Between these two there were cardial arrest, depression, scratching the floor and at least two brain deaths.
It started fine. Saša Pavlović returned after his injury. He joined the game some time in the second quarter.
In the beginning it was a nip and tuck game, then Mega Leks took the lead at 7:7.
And it remained like that for long.
It was awful. Not just the fact nothing wanted to work out for us, but rather the other fact Mega Leks was better. They controlled the game, they took advantage of all our fumblings. Even though Murić equalized soon before the end (16:16), Krstić scored a 3-pointer just at the end buzz using a moment of carelessness to the full (19:16).
This was the secret weapon of Mega Leks. Their counter-attacks were extremely quick and if we had just one very short abscent-minded moment, they stole the ball and scored. In the second quarter it started to be awkward, when their advantage grew above 10 points (27:16). And no matter how Marinković threw 3-pointers or how much Mačvan was burning on 1000 degrees, Webster just reached out, stole the ball and scored (41:30). In the meantime referees whistled fouls for unbelievable reasons
seriously, what was wrong with Andrić after the time-out?...
but without Andrić and his score before the buzz we would have finished the first half with 10 points of disadvantage. This way it was only
only?...
8 points. (42:34)
The (x+1)th time when the referee’s judgement was beyond common sense. Mačvan, Murić and Mega Leks’s Kešelj surround him.
Our ordeal continued in the 3th quarter.
It was the same like the previous two. Mega Leks controlled the game, stealing the ball numerous times and ruthlessly scoring. Miljenović and especially Jokić were unstoppable. The difference was always at least 5-6 points to their advantage. Tepić, Mačvan, Milosavljević and Milutinov all struggled hard, with their teamwork we ended the third part with 66:61.
Dragan Milosavljević some time during the match
At the beginning of the last quarter it did not seem to have any kind of change soon. Even if we could score a basket, there was an immediate reply to it from Mega Leks. In the heat of the battle Šulović hit Mačvan on the face, the referee didn’t whistle, but as an extra "gift" Mega Leks’s advantage grew to 10 points (76:66). Average Fan started to compose a very sad match report. Pavlović and Tepić scored (78:71), the instant answer was Šulović and Jokić (83:71). What is more, after a free throw it grew to 84:73. Oh, God, it’s unbelievable... It has been long since we were defeated with such a difference, being so humiliated during a match against a clearly better team.
And then came Saša Pavlović.
Saša Pavlović came, saw and made such a 5-point series (87:78) that Mega Leks’s trainer immediately asked for a time-out. It was good for Pavlović to have some extra deep breaths before continuing to plough up the Sremska Mitrovica sports hall (84:83). Our difference was only one point, Pavlović looked as if he had chewed enriched uranium in the break before the quarter. He was the one who took us to the lead (84:85) meanwhile Mega Leks were watching in shock. They equalized from free throw (85:85). Pavlović got cranked up so much that one moment before the end buzz he threw the ball towards the basket from half-court, but he missed.
Extra time.
Sweet Jesus, in this part of the game screaming cardial arrest came in every minute. Šulović scored (87:85), Pavlović equalized (87:87). There was a great battle on the court, but the referee - God knows why - whistled a technical foul to Pavlović. Pavlović called all the saints of heavens as his witness, but the referee was relentless.
Then the referee whistles foul on Zagorac as well. Both sides get free throw. Pavlović takes us on the lead (87:88), Mega Leks equalize (88:88). They even take back the lead (90:88), Mačvan equalizes (90:90). Mega Leks is back to the lead (92:90), it’s again Mačvan who equalizes (92:92). He even gets a bonus shot. We are back to the lead (92:93).
There will soon be a hole on the floor, I scratch it so much in these heated moments.
Mačvan again. What a performance he makes. (92:95) At this point Pavlović gets fouled out. Fans chant his name screaming. 93:95. Then Mega Leks equalize. 95:95, there is maybe one minute left from the extra time.
We get a free throw.
Tepić.
95:96.
The end. Buzz.
We won. What a game it was.
Current standing of the play-off:
1. CZ 18 points
2. Partizan 17 points
3. Metalac 14 points
4. Mega Leks 13 points
5. Vojvodina 13 points
6. FMP 12 points
7. Konstantin 11 points
8. Tamiš 10 points
(Photos: Twitter)
Update: highlights
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