Nike IJCT L'Hospitalet, 1st semifinal report: FMP Zeleznik 103-96 Real Madrid
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Defending champion FMP Zeleznik made it to the Euroleague Basketball Nike International Junior Classification Tournament L’Hospitalet final by edging Real Madrid 103-96 in an outstanding semifinal on Saturday. FMP not only advanced to the title game, but also sealed an invitation to the Nike International Junior Tournament at the 2008 Final Four in Madrid in May. Andrija Milutinovic and Bojan Subotic paced the winners with 26 points apiece. Dejan Musli added 16 while Nikola Vukasovic had 13 points and 7 assists for FMP. Nikola Mirotic led Real Madrid with 26 points and 17 rebounds. David Garcia added 23 points, Ignacio Esteban had 15 and Nicola Rakocevic 14. Subotic took over in the opening minutes with 9 consecutive points, before a jumper by Ponjavic and consecutive fast break layups by Milutinovic gave FMP a 15-9 lead, causing Madrid to call its first timeout. Vukasovic followed a wild fast break layup with a three-pointer and by the time Subotic added a put-back basket, FMP was ahead 23-9. Garcia tried to change things with consecutive triples, but Subotic and Milutinovic allowed FMP to stay ahead, 30-21, after 10 minutes. Back-to-back triples by Esteban and Mirotic against FMP's 2-3 zone defense brought Madrid back to life at 32-27. A 7-1 run highlighted by Milutinovic's seven-meter bomb helped FMP restore a double-digit lead, 39-28, as Mirotic picked up his third foul. Madrid was not done, as Esteban, Garcia and Rakocevic hits from downtown to get their team within 44-41. Subotic and an unstoppable Milutinovic kept pacing FMP, but a second-chance basket by Jose Maria Gil kept Madrid close, 55-48, at halftime. FMP opened the third quarter with a 6-0 run that Subotic capped with a layup and another basket by Ponjavic made it a 14-point game. Madrid called timeout, but Musli and Vukasovic made it 79-69 for FMP after 30 minutes. Mirotic gave Madrid some hope, 82-75, and three-pointer from the corner by Rakocevic and a layup off a steal by Garcia got his team even closer, 87-84, with three minutes to go. Milutinovic and Gacinovic sank triples, but a three-point play by Mirotic kept Madrid within 95-92 with 1:40 remaining. However Milutinovic made a free throw and collected a steal that allowed FMP to seal the outcome and Madrid could not recover.
See Stats
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Saturday, January 05, 2008
Javier Gancedo, L'Hospitalet
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