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.