Club teammates Spagnolo, Nunez, Klavzar rooting for other teams as well in Udine

UDINE (Italy) - Urban Klavzar was a little hesitant when the question came about who he would pick if Italy squared off against Spain in the Final of the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019. The Slovenian after all is a part of a trio of point guards along with Italian Matteo Spagnolo and Juan Nunez of Spain who play together in one of Europe's top clubs.

"Ah, I don't know. I will just be happy for both of them to make it to the Final. Let's hope the team who is better wins," Klavzar offered a diplomatic response to a possible matchup of fellow Real Madrid playmakers.

Urban Klavzar made sure to come out and support his club teammate Matteo Spagnolo.

All three point guards have shown in Udine why the Spanish powerhouse has brought them into the club - and why Madrid could be set at the playmaker spot for many years to come.

With Slovenia out of the medal race, Klavzar attended the final Quarter-Finals game with his Slovenian teammates and was rooting for Italy and his good friend Spagnolo to get past Greece and reach the Semi-Finals.

And Spagnolo didn't disappoint, his floater in the lane with 9.1 seconds to giving Italy the win.

"Matteo is like my best friend. We are always together in Madrid. We do everything together. He's a good guy and the Spanish guys are like brothers. It's good to see them in the Semi-Finals and also qualify for the (FIBA U17 Basketball) World Cup," Klavzar said.

Klavzar may not have been playing in the Quarter-Finals but he and Slovenia had at least achieved their absolute minimum goal earlier in the day by beating Germany in the Classification 9-16 to secure their spot in the Division A next summer.

"Division A is the best. You can show to everybody the game that you have and I think we can do some things with the 2004 generation," said Urban, who will actually have a chance to play at next year's U16 tournament as he is a year younger than the rest of the competition - though he still has averaged 15.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists thus far in Italy.

Juan Nunez has impressed especially with his playmaking ability.

Nunez is also from the 2004 generation and like Klavzar is also excelling despite playing against players a year old, averaging 9.4 points, 4.2 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals. But Spagnolo is not surprised that his Madrid teammates are lighting it up in Udine.

"There is a reason they are here. They are really good, both of them," said Spagnolo, who is averaging an all-action 16.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 2.7 assists himself.

Like Klavzar, Spagnolo joined Real Madrid last summer and is really enjoying seeing his club teammates at this competition.

"It's really crazy. It's a beautiful game because of things like this. It's great seeing them at tournaments like this and I have a great relationship with both of them. It's crazy having them here," he said.

There is actually another Real Madrid player in this competition, Spain's Owen Aquino being the other. Spagnolo said the quartet communicate in a group chat for the Madrid team.

"We always write to each other, saying you're going to lose or something like that," Spagnolo laughed. " But I am proud of both of those guys. Having them here is great." 

Nunez also has enjoyed watching his club teammates do their thing in Udine.

"They are incredible players. I wish them both luck. I am sorry to Urban that he couldn't qualify (for the Quarter-Finals), but he's a very good player and he will succeed," Nunez said.

"PLAYING AGAINST HIM (IN THE FINAL) WOULD BE SOMETHING SPECIAL." - Nunez about Spagnolo

And without wanting to look past Semi-Finals opponent Russia, what would Nunez think about facing Spagnolo and Italy in the Final?

"It would be special because we play together all the time. So playing against him would be something special. I would like to play against him," Nunez said.

And what would Spagnolo think about a showdown against Spain should they knock off France on the other side of the bracket?

"That would be crazy. I am always fun off the court, but when I am on the court I am focused on winning. We would joke around before the game, but when we are on the court, I want to win," Spagnolo said.

Klavzar would also win as he would have a chance to watch two of his fellow Real Madrid point guards go after one another for the title - even if he doesn't want to say beforehand who will win.

FIBA