In a time-honored rivalry that lived up to its tradition, Crvena Zvezda edged Partizan mt:s by 74-73 on Sunday and will continue trying to become European junior champion during Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four weekend in May. A mega-turnaround after halftime anchored by its stellar frontcourt pushed Zvezda to its second consecutive NIJT final round, but it was not easy. A steal and three-point try in the closing seconds missed, or else Partizan would have advanced. Zvezda rallied from a 37-49 deficit at halftime thanks to a 25-10 third-quarter run spearheaded by 2.10-meter Dusan Ristic, who later named tournament MVP. He topped the winners with team with 24 points on 12-for-14 two-point shooting, including the winning basket on a put-back with 34 seconds left. Equally compelling were the 18 rebounds and 8 blocks registered by his frontcourt partner, 2.04-meter Nikola Jankovic. Both were needed to off-set equally strong performances by Partizan duo Nikola Radicevic and Nikola Majic. Radicevic amassed 31 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals, while Majic's double-double boasted 19 points and 16 rebounds. In addition to Ristic, the all-tournament team included Zezda’s Nikola Rebic and Brano Djukanovic, Partizan’s Radicevic and Majic and Hemofarm center Nikola Milutinov. Jankovic of Zvezda was named Best Defensive Player, while Milan Mandaric of Zvezda was voted best coach. Zvezda joins three previous classification tournament winners – defending champion KK Zagreb of Croatia, as well as Lietuvos Rytas and Zalgiris of Lithuania – at the eight-team tournament to crown a European junior champion from May 10 to 13 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Crvena Zvezda
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Union Olimpija
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Alba Berlin
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Mega Vizura
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Partizan mt:s
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INSEP
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Brose Baskets
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Hemofarm
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Crvena Zvezda

3-0 +136

Mega Vizura

2-1 -39

Alba Berlin

1-2 -29

Union Olimpija

0-3 -68

Partizan mt:s

2-1 +30

Hemofarm

2-1 +19

INSEP

2-1 +10

Brose Baskets

0-3 -59