U18 FC Barcelona reclaimed the adidas NextGen EuroLeague championship for the first time since 2016, edging eternal rivals U18 Real Madrid 85-77 in a gripping curtain-raiser to Sunday's EuroLeague Championship Game at Telekom Center Athens.
In a contest that marked the first time the NextGen final was played as the warm-up act to the senior showpiece, neither side led by more than five points until the closing possessions when Barcelona's added physicality proved the difference.
Nikola Kusturica (202-SG-2009) was the inspiration. The forward returned from injury to deliver a commanding 20-point, 10-rebound double-double that peaked at exactly the right moments a putback just before halftime (38-39), crucial buckets to force a 43-43 tie in the third quarter, five points to retake the lead at 67-68 with five minutes left, and clutch free throws to protect it down the stretch. Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje (210-F/C-2009, college: Duke) added 17, while Jakob Siftar (197-F-2009) and Mohamed Dabone (208-F/C-2011) each scored 10.
Real Madrid refused to go quietly. Egor Amosov (197-F-2008) paced Los Blancos with 16 points including a three-point play in the fourth quarter, Fabian Kayser (201-G-2009) had 14 with a late triple that cut it to 77-79, and Gunars Grinvalds (200-F-2008) netted 13 with early fast-break points that set the tone. Ilia Frolov contributed 11. But Diego Ferreras (195-F-2009)' rim finish for 72-77 and a subsequent layup for 72-81 provided the breathing room Barcelona needed, and their defense locked down the final possessions.
The game seesawed throughout all four quarters 22-24 after the first, 38-39 at halftime, 60-62 Real entering the fourth before Barcelona's closing 23-15 burst settled it.

MVP: Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje (7'0''-F/C-2009) of Duke

All-Tournament Team 2026

Boumtje Boumtje

Dabone

Davis

Kayser

Masdieu-Reynaert

Euroleague Basketball regrets to announce the cancellation of the adidas NextGen EuroLeague qualifying tournament in Abu Dhabi. In light of the current situation in the region, this decision has been made to guarantee the safety and security of all participants. After careful evaluation and ongoing consultation with relevant authorities and stakeholders, it was determined that cancelling the event is the most responsible course of action at this time.
Courtesy of: euroleaguebasketball.net

U18 FC Barcelona secured its place at the NextGen EuroLeague Finals by defeating U18 Fundacion Baskonia-Alaves 88-53 on Sunday to finish in first place at the adidas NextGen EuroLeague qualifying tournament in Bologna. Barcelona completed an undefeated run at the event and will now take its star-studded squad to the finals in Athens at the EuroLeague Final Four. Baskonia, which reached the first place game in its first-ever NextGen EuroLeague campaign, suffered its lone loss of the event in the first-place game.
Nikola Kusturica (202-SG-2009) paced a balanced Barcelona attack with 22 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje (210-F/C-2009) posted 18 points and 11 boards, Jakob Siftar (197-F-2009) added 12 points and Mohamed Dabone (208-F/C-2011) shined with 10 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks. Mate Khatiashvili (192-G-2008) led Baskonia with 15 points and 3 steals, Juom Maker Bol paired 14 points with 7 rebounds and Stefan Joksimovic (194-F-2008) posted 10 and 6.
Baskonia enjoyed a strong start and led 1-4 after 2 minutes. Kusturica helped Barca get going, 13-8. But Baskonia kept things close and Khatiashvili's free throws made it 18-16 after 10 minutes. Boumtje Boumtje scored twice in a 9-0 run to open the second quarter that gave Barcelona a double-digit lead. Barca kept the pressure on and extended the lead to 39-20 on a Nil Poza (172-G-2009) triple. Maker Bol and Joksimovic tried to revive Baskonia, however Siftar free throws made it 43-25 at halftime.
Baskonia traded baskets with Barcelona early in the second half and clawed its way to within 47-33 on a Khatiashvili three-pointer. Kusturica and Boumtje Boumtje turned the tables by leading Barcelona on an 11-3 run. The difference reach as high as 24 before settling at 67-46 at the end of the third quarter. Barcelona scored the first three buckets of the fourth quarter to all but put the game on ice. The lead peaked at 86-51 in the penultimate minutes as the celebrations started long before the final buzzer.
Courtesy of: euroleaguebasketball.net

U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana won the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Ulm qualifier on Sunday with an impressive 82-73 victory over U18 Mega Super Belgrade. Cedevita led from tip to buzzer to win the event and claim a berth at the 2026 Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Finals, which will be held in Athens, Greece, in May in conjunction with the EuroLeague Final Four.
Maks Ciperle (200-SG-2008) starred for Cedevita with 29 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocks, Cameron Houindo (206-C-2008) added 24 points and 9 boards and Bine Pregl (187-G-2009) tallied 11 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Djordje Gnjato (202-F-2008) led Mega with 22 points and 7 rebounds and Vuk Danilovic (194-SG-2008) scored 21 in defeat.
Ciperle scored twice as Cedevita opened the game with 9 unanswered points and Samba Gueye (203-F-2008) and Pregl added threes in a 10-0 run to make it 23-7. Gnjato awakened the Mega attack to get within 26-16 at the end of the first quarter. Houindo heated up as Cedevita surged ahead to 36-19 midway through the second period only to see Danilovic rally Mega to 45-35 at the break.
Mega came even closer, 47-41, early in the second half, but Cedevita responded with the next 7 points. Free throws by Mega’s Benjamin Teletovic made it 58-50 through three quarters. Teletovic added a triple to make it a 7-point game early in the fourth, however, Cedevita answered again through Ciperle and Houindo to remain in control. Mega kept the pressure on and it was 78-71 after Petar Bjelica (208-F/C-2009)’s bucket with just over a minute remaining. In the end, Mega’s rally ran out of time and Cedevita celebrated.
Courtesy of: euroleaguebasketball.net