KK Partizan - KK Zadar 87:53 (Adriatic League)

Approx. 90 minutes before the start Mačvan appeared on the court and started to warm up.

(photo: Twitter)

He was followed by the others.

(photo: Twitter) 

The audience was gathering, too.

(photo: Twitter)

The match started with a minute-long silence for the memory of the victims of the helicopter tragedy on Saturday.

(photo: hotsport.rs)

Then the two teams clashed. Within a short time we took the lead to 10:4. New boy Akognon quickly made himself to the scorers’ list with a fantastic 3-pointer.

(photo: hotsport.rs)

Yet the guests equalized for the second half of the quarter (15:15). We missed out a horror amount of chances and Zadar took advantage of them, as much that they switched the standing on their side. We finished the quarter with 15:20, the defense of the guests was made from concrete. Sometimes one could have the impression their entire bench was jostling under the backboard. We even made that mistake that we fumbled too long and ran out of time. Our player was standing in the paint with a desperate face and the buzz was ringing.

Time-out

(photo: Twitter)

The start of the second quarter was not delightful either. Right as we ran out to the court, the ball was stolen from Milutinov (15:22). At 17:24 Kraljević blocked Marinković so heavily that Partizan’s young player could only gasp for breath.

Duško Vujošević sitting next to the judges’ table

(photo: Twitter)

There was a great fight on the court, literally. Both sides used their strongest defense, there was always at least three, four, sometimes even five players waiting for the attacker under the backboard. Despite all these forces we reduced the difference to 25:26, thanks to Murić’s giant 3-pointer among others.
And then came Josh Akognon.

(photo: hotsport.rs)

At 25:26 Akognon scored such a huge 3-pointer that the plaster on Pionir Hall’s walls started to fall down (28:26). The hall exploded, it made Mačvan speed up, increasing the difference with great teamwork (32:26). Dallo didn’t want to be missed out either (34:26). Murić’s score closed the first half (36:28).

Gregor Balažic was watching the game with his wife

(photo: hotsport.rs) 

In the half-time a lot of children were playing on the court

(photos: Twitter)

The third quarter was opened by Akognon (39:28) and continued by Murić, who got a rebound and mercilessly took advantage of it (41:28).

(photo: hotsport.rs)

And then came Milosavljević.
Captain Dragan Milosavljević.
He came, he saw and he dunked.

(photo: hotsport.rs)

After Milosavljević’s great dunk the entire bench jumped up and ran on the court to celebrate. On this photo Đumić greets the Captain.

(photo: Twitter)

From this point on there was no stop. Zadar was trying though (43:30), even from free throw (45:32), but Partizan rushed over them, like a lunatic steam roller. Akognon had a great score, assisted by Mačvan (47:32), then he ran up on the court, passed to Milutinov, who gave it to Mačvan. Mačvan scored a giant 3-pointer (50:34).

It can’t be any better

(photo: hotsport.rs)

High five to Akognon after a great action

(photo: Twitter)

Marinković is watching

(photo: Twitter)

And so on. Milosavljević scored from Mačvan’s rebound (52:39), then the Captain passed the ball to Milutinov with a brilliant movement, passing behind his back. (55:39) Dallo put the dot to the letter i at the end of the quarter (59:39). With his score the difference was 20 points.

The whole bench jumped up and screamed after Dallo’s score

(photo: Twitter)

The end was a festival.
3-pointer king Andrić said hi (62:39), followed by Marinković’s score (64:39), then came Dallo with bonus shot (67:39). Zadar collapsed. Nothing worked for them, all their tryings got rebound from the ring.

Brothers: Dallo and Akognon

Tepić was playing with this waistband

(photos: Twitter)

For the end Đumić sped up and brought scores.

(photo: hotsport.rs)

The difference grew to 30 points (72:41). Zadar could score from free throws (72:43), then it was Marinković-time (83:48). The only question left was if we can make the 40-point difference. We couldn’t, though the guest team fell to atoms for the end. They could score only from free throws, all their attempts for action goal were missed out.

At the end I felt for them, really.

Đumić scored the last basket of the game (87:53). Zadar could make a dunk at the very end, right at the buzz, but the judges invalidated it.

I didn’t get it. That one basket wouldn’t have made any difference for the final result. Even the guest team could have had their peace that they could still score a dunk at the end, to prove themselves and their glory. Whom would it have made pain to?...

It was time to celebrate.

(photo: Twitter) 

(photo: hotsport.rs) 

Akognon was surrounded by fans. He was the favourite, everyone wanted a photo with him and he eagerly smiled to everyone.

(photo: Twitter) 

(photo: hotsport.rs) 

In the middle of the crowd there is somewhere Akognon there. Every fan wanted him.

(photo: Twitter)

Akognon was overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of fans.

Post by Josh Akognon.

Highlights:

League standings after 25 rounds:
1. Crvena Zvezda 48 points
2. Budućnost Podgorica 43 points
3. Partizan 43 points
4. Cedevita 42 points
5. Union Olimpija 39 points
6. Metalac 38 points
7. Krka 37 points
8. Szolnoki Olaj 37 points
9. Zadar 36 points
10. Mega Leks 35 points
11. Igokea 34 points
12. Cibona 34 points
13. MZT Skopje 32 points
14. Levski Sofia 27 points