Mega Bemax second in Europe
In the final game of the EuroLeague’s Adidas Next Generation Tournament, Mega Bemax U18 team were unfortunately unable to outscore their rivals of the CFBB Paris, after a comeback by the French side in the final quarter.
Mega Bemax team (adidasngt.com)
However, winning the second place in Europe in the junior category was still a huge success for the junior selection of the ABA League side of Sremska Mitrovica.
Mega were in front by five points after 30 minutes of the game, since they have played a fantastic third quarter, which they have won by 10 points. But the champions did not give up until the very end and fought back hard in the last period which gave them the trophy in the end.
The final score was 65:58 for Paris. For Mega Leks Goga Bitadze headed the list of scorers with 17 points, while Nikola Mišković added 15 for them.
After the game, Mega Bemax head coach Vlada Vukoičić summed up his impressions: "There is no reason for disappointment for what we have done and the way we have presented ourselves at this tournament."
He then added a few thoughts about the players of this junior side and their perspective for future: "For sure some of them will play at the highest level of professional basketball. And all of them will make their living from basketball. I would not like to point out any individuals right now, though. All that they went through here in Istanbul is a part of maturing process. It is an important thing after you fall how fast you stand up again in every aspect. It needs to be an additional motive for you to not just keep working, but to work even smarter and better."
The Final was enjoyed from the stands by ABA League Director Krešimir Novosel, as well as Sports Director Žarko Čabarkapa. There was of course also the Euroleague Basketball President and CEO Jordi Bertomeu, while amongst all the eminent names of the former and current star players and coaches of European basketball, we need to mention especially Ante Žižić, former Cibona center, that was dominant in the past two seasons of the ABA League and is now heading towards the strongest basketball competition in the World, the NBA.
Euroleague Adidas Next Generation Tournament Final Eight, Final, Sunday, 21.5.2017:
CFBB Paris – MEGA BEMAX 65:58 (19:17, 14:11, 8:18, 24:12)
Fevrier 17, Blanc 15 | Bitadze 17, Mišković 15.
