%, or 10th-best in the league, Metropolitans shooters attempt just 19.6 per game, fewer than all but one other team this season. Reyer, with a 16th-ranked 34.1% accuracy rate from deep, sends up 28.1 threes per game, fourth-most among all EuroCup teams and almost 10 more than Metropolitans. 

Levallois Metropolitans Top Plays from 01/15/2022 to 04/15/2022

Metropolitans' rim-runners

### Metropolitans' low-foul defense

While both teams ranked in the middle of the pack so far in points allowed to their opponents, Metropolitans fans can rest assured that their team is unlikely to give away crucial ones in a do-or-die game by fouling too much. The Game 1 hosts are the least likely team to foul in the EuroCup this season, and as a consequence, their opponents make a league-low 10.2 free throws per game. Its 16.4 fouls committed per game means that for a minimum of one quarter, Metropolitans' opponents do not get even one bonus free throw. For a team that conserves its fouls, however, it stands to reason that Metropolitans probably averages two or more quarters per game without giving opponents bonus free throws. In seven quarters this season, Metropolitans held their rivals to less than 15 points, and if they can do so again by not giving away extra points, they will be well-positioned to defend their home court. 

### Reyer's staying power

One of Reyer's strengths coming into the game is roster consistency, with Stefano Tonut, Andrea De Nicolao, Austin Daye, Michael Bramos, Bruno Cerella, Julyan Stone and Mitchell Watt all having served under head coach Walter De Raffaele for at least three of his almost six seasons with the club, including all of the club's last three EuroCup campaigns. That kind of togetherness is rare in elite basketball, and may help explain how Reyer rebounded from a catastrophic four losses in 14 days at the start of March by winning its final two regular-season games. The last of those, in which Reyer outplayed Group B winner Gran Canaria on the road, is something that Metropolitans cannot ignore. It both restored Reyer's road confidence and showed that a team of brothers had heard their wake-up call and reacted like true veterans to regain some winning momentum heading into the playoffs.

Will Cummings, Jeff Brooks Top Plays of the 2021-22 Regular Season

Former EuroCup champs Will Cummings, Metropolitans, and Jeff Brooks, Reyer

### Leadership and experience

There is no doubt coming into Wednesday's game that Metropolitans will rely on its outside-inside combo of Will Cummings and Vince Hunter. That duo has eight of the team's 10 highest scoring games and PIRs this season, while Cumming accounts for seven top-10 assist nights and Hunter the best four rebounding performances of Metropolitans. Reyer is more of a mixed bag, with eight different players having come out as top scorer and six as the best in PIR for the team this season. Mitchell Watt and Jeff Brooks have shared top rebounding nights for Reyer, while Jordan Theodore and Stefano Tonu have done so in assists. One could argue that if Reyer stops Cummings or Hunter, it will have a better chance to win, while Metropolitans has more people to worry about. What is sure is that the only two former EuroCup champs on the floor, Cummings for Metropolitans and Brooks for Reyer, both know what it takes at this stage of the season. Expect them to try to lead by example on Wednesday.

After an impressive finishing run to claim Group A's third place, Boulogne Metropolitans 92 (11-5) will host Umana Reyer Venice (9-9), the sixth-placed team from Group B, in Paris next Wednesday.

Breakdown: Boulogne Metropolitans 92 vs. Umana Reyer Venice

Boulogne Metropolitans 92 v Umana Reyer Venice (2022-04-20T18:00:00.000Z)

No EuroCup team has been as efficient scoring around the rim this season as Virtus. Nonetheless, what could influence its chances this postseason is the team's ability to make open shots from the perimeter – or not. 

Virtus shooters have made a well-above-average 38% of their guarded catch-and-shoot jump shots in half-court situations all season. Oddly enough, they have an identical 38% on the same shots when they are unguarded, which falls well below average. When they are making those open shots, however, Virtus has scored in bunches.

Kyle Weems, Milos Teodosic, Amar Alibegovic, Daniel Hackett Top Deep 3'S, 3 Pts of the 2021-22 Round 18, 2021-22 Round 17 and 5 other Season Parts

Virtus Segafredo Bologna s three-point marksmen

Lietkabelis has had similar issues with its perimeter shot-making but has done much of its best work defensively. 

Defending the pick-and-roll at an extremely high level on the year, Lietkabelis has protected the rim more consistently on some nights than others, which, given Virtus's effectiveness inside, will be a key factor to watch once their do-or-die eighthfinal game starts. 

The Lithuanian team may well decide to focus on interior defense and take a chance on Virtus shooters making open shots at the same rate as they do guarded ones. 

Lietkabelis Panevezys Top Blocks, Steals of the 2021-22 Regular Season

In a one-game, do-or-die playoff, anything can happen, but some season-long statistical trends may offer clues to the possible storylines when Virtus Segafredo Bologna hosts Lietkabelis Panevezys in their 7DAYS EuroCup Eighthfinals winner-take-all battle.

Eighthfinals clues: Virtus Segafredo Bologna vs. Lietkabelis Panevezys

Daniel Hackett - Virtus Segafredo Bologna (photo Jacques Cormareche - Bourg) - EC21-RS18

Lietkabelis Panevezys celebrates (Photo Marvin Contessi) - EC21-RS13

Players Virtus Segafredo Bologna (photo Matteo Marchi - Virtus) - EC21-RS17

Virtus Segafredo Bologna v Lietkabelis Panevezys (2022-04-20T18:45:00.000Z)