I would also like to ask everyone whom it may concern and that keeps many people curious, or even annoyed: what the heck are Israeli (and Turkish) teams doing in EUROPEAN sports competitions, when they DO NOT belong to Europe, neither geographically, nor culturally? (Nobody should come up with the Jewish-Christian bullshit, if they don't want me to die from laughter.)
The first basket was thrown by the Jerusalem team, but Gagić immediately replied. Then Murić also had some excersise (2:4). The opponent tried to get back advantage (6:4), but Tepic disagreed and quickly scored a 3-pointer (6:7). Hapoel kept on trying, obviously it was pathetic that the opponent is squeezing their throat at their home (10:7). Milutinov found it funny (10:9), at 14:11 Bogdanović scored a 3-pointer, but the referee said it was offensive foul and annulled the three points.
This was not the last time the referees making an impression that Average Fan was sure it's all about bribery.
Then, at 16:11 the steam roller was kicked into motion.
Murić reduced the difference (16:13) as well as Tepić (16:15), then again him (18:17). A few seconds before the end of the first quarter Bogdanović could finally really throw a 3-pointer (18:20).
The second quarter started even better (18:24). After we made a 5-point series (20:29). Hapoel was desperately trying (22:29), Bogdanović again scored an easy 3-pointer (22:32), our advantage was of double digit. How great it felt to see this... Hapoel picked themselves together making a 7-point series, changing the standing to 31:32, but Partizan realized it might not mean any good, so Marinković quickly scored (31:34). Then Andrić scored a 3-pointer, just to make it easier (31:37). Bogdanović didn’t want to fall behind (33:40). At 35:40 Partizan made a turnover. It ended up in wrestling, and this was one of those rare moments when the referees gave us a free throw. Marinković scored (35:41), but Hapoel just had to get a free throw as well, not just a simple one, but a 3-pointer (38:41). Mihajlo Andrić, hero of the day (one of them, for sure) also scored a 3-pointer, but his was a field goal. Another try from Hapoel (42:44), then Andrić set the result of the half time (42:46).
The second half started with a few bumps. The opponent equalized - with lots of mistakes and fuss, but equalized (46:46). Gagić changed it (46:48), then Hapoel switched the standing with a 3-pointer (49:48). Gagić stroke back from free throw (49:50). 51:50, again Gagić (51:52). The opponent increased their advantage a bit, timeout at 56:52. Then Murić slowly but surely reduced the advantage. 56:54, then with a great 3-pointer 56:57 and we were on the lead again. Gagić increased (56:59), while Milutinov made a brilliant block while two, mountain-sized Americans were hanging on him. (I hope there will be some video footage about it, it is worth the bandwidth.) The Murić-Gagić axis was irresistible (56:61, then 56:63), finally Andrić scored an amazing 3-pointer, just before the buzz (56:66) while Average Fan was squeeking in ecstasy.
Then came the last quarter. Murić brought a 3-pointer (58:69). Then the opponent had a 9-point series (67:69), don’t ask how... Milutinov scored from free throw (69:71), but no oil was poured on troubled waters until the home team could equalize. Bogdanović scored a huge 3-pointer (71:74) as well as Murić (73:77). Then the referees surely thought they might lose control... So they spitted into their palms and gave a free throw to Hapoel, that quickly equalized the result (77:77).
Then hell broke loose.
The referees whistled against Tepić after an unexplainable situation. ArenaSport replayed it numerous times in slow motion, but even this did not confirm the ball dropped out from Partizan’s guard. Then another unexplainable whistle and Hapoel got a free throw.
There is a video about it, if anybody knows why the referees gave free throw against Partizan, please, enlighten us in a comment.
But we could stand up even at this point. Gagić equalized (79:79), but referees did not let control out of their hands. They didn’t calm down until pressuring a free throw out for Hapoel. The end result was 82:79, thanks to those three corrupted assholes who ruined the end of a great, exciting game with their totally idiotic judging.
Yet the match still didn’t end here.
All cameras were focused on Duško Vujošević. The trainer’s face was red from anger as he turned to Mihajlo Andrić. There’s no info about why he was so mad at the small forward, but he made a movement, and this movement was clearly about harming Andrić. He did harm Andrić. Andrić was as pale as death, Milutinov and Bogdanović were shocked.
Everyone has already said everything about it, good and bad, here I say my very own point of view, just in short.
It mustn’t happen.
It’s unacceptable. There is no explanation for this. An adult person does not do such a thing. Neither in public, nor in any other way.
It is not pedagogy or training method. It’s brutality. An otherwise respectful man lost control and harmed another physically (and most probably verbally as well). At an European club a trainer would immediately get discharged even for half of this. (And he should thank if any other club might apply him, in case he does not get banned from all basketball halls forever.)
We must also remember, these players play out of pure love for Partizan. They get no salary, nor any other material benefits from the club for months now. They play only because they love and care for Partizan. That’s why they play, train and put their heart out on the floor of the basketball hall. I wouldn’t be surprised for a moment if Andrić suddenly terminated his contract, hit the road and find another team for himself, possibly far away from here. (Even rules would be on his side, he gets no salary for long and he was physically harmed.)
If someone is screaming now claiming that Vujošević did the right thing, then I tell all of you now, it was not right. Everyone has been whining since forever that Partizan never gets into the European elite, nobody takes us seriously, etc. Here you could see one of the reasons why it is so.
All my respect goes for Duško Vujošević for the results, but as a human, he failed now.
At this moment there are no pictures about the match. As soon as I find any, I’ll post them. Until then here is one.
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