by Rick Manahan
The first full day of action at the inaugural Bridge of Hoops Invitational delivered excitement, competitive energy, and a global blend of basketball styles inside the Pala Angarano in Bassano Del Grappa.
Although the event tipped off last night with an opening matchup between Prolific Prep (USA) and the host team The Star Alliance (Italy), today marked the first full slate of international competition featuring programs from the United States, Italy, Lithuania, and Dubai.
Opening Night: Prolific Prep Handles Host Team
The tournament began October 22nd as Prolific Prep defeated The Star Alliance 84–65. The game remained tight through the first half until Prolific pulled away midway through the third quarter.
Junior Bruce Branch III and sharpshooter Alex Smith powered the Crew, with Branch showing poise and strength in the paint while Smith lit it up from beyond the arc and played tough perimeter defense. Head Coach Ryan Bernardi, now in his fourth season, looks to continue his dominant run after winning three consecutive Grind Session championships.
Prolific Prep's Aaron Ona Embo drives to the bucket in the second half in Italy.
Game 1: BC Dubai 94, Academy of Central Florida 87
Day One tipped off with BC Dubai outlasting the Academy of Central Florida in a fast-paced, back-and-forth battle.
Lukas Kubala led the Dubai squad with 27 points and 10 rebounds, while Tomislav Vuckovic added 22 points in the victory.
For Central Florida, Dominique Fisher put up 27 points, 6 assists, and 8 steals in a stellar effort. Adrian Cordoba scored 17, and junior guard Martay Barnes contributed 14 points, 2 assists, and 3 rebounds.
The two teams traded runs throughout the game, but Dubai managed to hold on late for the win.
Lukas Kubala with the blocked shot for BC Dubai.
Game 2: Prolific Prep 99, Zalgiris Kaunas 59
In their second appearance of the event, Prolific Prep—now based in Florida after relocating from California—overpowered Zalgiris Kaunas from Lithuania, winning by 40 points.
Nasir Anderson led the way with 26 points, 6 assists, and 6 steals, while MJ Madison and Aaron Ona Embo each added 14. Theo Gerges chipped in 10 points for Coach Bernardi’s squad.
Despite missing star senior Caleb Holt, who sat out with an injured hand, Prolific controlled the game from start to finish. Ignas Štombergas scored 13 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in the loss for Zalgiris.
Bruce Branch with the reverse layup for two points.
Game 3: Southeastern Prep 48, The Star Alliance 45
In what was arguably the most competitive matchup of the day, Southeastern Prep (Atlanta, GA) edged Star Alliance 48–45 in a defensive thriller.
CJ Rosser Jr. led Southeastern with 15 points and 7 rebounds, while Aiden Groce and Marri Wesley added 10 and 9 respectively.
Ricards Aizpurs scored 15 points in the loss for The Star Alliance, which faced the tough challenge of back-to-back games against Prolific Prep and Southeastern Prep. Sekou Diarra added 12 points and 10 rebounds for the hosts, who battled valiantly until the final buzzer.
Prolific Prep's Beckham Black in Italy
The final game of the day saw Olympia Milano dominate DNA Prep Academy (Los Angeles, CA) behind a commanding performance on the glass.
Samuele Miccoli and Djordje Gulic each scored 14 points, helping Milano control the boards 62–34. Justin Kayode led DNA with 19 points and 8 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Milano’s interior dominance.
Armani Milano's Mattia Ceccato in Bassano del Grappa Italy
Looking Ahead
Fans packed the stands throughout the day, cheering loudly as American and international teams clashed in this unique cultural and athletic exchange.
The Bridge of Hoops Invitational continues tomorrow with more marquee matchups beginning at 1:30 p.m. local time. The first game of the day will feature the host team Star Alliance taking on the Academy of Central Florida, setting the tone for another exciting day of global basketball in Bassano Del Grappa.
Player of the Day: Nasir Anderson – Prolific Prep
Dynamic guard Nasir Anderson earns Player of the Day honors after a dominant two-way performance in Prolific Prep’s 99–59 win over Zalgiris Kaunas. Anderson filled the stat sheet with 26 points, 6 assists, and 6 steals, setting the tone with relentless pressure on both ends of the floor. His energy and leadership helped Prolific remain unbeaten in Italy and continue their championship-level form on the international stage.
Prolific Prep's Nasir Anderson vs. BC Zalgiri in Italy
