Euroleague Basketball is pleased to announce the identities of the 32 teams that will compete this season in the 2022-23 Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament. This season will be the 20th edition of the annual event, which boasts clubs and academies representing 13 different countries. Under-18 teams are coming from 14 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and five 7DAYS EuroCup clubs. They will clash to be the last one standing when the continental junior club champion is crowned in the spring in a finals phase to be held in parallel with the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four.

ANGT Qualifiers field features clubs from 13 countries

Euroleague Basketball is pleased to announce the identities of the 32 teams that will compete this season in the 2022-23 Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament. This season will be the 20th edition of the annual event, which boasts clubs and academies representing 12 different countries. Under-18 teams are coming from 14 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and five 7DAYS EuroCup clubs. They will clash to be the last one standing when the continental junior club champion is crowned in the spring in a finals phase to be held in parallel with the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four.

To reach the ANGT Finals, teams will first compete in three-day Qualifiers held in Munich, Germany; Patras, Greece; Zadar, Croatia; and Belgrade, Serbia. Each Qualifier will feature eight teams, with the winner earning an automatic berth to the Finals.

Each of the qualifying tournaments will feature Next Generation Teams organized by adidas from the top 18-and-under talents in Europe whose club teams are not already playing in one of the four qualifying tournaments. This season, those adidas Next Generation Teams will all be coached by former EuroLeague star Petteri Koponen, who will also lead the Next Generation Team that participates in the ANGT Finals.

The first qualifier – in Munich, Germany, from January 20 to 22, 2023 – will feature the U18 teams of host FC Bayern Munich, 2003 and 2007 ANGT champion Zalgiris Kaunas, Panathinaikos Athens, ratiopharm Ulm, 2015, 2019 and 2021 ANGT champion Real Madrid, ALBA Berlin, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan and the NGT Munich team coached by Koponen.

The second qualifier – in Patras, Greece from February 10 to 12 – includes host Promitheas Patras, LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, Orange1 Bassano, 2013 ANGT champion Joventut Badalona, Olympiacos Piraeus, Cholet Basket, Rasta Vechta, and the ANGT Patras team.

The long-time basketball hotbed of Zadar, Croatia, will debut as an ANGT Qualifier host from March 3 to 5. In addition to the host team's U18 representative, KK Zadar, the participating teams will be Casademont Zaragoza, FC Barcelona, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, Stellazzurra Rome, Helsinki Basketball Academy and the NGT Zadar team.

The fourth and final qualifying tournament returns to Belgrade, Serbia from March 31 to April 2. Besides local clubs Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade, Partizan Belgrade and Mega MIS Belgrade, the tournament will include U18 representatives from Valencia Basket, Anadolu Efes Istanbul, PFYM INSEP Paris, Umana Reyer Venice and the NGT Belgrade team.

Many of the biggest and brightest stars of basketball were seen first by an international audience at the ANGT. The ever-growing list of players currently on EuroLeague rosters who previously dazzled in the ANGT includes:

**Marcus Eriksson, Malte Delow, Nils Machowski, Jonas Mattisseck, Louis Olinde, Gabriele Procida, Elias Rapieque, Linus Ruf, Tim Schneider, Rikus Schulte, Johannes Thiemann, Yovel Zoosman** (ALBA Berlin)

**Vasilije Micic, Egehan Arna, Omercan Ilyasoglu, Yigitcan Saybir, Ante Zizic** (Anadolu Efes Istanbul)

**Donatas Motiejunas, Matthew Strazel** (AS Monaco)

**Davide Alviti, Tommaso Baldasso, Luigi Datome and Giampaolo Ricci** (EA7 Armani Exchange Milan)

**Vanja Marinkovic, Daniel Diez, Maik Kotsar** (Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz)

**Ognjen Dobric, Stefan Lazarevic, Branko Lazic, Luka Mitrovic, Nemanja Nedovic, Miroslav Raduljica, Nikola Topic** (Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade)

**Rokas Jokubaitis, Nikola Mirotic, Sergi Martinez, James Nnaji, Oriol Pauli, Jan Vesely, Michael Caidedo, Rafa Villar, Gal Bonilla** (FC Barcelona)

**Niels Giffey, Ognjen Jaramaz, Isaac Bonga, Andreas Obst, Zan Sisko, Niklas Wimberg** (FC Bayern Munich)

**Ismet Akpinar, Tarik Biberovic, Metecan Birsen and Marko Guduric** (Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul)

**Amine Noua, Yves Pons, Zaccharie Risacher** (LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne)

**Danilo Andjusic, Aleksa Avramovic, Djordje Jovanovic, Mathias Lessort, Uros Trifunovic, Tristan Vukcevic** (Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade)

**Marius Grigonis, Neoklis Avdalas, Georgios Kalaitzakis, Arturas Gudaitis, Eleftherios Mantzoukas, Alexandros Samontourov** (Panathinaikos Athens)

**Alberto Abalde, Hugo Gonzalez, Mario Hezonja, Dzanan Musa, Eli Ndiaye** (Real Madrid)

**David Barbera, Sergio De Larrea, Guillem Ferrando, Millan Jimenez, Xabi Lopez-Arostegui, Pablo Navarro, Klemen Prepelic** (Valencia Basket)

**Ismael Bako, Mam Jaiteh, Leo Menalom, Alessandro Pajola, Toko Shengelia, Milos Teodosic** (Virtus Segafredo Bologna)

**Mantas Kalnietis, Tomas Dimsa, Arnas Butkevicius, Dovydas Giedraitis, Laurynas Birutis, Motiejus Krivas, Lukas Lekavicius, Liutaras Lelevicius, Karolis Lukosiunas and Edgaras Ulanovas** (Zalgiris Kaunas)

ANGT Qualifiers field features clubs from 12 countries

ANGT returns with Koponen on the sidelines

The Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament is pleased to announce the schedule for 2023. The format remains the same with four qualifying tournaments, though the sites for some have changed with Munich, Germany; Patras, Greece; Zadar, Croatia; and Belgrade, Serbia, now representing the sites that will propel the winners to compete for the continental junior club crown at the 2023 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four.

This season will see one of the greatest shooters in EuroLeague history, Petteri Koponen, serve as the head coach of the U18 Next Generation Teams. A veteran of six EuroLeague seasons, the recently-retired Koponen will share his wealth of experience with the players. The Next Generation Teams will be made of the best U18 players in Europe who are not affiliated with other clubs already competing at the ANGT. Koponen replaces Euroleague Basketball Legend Vassilis Spanoulis who guided the Next Generation Select Teams last season.

The 2022 Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals, organized by Euroleague Basketball, took place during the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four weekend last May in Belgrade, Serbia. This celebration of European youth basketball has played an important role in the careers of future stars, such as Luka Doncic, Vasilije Micic and Nikola Mirotic, while basketball fans from across the globe get the chance to see the EuroLeague's potential stars of the future. With some fascinating interviews from some faces you are sure to recognize, as well as the chance to see U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade's journey to the ANGT Finals Tournament trophy, this lookback at the 2022 ANGT Finals Belgrade makes you feel like you were there in person!

2022 ANGT Finals Belgrade: Finding the EuroLeague's stars of the future

The first qualifying event this season will take place on January 20-22 in Munich with FC Bayern Munich serving as the host. This marks the return of the ANGT qualifiers to Munich for the first time since 2020. Promitheas Patras will host the second tournament in its home city on February 10-12. It will be the second season in a row that Patras has one of the ANGT qualifiers.

For the first time in ANGT history, there will be a qualifier in Zadar. It will take place on March 3-5 with local company Sport Event as the event hosts with the support of BC Zadar. The fourth and final qualifier will be on March 31 through April 2 in the capital of Serbia with Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade as the host.

This season marks the 21st edition of the ANGT and the competition has seen a who’s who of basketball stars come through the ranks including future EuroLeague and NBA stars such as Luka Doncic, Alberto Abalde, Goga Bitadze, Luigi Datome, Vasilije Micic, Nikola Mirotic, Donatas Motiejunas, Dario Saric, Milos Teodosic, Jonas Valanciunas and Victor Wembanyama, among others.

Munich, Patras, Zadar and Belgrade to host ANGT Qualifying Tournaments

Nikola Djurisic played the biggest of roles in helping U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade to its first-ever Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament title.

MVP Djurisic delivers title to Mega despite injuries

Djurisic may not have had the greatest statistics, but the young leader fought off some nagging injuries and delivered when it counted most. That earned him the Most Valuable Player award. He averaged 20 points per game to go with 4.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.3 steals for an index rating of 16.3 in helping Mega finally claim the trophy after losing in the ANGT Championship Game in 2017 and 2019.

“The third time’s a charm. It was very tough - all four games, especially the championship game. Everybody gave their maximum, it was hard but we got the W,” said Djurisic, who struggled from the field, making just 37.1% of his two-pointers and shooting 21.1% on three-pointers while also committing 6.0 turnovers a game. Nevertheless, he made 22 of 28 free throws (78.6%) in just three contests.

“This MVP Award means a lot to me, but it would not have that importance if we didn't win the ANGT title,” said Djurisic, who was playing in the ANGT competition for a third season. “For me, it’s more important that we brought the trophy back to Belgrade after eight years because this is the highlight of our team, which has been together for three years with some changes.”

The recent changes could be a reason for Djurisic’s high turnover count. Andrija Jelavic (Mega’s third-leading scorer with 14.7 points per game) and Timotej Malovec (6.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists) both joined Mega two weeks before the ANGT Finals. And Bassala Bagayoko, who was named to the All-Tournament Team and ANGT Rising Star, only came to the team a week before the tournament.

Djurisic himself did not play at the ANGT Belgrade, where the team finished sixth and later received a wild card for the ANGT Finals. He has been dealing with a series of small injuries over the last couple of months and played just five games since he competed with the Serbian senior national team at the same time as the ANGT Belgrade. Three of those games were with Mega’s first team and two came in late April when he helped the club win the ABA U19 league title.

“He’s had some little injuries. I’m really happy for Nikola and all the other guys because next year they will not be able to play,” Mega coach Dragoljub Avramovic said.

The coach will miss having someone like Djurisic to come through in big moments. In the opening game against two-time continental champion U18 PFYM INSEP Paris, Djurisic scored a team-high 20 points. He tallied 19 points with 7 assists as Mega dethroned reigning champion U18 Real Madrid in the second game to book the club’s spot in the ANGT Championship Game.

Djurisic not only led Mega with 21 points in the title bout with U18 Next Generation Select Team but he also scored 10 of his points in Mega’s game-deciding 14-0 run in the fourth quarter.

“He said everything on the court,” Coach Avramovic said about his leader - and MVP Nikola Djurisic.

Top 10 photos: ANGT Finals Belgrade 2022

Aleksa Milenkovic - U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade  - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022

Luka Vudragovic - U18 Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022

Amadou Doumbia - U18 Real Madrid - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022

Noah Manet - U18 LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022

Bassala Bagayoko - U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022

Baba Miller - U18 Real Madrid - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022

Francois Wibaut - U18 LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022

Urban Klavzar - U18 Real Madrid - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022

Rayan Rupert - U18 PFYM INSEP Paris - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022

Noah Penda - U18 PFYM INSEP Paris - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022

The adidas NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT Finals took place in last week in Belgrade and produced a new champion: U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade. These are some of the best photos that the tournament produced.

Aleksa Milenkovic - U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

Luka Vudragovic - U18 Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

Amadou Doumbia - U18 Real Madrid - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

Baba Miller - U18 Real Madrid - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

Bassala Bagayoko - U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

Rayan Rupert - U18 PFYM INSEP Paris - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

Francois Wibaut - U18 LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

Urban Klavzar - U18 Real Madrid - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

Noah Penda - U18 PFYM INSEP Paris - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

Noah Manet - U18 LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

### Pretty in pink: Mega beat NGS celebrate first ANGT crown

U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade became the 11th club to win the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament title by knocking off U18 Next Generation Select Team 82-61 in the 2022 ANGT Championship Game. It was third time lucky for the Serbian team, which had lost in the finale in 2017 and 2019 but gained control of the game in the Hala Sportova Ranko Zeravica with a 14-0 fourth quarter run. Nikola Djurisic scored 10 of his team-high 21 points in the big late run. Andrija Jelavic tallied 19 points and Bassala Bagayoko collected 19 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks for the new champion. Zacharie Perrin and Filip Jovic both scored 11 points in the losing effort.

### [Game Info](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/game-center/2021-22-belgrade-finals/u18-mega-mozzart-belgrade-u18-next-generation-select-team/JTF21/13/#boxscore)

In the annuls of ANGT history, Mega joins other champions U18 Real Madrid, U18 CSKA Moscow (both three crowns), U18 Zalgiris Kaunas, U18 FMP Belgrade, U18 PFYM INSEP Paris, U18 Rytas Vilnius (all two), U18 FC Barcelona, U18 Crvena Zvedzda mts Belgrade, U18 KK Zagreb and U18 Joventut Badalona.

EB ANGT Championship Game Highlights: U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade-U18 Next Generation Select Team

Mega scored the first four points on layups by Jelavic and Djurisic. NGS failed to execute early on with four turnovers in its first six possessions before Perrin scored after more than 2 minutes. The selection team took its first lead on a Zinedin Mulic three-pointer for 8-9. The lead changed hands four times - once each on triples by Djurisic and Mohamed Diawara - and it was 13-14. Mega was facing foul trouble at this point with four players on two fouls and also failed to score for the final 2:46 minutes of the first quarter and a second Mulic triple made it 13-19 after 10 minutes.

After Alexandros Samontourov scored to open the second quarter, Bagayoko hit on Mega’s first possession and it was 15-19. NGS picked up three points on an unsportsmanlike foul as the lead extended to 17-26. Bagayoko countered with two baskets as the score was 23-28 when NGS took advantage of its strength on the glass with four offensive rebounds which resulted in dunks by Perrin and Pacome Dadiet and a three-pointer from Jovic to push the advantage to 25-37. Andrej Musicki responded with a three-pointer and helped Mega close strong and go into the locker room down 32-39.

Timotej Malovec’s three-pointer started the second half for Mega but a Perrin putback and Jovic triple had NGS ahead 40-44. Mega mounted a run though with Musicki scoring five points and Bagayoko picking up four in a 9-0 spurt to lead 49-44. A Jelavic three-point play extended the margin to 57-49 and the score was 57-51 after 30 minutes.

NGS tried to close the gap with Samet Yigitoglu scoring twice inside and it was down to 60-55. Djurisic was not ready to let Mega lose a third ANGT Championship Game, hitting a jumper, a three-pointer, two layups and a free throw within six possessions as the lead ballooned to 74-55 with just 5 minutes left. The game was decided as Mega took away precious seconds with each possession down the stretch and the party in Belgrade was bound to be the pink of Mega.

ANGT Finals 2022 Belgrade

Nikola Djurisic was named the Most Valuable Player award of the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals for leading U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade to its first ANGT title in club history. 

Djurisic named ANGT Finals MVP after helping Mega to title

At a ceremony at halftime of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship Game, Djurisic headlined the All-Tournament Team which also included his teammate and center Bassala Bagayoko, forward Pacome Dadiet of the U18 Next Generation Select Team, guard Kymany Houinsou from U18 LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne and U18 Real Madrid center Eli Ndiaye.

Djurisic, Houinsou and Ndiaye all made the ANGT Finals All-Tournament Team in 2020-21 with Ndiaye being named MVP last season.

Djurisic spearheaded a big fourth quarter run in Mega's 82-61 victory over NGS in the ANGT Championship Game and finished with a team-high 21 points to go with 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal for a performance index rating of 8. For the tournament, the guard collected 20.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 9.0 fouls drawn for a PIR of 16.3.

Bagayoko played a major role in Mega getting the title as well as he tallied 16 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals for a PIR of 28 in the Championship Game. In three games, he averaged 17.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.7 blocks for an average PIR of 28.0.

Bagayoko also took home the Rising Star award as the best player born 2005 or later. The 2006-born big man follows in the footsteps of Paulius Murauskas, who won the only previous edition of the honor, in 2019.

Dadiet helped NGS reach the ANGT Championship Game, where he picked up 5 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals for a PIR of 4. For the tournament he had 13.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and an index rating of 13.5.

Houinsou averaged 13.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 2.7 steals and 6.7 fouls drawn for an average PIR of 24.0 for ASVEL, which finished with a 2-1 record.

Ndiaye had 15.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.0 steals 1.0 blocks and 20.3 PIR for a Real team that also had a 2-1 record.

U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade became the 11th club to win the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament title by knocking off U18 Next Generation Select Team 82-61 in the 2022 ANGT Championship Game.
 


Pretty in pink: Mega beat NGS celebrate first ANGT crown

It was third time lucky for the Serbian team, which had lost in the finale in 2017 and 2019 but gained control of the game in the Hala Sportova Ranko Zeravica with a 14-0 fourth quarter run. Nikola Djurisic scored 10 of his team-high 21 points in the big late run. Andrija Jelavic tallied 19 points and Bassala Bagayoko collected 19 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks for the new champion. Zacharie Perrin and Filip Jovic both scored 11 points in the losing effort.

In the annuls of ANGT history, Mega joins other champions U18 Real Madrid, U18 CSKA Moscow (both three crowns), U18 Zalgiris Kaunas, U18 FMP Belgrade, U18 PFYM INSEP Paris, U18 Rytas Vilnius (all two), U18 FC Barcelona, U18 Crvena Zvedzda mts Belgrade, U18 KK Zagreb and U18 Joventut Badalona.

Mega scored the first four points on layups by Jelavic and Djurisic. NGS failed to execute early on with four turnovers in its first six possessions before Perrin scored after more than 2 minutes. The selection team took its first lead on a Zinedin Mulic three-pointer for 8-9. The lead changed hands four times - once each on triples by Djurisic and Mohamed Diawara - and it was 13-14. Mega was facing foul trouble at this point with four players on two fouls and also failed to score for the final 2:46 minutes of the first quarter and a second Mulic triple made it 13-19 after 10 minutes.

After Alexandros Samontourov scored to open the second quarter, Bagayoko hit on Mega’s first possession and it was 15-19. NGS picked up three points on an unsportsmanlike foul as the lead extended to 17-26. Bagayoko countered with two baskets as the score was 23-28 when NGS took advantage of its strength on the glass with four offensive rebounds which resulted in dunks by Perrin and Pacome Dadiet and a three-pointer from Jovic to push the advantage to 25-37. Andrej Musicki responded with a three-pointer and helped Mega close strong and go into the locker room down 32-39.

Timotej Malovec’s three-pointer started the second half for Mega but a Perrin putback and Jovic triple had NGS ahead 40-44. Mega mounted a run though with Musicki scoring five points and Bagayoko picking up four in a 9-0 spurt to lead 49-44. A Jelavic three-point play extended the margin to 57-49 and the score was 57-51 after 30 minutes.

NGS tried to close the gap with Samet Yigitoglu scoring twice inside and it was down to 60-55. Djurisic was not ready to let Mega lose a third ANGT Championship Game, hitting a jumper, a three-pointer, two layups and a free throw within six possessions as the lead ballooned to 74-55 with just 5 minutes left. The game was decided as Mega took away precious seconds with each possession down the stretch and the party in Belgrade was bound to be the pink of Mega.

U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade v U18 Next Generation Select Team (2022-05-21T10:30:00.000Z)

U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade champ Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade champ Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 4- JT21

U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade champ Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 3- JT21

U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade champ Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 2- JT21

Nikola Djurisic MVP - U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade champ Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

Nikola Djurisic - U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

Illan Pietrus - U18 Next Generation Select Team - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

Asim Djulovic - U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

Pacome Dadiet - U18 Next Generation Select Team - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

Zacharie Perrin - U18 Next Generation Select Team - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

Luka Krajnovic - U18 Next Generation Select Team - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

U18 Next Generation Select Team remained undefeated at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals by fending off U18 Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade 63-60  in the final game of the group stage. 

Diawara buzzer-beater gives NGS win over Zvezda

Zvezda scored the first four points and NGS answered with the next four points. The teams swamped runs of six points and then five points from Dadiet gave NGS its first lead 15-13. And the score was 15-14 after 10 minutes.

Zvezda started the second quarter strongly with Marko Sarenac and Lazar Djokovic both hitting three-pointers and Djokovic and Vukovic both converting three-point plays in a 5-17 run to jump ahead 20-31. Vukovic added six more points and Zvezda lead 28-39 at halftime.

NGS had the better start to the second half with the first eight points to pull within 36-39. Four Dadiet points and a Jovic three-pointer trimmed the margin to 43-45. Zvzeda answered with the last four points of the period and a 43-49 lead.

Vukovic’s basket to start the fourth quarter made it an eight-point game. NGS responded with an 8-2 spurt to pull within 51-53. And a 7-1 surge later evened the game 58-58 with 2 minutes to play. Lazar Gagic scored to put Zvezda back ahead before Jovic tallied but failed to hit the bonus free throw to leave it tied 60-60 with a minute left. After both teams committed a turnover, Matovic missed a jumper with 13 seconds to play leaving the game to be decided by the selection team and Diawara banked in his three-pointer at the buzzer.

U18 Next Generation Select Team remained undefeated at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals by fending off U18 Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade 63-60  in the final game of the group stage. Having already locked up its spot in Saturday’s ANGT Championship Game, NGS went back and forth with Zvedza before Mohamed Diawara hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to grab the win and a 3-0 record in Group B. Pacome Dadiet paced NGS with 13 points and Filip Jovic and Illan Pietrus both scored 11 points for the winners, who will next take on U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade to decide the 2022 ANGT champion. Andrija Vukovic poured in a game high 19 points while Ognjen Matovic collected 10 points and 12 rebounds, but Zvezda finished the tournament with a 0-3 record.

U18 Next Generation Select Team v U18 Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade (2022-05-20T13:00:00.000Z)

Mohamed Diawara - U18 Next Generation Select Team - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

The players from the eight teams at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals learned some critical lessons about life off the court as part of the ANGT Educational Session, which focused on the jump from junior to senior player, dealing with social media and environmental sustainability.

Players learn important off-court lessons at ANGT Educational Session

Current Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade star Nikola Kalinic, EuroLeague Players Association managing director and former star Boki Nachbar, former EuroLeague champion Patrick Femerling and current NBA center Ivica Zubac were on hand to give tips about their experience to the youngsters.

Kalinic and Nachbar addressed the challenges of becoming a professional player.

"It's very hard at that age. I remember at that age, I didn't listen to anybody. I thought I was the smartest and I'm the best. It's normal when you are younger," said Kalinic. "For them, maybe it was boring to listen to some older guys. Let's get it over with and go to the hotel. I think it could help them to listen to the lessons from Boki Nachbar and myself. The faster they learn that they can ask older people for help and learn from them, the faster they're going to become the best version of themselves – basketball-wise and as persons."

The topics Kalinic and Nachbar talked about included listening to important lessons older teammates could give them, what to consider when looking for an agent, how to deal with contracts and getting good-minded people around you.

"This (Educational Session) should be implemented even more. Even more seminars or group meetings," Kalinic said. "These young guys are in for a ride. It's gonna be crazy. It's gonna be a lot of people, a lot of agents, a lot of successes, journalists, girls, everything. They're in for a great ride but they also have to be careful. I think if they talk to older teammates or other older people, they can learn more and go more safely and calmly through all that."

The players were also told about some of the dos and don'ts in the social media world, especially with the message that they themselves create their social media presence and should control the narrative. The third pillar of the Educational Session was sustainability and what players can do to help save the planet.  

adidas organized the event with executives from both adidas and Euroleague joining forces to prepare the presentations. adidas introduced its sustainable products to the players and also presented activations such as the Run for the Oceans program and how the players can figure out their carbon foot print. The players were also given a gift bag including sustainable products. And the evening concluded with an informal barbecue.

When asked what were the biggest lessons he learned from the session, Roi Behar of U18 Maccabi Tel Aviv said: "To fight for what's yours and know your rights and just be polite and be a good person above all."

Behar also appreciated Euroleague Basketball giving him and the other players the chance to experience the event and take in the messages.

"I feel blessed to be here. It's great to experience, these stations, and I hope this continues for others," he said.

Fabrizio Pugliatti of U18 Stellazzurra Rome said the organizers really are doing a great job to try to improve the players' lives. And he took the biggest message from the social media discussion: "Social (media) is important for me and they say control your social. So that was important."

The message about the environment was big for Noam Yaacov of U18 LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, who said: "The sustainability talks showed how important it is to really try to do your best to keep it green."

The guard also was very grateful for the opportunity to learn more about these issues.

"It's great. If every young player could get this it would be amazing, and we're very fortunate that we are here and get to learn from such great people," he added.
