U18 Aris Midea Thessaloniki secured seventh place at the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Munich by defeating U18 Virtus Segafredo Bologna 73-62. Aris controlled the game throughout for its second victory of the event. Vasileios Kazamias led Aris with 16 points and 6 assists, Vassilis Pourlidas had 15 points and Nikolaos Keramitsopoulos added 14 points. Matteo Lenci was Virtus’ leading scorer with 24 points. Virtus did not win a game in Munich. 

 

Pourlidas scored 8 points as Aris opened a 17-4 lead and the margin was 14 points at 20-6 before the first quarter ended with the Greek side ahead 20-7. Virtus tried to fight back into the game and was down 22-15 and then 29-23. Aris responded and led 37-25 at the break.

 

Aris had the better start to the second half and extended the cushion to 19 points at 49-30. Virtus managed to cut the deficit to 52-38 but the score was 54-38 after 30 minutes. Virtus was still not finished, multiple times pulling within eight points, the last one being 67-59 inside the final 2 minutes. But Pourlidas nailed a dagger three-pointer to decide the game.

Game News

Greek club picks up two victories in tournament 

Aris grabs seventh place with comfortable win over Virtus 

U18 Aris Midea Thessaloniki v U18 Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2025-01-19T09:00:00.000Z)

Caspar Vossenberg accepting his roles on different teams for FC Bayern Munich Basket basketball at the NextGen EuroLeague

Caspar Vossenberg accepting his roles on different teams for Bayern 

Caspar Vossenberg has been following the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague for the last two years and he was excited to play this year at the continent’s top youth club competition. Despite being two years younger than the rest of the players, the FC Bayern Munich talent has shown why he is one of the next big hopes in German basketball.

Vossenberg was born in 2009, making him available to play in the next two editions of the NextGen EuroLeague. But he hasn’t played like a youngster not ready for the moment. He is averaged 15.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 2.0 steals through his first three games for an average performance index rating of 15.0.

“My expectations were high since it’s the biggest U18 tournament in Europe. The competition is very good and you can tell that every team gives their all and wants to win,” Vossenberg said.

Vossenberg has followed the last two years of the competition, admitting even watching the Friday games while at school before taking in the weekend games. And he also watched the NextGen Finals in Berlin last year.

Vossenberg is spending his first season with Bayern, havinf made the move to southern Germany on a multi-year deal after playing 2023-24 with German second division team ART Giants Dusseldorf.

It was there that he learned his first real lessons in taking different roles with different teams as he starred for Dusselfdorf’s U16 JBBL team and also practiced with the pro team in the ProA.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="nl" dir="ltr">Okay Caspar Vossenberg, DAMN 🤯<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NextGenEuroLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NextGenEuroLeague</a> I <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/adidasbasketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#adidasbasketball</a> <a href="https://t.co/31IAlxILKt">pic.twitter.com/31IAlxILKt</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1880644516073677000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“I learned just how much of a different level the ProA is compared to the JBBL. But I also learned how to accept two different roles. You can be the leader in the JBBL, but you can’t show up in the ProA and just say give me the ball and do what you want. You have to take a different role and accept it,” said Vossenberg, who averaged 24.3 points and 12.4 rebounds in the U16 league but did not make an appearance in the ProA.

Vossenberg started with football like almost all German youngsters while growing up in Duisburg and was about 5 or 6 years old when he decided to play basketball. He says he was 12 or 13 when he first dreamed of becoming a professional basketball player.

He joined Düsseldorf in 2023 but then after last season was looking for another club and one of his main choices was Bayern.

“When my parents and I were in Munich, we didn’t need much time to decide that we will go to Munich. When we were there it was pretty clear I would transfer to Munich,” he remembered. “One of the most important reasons was the FC Bayern Campus. It’s crazy that you can live there in the dormitories. It’s giant, big rooms, good food and other requirements you need as an athlete. On top of that, I had heard positive things about FC Bayern.”

Vossenberg also liked the idea that Bayern would give him a chance to play in different teams over the course of his development. This is his final season at the U16 level and he has averaged 28.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in three games in the JBBL. He has been worth 5.5 points and 2.8 rebounds in the U19 NBBL league and has also 1.9 points in 7 minutes in seven games in the third division ProB.

“You can see the difference of the levels between U16, U19 and then third division. I have a different role in each team - which I would like to change long term. That would be important for my career because it’s important for me to take different roles in the higher level teams,” he said.

I have a different role in each team - which I would like to change long term. That would be important for my career

Of course, there is also Bayern’s pro team that plays in the German League and the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. And the management has shown a commitment to play young players. Ivan Kharchenkov, who starred for Bayern last season at the NextGen EuroLeague, is averaging more than 7 minutes per game in the EuroLeague. And fellow 2006-born talent Ivan Volf also made his EuroLeague debut at 18 years of age.

But being in Munich also has had its challenges for Vossenberg. Whereas Dusseldorf was less than 30 kilometers from his hometown of Duisburg, Munich is nearly 650 kilometers away.

“It’s really far away from home, and you have to leave all your family and friends back home. But that was not going to stop me from transferring because it would get in the way of my dream. So I decided to leave everything behind and start the next step of my career here,” he said,

Vossenberg also has already made his first in-roads in the German youth national team ranks. He played last spring in the famous U18 national team competition Albert Schweitzer Tournament for a German U17 team. And he is expected to be one of the leaders of the German team this summer at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2025. Vossenberg is part of a very highly talented 2009 generation, including Fabian Kayser, who is also playing at the NextGen EuroLeague Munich tournament with U18 Real Madrid, Roko Jerkic, Djordje Klaric, Jona Drücke and Lucai Anderson.

“I think it’s mega cool that our 2009 generation is so strong. Of course, our goal is to qualify for the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup and also win a medal this year,” Vossenberg said of the U16 EuroBasket, from which the top five teams book their tickets to the 2026 U17 World Cup. “But it’s important for us to have a good 2009 generation in general for German basketball. And it is fun to have a strong generation and play with the best players from your country.”

And to have another role to play and figure out how he fits within the team - just like he has started doing in earnest in the last two seasons.

The 2009-born talent is one of Bayern’s leaders already at the U19 level domestically

Watch LIVE: Day 3 of NextGen EuroLeague in Munich

U18 Valencia Basket and U18 Next Gen Team Munich will battle for the crown at the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague 2024-25, the second of four Next Gen qualifying tournaments, which is taking place this weekend at BMW Park in Munich. The winner of Sunday’s game between the two teams with 3-0 records will book a ticket to the NextGen Finals.

**Sunday, January 19, 2025**

7th place: U18 Aris Midea Thessaloniki vs. U18 Virtus Segafredo Bologna (10:00 CET)

5th place: U18 FC Bayern Munich vs. U18 SC Derby Podgorica (12:15 CET)

3rd place: U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs. U18 Real Madrid (14:30 CET)

1st place: U18 Valencia Basket vs. U18 Next Gen Team Munich (16:45 CET)

The final day of the tournament in Munich is all set up

NGT Munich wins first place at Next Gen qualifier

Watch LIVE: Day 2 of NextGen EuroLeague in Munich

U18 Valencia Basket and U18 Next Gen Team Munich will be battling for the crown at the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague 2024-25, the second of four Next Gen qualifying tournaments which is taking place this weekend at the BMW Park in Munich. The winner of Sunday’s game between two teams with a 3-0 record will book a ticket to the NextGen Finals.

**Sunday, January 19, 2025**                                      

7th place: U18 Aris Midea Thessaloniki vs. U18 Virtus Segafredo Bologna (10:00 CET)

5th place: U18 FC Bayern Munich vs. U18 SC Derby Podgorica (12:15 CET)

3rd place: U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs. U18 Real Madrid (14:30 CET)

1st place: U18 Valencia Basket vs. U18 Next Gen Team Munich (16:45 CET)

Day 2 of NextGen in Munich: Valencia, NGM into first-place game

U18 Next Gen Team Munich surprised two-time reigning champion U18 Real Madrid 58-63 to lock up a spot in the first-place game of the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Munich.

Next Gen Team surprises Real, reaches first-place game

U18 Next Gen Team Munich surprised two-time reigning champion U18 Real Madrid 58-63 to lock up a spot in the first-place game of the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Munich. The game was close throughout NGM ended Real’s streak of winning consecutive qualifying tournaments at 11. Real also had won its last 19 NextGen games dating back to the NextGen Finals in 2022 in Belgrade. Gabriel Veras paced NGM with 13 points and Felipe Minzer chipped in 10 points.

NGM will face U18 Valencia Basket in Sunday’s first-place game. Real Madrid, which has won the last two NextGen trophies and five in total, was led by Fabian Kayser’s 12 points.

NGM had the first four points and held Real scoreless for nearly 4 minutes before a Maximo Garcia-Plata score. Real was down 5-6 when Arminas Vilkas and Ricards Aizpurs both hit three-pointers for a 7-12 NGM lead. Veras added a triple for the selection team and it was 12-19. And the score was 14-19 after 10 minutes. The two remained close and the lead changed hands four in the middle of the second quarter and NGM built a 6-point lead 26-32. And the score was 28-33 at halftime. 

Real struggled to score early in the second half and the cushion was 30-37. Declan Duru scored 5 points to pull within 38-40. But NGM led 42-45 after 30 minutes. A Kayser three-pointer tied the game 45-45 and a Garcia-Plata three-pointer put the Spanish powerhouse up 52-49. And it was 56-53 when NGM had a run that ended with a Veras triple to make it 56-61. Kayser trimmed the gap to 58-61 but the young 2009-born talent missed a triple with 14 seconds that would have tied the game. And Veras added a free throw as Real’s streak ended.

NGM ends Real’s streak of winning qualifying tournaments at 11

U18 Real Madrid v U18 Next Gen Team Munich (2025-01-18T19:15:00.000Z)

U18 SC Derby Podgorica clinched its first victory of the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Munich tournament with an 87-64 win over U18 Virtus Segafredo Bologna. Derby had a big 10-0 spurt in the final quarter to decide the game for a 1-2 record in Group B. 

Derby secures first victory in beating Virtus

U18 SC Derby Podgorica clinched its first victory of the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Munich tournament with an 87-64 win over U18 Virtus Segafredo Bologna. Derby had a big 10-0 spurt in the final quarter to decide the game for a 1-2 record in Group B. Vladimir Komnenovic had 18 points as Derby’s top scorer and Vuk Tudorovic scored 12 points. Matteo Accorsi tallied 17 points for Virtus, which finished group play with a 0-3 record. 

Virtus led early on 2-6 and it was 6-14 and the first double digit advantage was 8-18. The Italian side moved the lead to 11 at 12-23 and the score was 15-26 after 10 minutes. Virtus continued its strong play in the second quarter and extended the advantage to 15 points at 17-32. Derby fought back into the game and was down just 40-42 at the break.  

Derby finally pulled back in front 43-42 but Virtus pushed back and was up 45-51 midway through the third frame. Derby put together a 15-1 surge and opened a 60-52 cushion and it was 62-55 going into the final 10 minutes. Virtus was still close and trailed 67-59 when Derby finished off the game for good with a 10-0 run.

Montenegro club will play for fifth place 

U18 SC Derby Podgorica v U18 Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2025-01-18T17:00:00.000Z)

U18 Valencia Basket locked up a spot in the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Munich tournament first place game after fighting past host U18 FC Bayern Munich 102-83 to remain undefeated. Pau Torrens and Nicolas Gomez both scored 17 points, Didac Cebolla had 15 points and 7 assists and Javier Viguer chipped in 14 points for the winners.

Valencia beats Bayern, books date in first place game

U18 Valencia Basket locked up a spot in the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Munich tournament first place game after fighting past host U18 FC Bayern Munich 102-83 to remain undefeated. Pau Torrens and Nicolas Gomez both scored 17 points, Didac Cebolla had 15 points and 7 assists and Javier Viguer chipped in 14 points for the winners. Nikolas Sermpezis scored a game-high 27 points with 7 assists and Caspar Vossenberg added 21 points in the loss.   

Bayern went ahead 2-7 and it was 3-10 early on. Bayern worked its way back into the game and tied it 12-12. The biggest lead the rest of the first quarter was three points and the score was tied 23-23 after 10 minutes. The host side pushed the lead to 27-32 and it was 31-39 midway through the second quarter. Valencia went on a 12-1 spurt to go head 50-42, but Bayern punched back to go into the break down just 52-50. 

Valencia nosed ahead 59-53 and the cushion grew to 65-57. And Valencia was still in front 69-61 before Bayern finished the third quarter with a 4-12 spurt to tie the game 73-73 after three quarters. Valencia held Bayern scoreless for the first 3 minutes and pulled ahead 81-73. Bayern tried to get back into the game but could only close the gap to 83-77 the rest of the way.

Spanish side still perfect after three games, and is one victory from NextGen Finals.

U18 Valencia Basket v U18 FC Bayern Munich (2025-01-18T14:45:00.000Z)

U18 Aris Midea Thessaloniki secured its first victory of the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Munich tournament by rallying back from 20 points down to beat U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana 77-71. The Greek side was down 14-34 and took over the game with a 24-2 start to the fourth quarter, giving Aris a 1-2 record in Group A. Vassilis Pourlidas scored 26 points with 8 rebounds and Vasileios Kazamias added 24 points and 8 assists. Mark Morano scored 20 points to pace Cedevita, which dropped to 1-2. 

 

Cedevita scored 10 straight points and led 2-10 and a 0-13 run had the Balkan side ahead 7-23. The score was 9-23 after 10 minutes. Cedevita kept pushing and increased the lead to 20 points at 14-34. Aris started coming back and was only down 31-40 at the break. 

 

Aris got as close as three points at 42-45 only to see Cedevita extend the cushion out to 13 points at 47-60. And it was 49-60 after 30 minutes. Aris scored the first 12 points of the final frame and then after one Cedevita score, Aris poured in the next 12 points to lead 73-62 with 86 seconds left.

Greek team rallies from 20 points down to capture first win 

Aris shocks Cedevita with comeback win 

U18 Aris Midea Thessaloniki v U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (2025-01-18T12:30:00.000Z)

U18 Next Gen Team Munich clinched its second straight victory in the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Munich tournament with a convincing 91-61 victory over U18 SC Derby Podgorica. NGM held Derby to just 5 points in the third quarter to move to 2-0 in Group B ahead of the final game in the group stage against U18 Real Madrid to decide which team plays in the first place game. 

Next Gen Team eases past Derby 91-61

U18 Next Gen Team Munich clinched its second straight victory in the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Munich tournament with a convincing 91-61 victory over U18 SC Derby Podgorica. NGM held Derby to just 5 points in the third quarter to move to 2-0 in Group B ahead of the final game in the group stage against U18 Real Madrid to decide which team plays in the first place game. Guillermo Del Pino and Sten Markus Adamson both scored 15 points and all 12 NGM players scored at least 2 points and grabbed at least 1 rebound. Ognjen Brajovic led Derby with 19 points. 

The selection team conceded only one basket in the first nearly 5 minutes and led 7-2. The Montenegro side came back and tied the game at 11-11 was down 18-14 after 10 minutes. The advantage reached double figures for the first time at 27-16 and NGM had a 20-point gap at 36-16. And the score was 46-19.

The cushion fluctuated between 27 and 29 points in the first 2 minutes of the third quarter and Derby cut the deficit to 26 points. The lead grew to 30 points for the first time at 62-32 and NGM was up 74-34 late in the period and was up 78-36 after 30 minutes. The picture didn’t change in the final frame as Dogus Balbay’s team just kept pouring it on.

Selection team goes to 2-0 in Group B ahead of decisive game.

U18 Next Gen Team Munich v U18 SC Derby Podgorica (2025-01-18T10:15:00.000Z)