Joventut repeat as U18 Spanish champs, beat Real 84-75
Joventut Badalona gained a massive boost of confidence going into the ANGT Finals as they defeated Real Madrid 84-75 to defend their title in the Spanish U18 Championship.
Joventut Badalona defended their Spanish U18 Championship title by defeating Real Madrid 84-75. It was the second straight season that Joventut knocked off Real in the Final - and it was the fifth time the two played in the title game with Real winning in 2015, 2017 and 2018. The trophy also gives Joventut a massive boost in confidence ahead of the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals coming up later in May.
Here is a rundown of the Final
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Joventut Badalona 84-75 Real Madrid
Jovenut defend title - Martinez scores 24, Garmendia has 21
Joventut Badalona surprised many again in Spain as they knocked off Real Madrid 84-75 to defend their title and become the 2023 Spanish U18 champions. Just like last season, Joventut defeated Real in the Final. This time, the team from the Barcelona suburbs needed to fend off a late comeback. But in the end, Conrad Martinez scored 23 points, Iker Garmendia hit 5 three-pointers in scoring 21 points and Ruben Prey collected 12 points and 8 rebounds.
The game was tight in the first quarter with the teams even 19-19 after 10 minutes. Jan Vide scored 8 straight points spanning the quarters to give Real a 23-19 lead. Madrid were up 30-29 when Joventut went on a 12-2 surge to lead 41-32 and the score was 41-34 at the break.
Real needed nearly 4 minutes to score in the second half and Garmendia drained 2 triples to make it 49-34. Joventut extended the lead to 18 points in the quarter and it was 62-47 after 30 minutes.
Real trimmed the gap to 8 point twice but a Prey dunk had Joventut up 72-60 with under 4 minutes left. Real had struggled all game from long range - they finished just 6-of-19 (31.5%) - but Egor Demin and Hugo Gonzalez connected from deep and after Demin converted a jumper and driving layup, the Russian buried a second triple and the deficit was just 77-73 with 63 seconds to play.
Martinez answered with a bg jumper in the lane and Ismaila Diagne missed a shot right at the basket, which Adria Dominguez followed with 2 free throws for a 81-73 cushion with 31 seconds left.
Jan Vide poured in 24 points, Diagne had 15 points and 14 rebounds and Demin and Gonzalez combined for 29 points. But Real got just 2 points off the bench.
Since 2013-14, Real Madrid have played in every final, winning five times - twice against Joventut. But their last U18 title dates back to 2019. Joventut joined Barcelona with two U18 trophies since 2013-14 as well.
Here is the bracket for the tournament
