The two teams had a tough, fierce battle in the Kragujevac pool, at least based on the statistics. It says all that the ratio of fouls is 10:9, what is more, a Radnički-player, Manić was fouled out some time before the end of the 3rd quarter (I checked the live scores first around the end of the 3rd part, at that point there was already a big red "3" near Manić’s name).
The first quarter could have looked smooth. We were leading to 2:4, we all looked flawless and fabulous, probably everyone thought it would be a routine victory against the home team who are stuck on the 9th place of the league table. Then nobody knows what Radnički-players drank, smoked or chewed in the pause before the second quarter, because they returned to the pool being totally sped up (or we made too many mistakes - or both...). They scored 3 goals, we had only one. They equalized, making up the half-time result to 5:5.
For the second half there was only wrestling left. Both teams could score only 1-1 goal in both the third and the fourth quarter, increasing only the number of fouls.
The hero of the day is Mateja Asanović with two goals. The others scored only 1-1 goal, namely Gilen, Tigkas, Gogov, Tanasković and Stojanović.
League table comes later.
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Saturday, January 30, 2016
Budućnost - KK Partizan 78:65 (Adriatic League, Round 22)
Well, this was nasty.
We played poorly, we struggled and even referees didn’t like us.
All seemed to be fine in the beginning though. We were leading to 2:7, but Budućnost equalized (9:9). Then came a long silence.
The entire game was about this kind of long, heavy and silent battles. None of the teams could score, the ball kept on rebounding from the ring as if it was scared of that.
Barely 2 minutes were left from the first half, when Vitkovac finally threw a basket (9:11). The problem was that it woke up the Podgorica-based team (12:11). Never mind, we had Kevin Jones (12:13), while Budućnost had a free throw (14:13). At this point referees were already fed up with Vitkovac, apparently, he was fouled twice within a short time. Budućnost scored one more, the first quarter ended with 16:13.
In the second quarter we took back the lead (16:17), but it didn’t last long (21:17). The stream was dying slowly and painfully, meanwhile Partizan was struggling. From this point on Budućnost kept the game under their control. We couldn’t even equalize, not even once, we could maybe just approach them with 1-2 points (26:24).
We kept the 8-point difference (32:24), we even tried to reduce it. Marinković threw a 3-pointer (34:29), so did Budućnost, what is more, they even got a bonus shot (38:29). We again reduced the difference a bit with Murić’s 3-pointer, that was the result of the half-time as well.
In the third quarter we continued to struggle. For the middle of the quarter we reduced the difference from 42:34 to 42:39, but at this point referees started to shower Budućnost with free throws. The home team gained a 10-point difference (53:43), yet Partizan got their first ever free throw some time around the second part of the third quarter. It was Aranitović, who could score from that, he did so (53:45). As for Budućnost, when they happened not to score from free throw, they did it from 3-pointers. We had absolutely no antidote against them... They overstepped the 10-point difference (58:47), but still at the end of the quarter Jones demonstrated what a real buzzer beater looks like.
The last quarter was a misery. Vitkovac scored from free throw at the beginning (60:54), but for quite a long time we were totally out of order.
I don’t remember when it was the last time we had so many rebounds.
Budućnost jumped to 66:54. Even Đumić’s free throw and Murić’s scores were enough to keep us to 69:60, but here the home team made a 9-point series (78:60). We could score two more baskets (one of them was a 3-pointer by Murić), but they didn’t help us at all.
Highlights:
Budućnost: Suad Šehović (11), Jaramaz, Subotić (6), Sead Sehović (9), Čarapić, Cook (6), Ilić, Dragićević (13), Marić (14), Jenkins (14), Rikić, Kanačević (5)
KK Partizan: Cvetković (2), Aranitović (4), Jones (13), Murić (17), Marinković (6), Vitkovac (6), Đumić (7), Koprivica, Magdevski, Milutinović, Vrabac (2), Wilson (8)
League table will be brought later.
Update: current standing of the League
1. Budućnost 42 points
2. CZ 38 points
3. Cedevita 38 points
4. Mega Leks 37 points
5. Cibona 32 points
6. Zadar 32 points
7. MZT Skopje 31 points
8. Union Olimpija 31 points
9. Igokea 31 points
10. Partizan 31 points
11. Krka 31 points
12. Metalac 30 points
13. Sutjeska 29 points
14. Tajfun Šentjur 29 points
(photos: aba-liga.com)
We played poorly, we struggled and even referees didn’t like us.
All seemed to be fine in the beginning though. We were leading to 2:7, but Budućnost equalized (9:9). Then came a long silence.
The entire game was about this kind of long, heavy and silent battles. None of the teams could score, the ball kept on rebounding from the ring as if it was scared of that.
Barely 2 minutes were left from the first half, when Vitkovac finally threw a basket (9:11). The problem was that it woke up the Podgorica-based team (12:11). Never mind, we had Kevin Jones (12:13), while Budućnost had a free throw (14:13). At this point referees were already fed up with Vitkovac, apparently, he was fouled twice within a short time. Budućnost scored one more, the first quarter ended with 16:13.
In the second quarter we took back the lead (16:17), but it didn’t last long (21:17). The stream was dying slowly and painfully, meanwhile Partizan was struggling. From this point on Budućnost kept the game under their control. We couldn’t even equalize, not even once, we could maybe just approach them with 1-2 points (26:24).
We kept the 8-point difference (32:24), we even tried to reduce it. Marinković threw a 3-pointer (34:29), so did Budućnost, what is more, they even got a bonus shot (38:29). We again reduced the difference a bit with Murić’s 3-pointer, that was the result of the half-time as well.
These two photos perfectly summarize the match
In the third quarter we continued to struggle. For the middle of the quarter we reduced the difference from 42:34 to 42:39, but at this point referees started to shower Budućnost with free throws. The home team gained a 10-point difference (53:43), yet Partizan got their first ever free throw some time around the second part of the third quarter. It was Aranitović, who could score from that, he did so (53:45). As for Budućnost, when they happened not to score from free throw, they did it from 3-pointers. We had absolutely no antidote against them... They overstepped the 10-point difference (58:47), but still at the end of the quarter Jones demonstrated what a real buzzer beater looks like.
The last quarter was a misery. Vitkovac scored from free throw at the beginning (60:54), but for quite a long time we were totally out of order.
I don’t remember when it was the last time we had so many rebounds.
Budućnost jumped to 66:54. Even Đumić’s free throw and Murić’s scores were enough to keep us to 69:60, but here the home team made a 9-point series (78:60). We could score two more baskets (one of them was a 3-pointer by Murić), but they didn’t help us at all.
Highlights:
Budućnost: Suad Šehović (11), Jaramaz, Subotić (6), Sead Sehović (9), Čarapić, Cook (6), Ilić, Dragićević (13), Marić (14), Jenkins (14), Rikić, Kanačević (5)
KK Partizan: Cvetković (2), Aranitović (4), Jones (13), Murić (17), Marinković (6), Vitkovac (6), Đumić (7), Koprivica, Magdevski, Milutinović, Vrabac (2), Wilson (8)
League table will be brought later.
Update: current standing of the League
1. Budućnost 42 points
2. CZ 38 points
3. Cedevita 38 points
4. Mega Leks 37 points
5. Cibona 32 points
6. Zadar 32 points
7. MZT Skopje 31 points
8. Union Olimpija 31 points
9. Igokea 31 points
10. Partizan 31 points
11. Krka 31 points
12. Metalac 30 points
13. Sutjeska 29 points
14. Tajfun Šentjur 29 points
(photos: aba-liga.com)
Friday, January 29, 2016
Vojvodina - VK Partizan 8:11 (Triglav Liga, Round 11)
The winter holiday has ended in Triglav Liga, Partizan's water polo team started the season in Novi Sad. We were leading to 2:4 for the end of the first quarter, and we didn't slow down even for the second. At the end of the first half our advantage was 4 goals (3:7).
Vojvodina picked themselves together for the third quarter, but it was enough only to reduce their difference to 2 goals (6:8), they couldn't even equalize. In the last quarter Šulc scored from penalty (7:9), then Subotić took the entire team under his armpit and quickly shot two more goals, setting the final result. He was the hero of the day with his 4 goals, followed by Drašović and Asanović (2-2 goals). Manojlović, Gogov and Vico all scored 1-1 goal.
League table comes later.
Update: current standing of the Liga
1. Dubrovnik 30 points
2. Primorje 27 points
3. Jadran HN 24 points
4. Partizan 19 points
5. Mladost 16 points
6. Mornar 10 points
7. CZ 9 points
8. POŠK 7 points
9. Vojvodina 3 points
10. Radnički 2 points
Vojvodina picked themselves together for the third quarter, but it was enough only to reduce their difference to 2 goals (6:8), they couldn't even equalize. In the last quarter Šulc scored from penalty (7:9), then Subotić took the entire team under his armpit and quickly shot two more goals, setting the final result. He was the hero of the day with his 4 goals, followed by Drašović and Asanović (2-2 goals). Manojlović, Gogov and Vico all scored 1-1 goal.
League table comes later.
Update: current standing of the Liga
1. Dubrovnik 30 points
2. Primorje 27 points
3. Jadran HN 24 points
4. Partizan 19 points
5. Mladost 16 points
6. Mornar 10 points
7. CZ 9 points
8. POŠK 7 points
9. Vojvodina 3 points
10. Radnički 2 points
OK Partizan - Novi Pazar 1:3 (superliga, round 12)
It was a relatively easy win for Novi Pazar against our volleyball team. They kept the game under their control, winning the first set to 22:25 and the second to 16:25. Partizan could show a more powerful, more collected game only in the third part, we won it to 25:21. We could keep the pace even in the fourth, leading to 8:6 in the beginning. We were behind the guests with only 1 point in the middle (15:16), but at the end Novi Pazar was too strong. They won the last set to 21:25, eventually winning the match to 1:3.
High five to Sportski žurnal for publishing their short report just a few hours after the game.
OK Partizan: Buša (10), Pantić (7), Nedeljković, Žugić, Lopar (11), Kostić (4), Tasić, Rajković (libero), Jokanović, Veličković (15), Polomac (7), Perišić
Vezetőedző: Vladimir Vasović
Novi Pazar: Zoranić, Novoselac (3), R. Stevanović (15), Delić, Daca (8), N. Stevanović (19), Radović (20), Božović, Brzaković (1), Zatrić (7), Bulatović, Kapur (libero)
Vezetőedző: Milan Gršić
League table comes later.
High five to Sportski žurnal for publishing their short report just a few hours after the game.
OK Partizan: Buša (10), Pantić (7), Nedeljković, Žugić, Lopar (11), Kostić (4), Tasić, Rajković (libero), Jokanović, Veličković (15), Polomac (7), Perišić
Vezetőedző: Vladimir Vasović
Novi Pazar: Zoranić, Novoselac (3), R. Stevanović (15), Delić, Daca (8), N. Stevanović (19), Radović (20), Božović, Brzaković (1), Zatrić (7), Bulatović, Kapur (libero)
Vezetőedző: Milan Gršić
League table comes later.
Update: current championship standings
1. CZ 33 points
2. Vojvodina 30 points
3. Novi Pazar 24 points
4. Niš 20 points
5. Partizan 16 points
6. Spartak Ljig 15 points
7. Radnički 15 points
8. Ribnica 15 points
9. Klek 11 points
10. Inđija 1 point
1. CZ 33 points
2. Vojvodina 30 points
3. Novi Pazar 24 points
4. Niš 20 points
5. Partizan 16 points
6. Spartak Ljig 15 points
7. Radnički 15 points
8. Ribnica 15 points
9. Klek 11 points
10. Inđija 1 point
Thursday, January 28, 2016
The Živković-saga
Disclaimer: This blogpost does not want to dispense justice, nor does it want to tell anyone where to get off. It’s not this blog’s job but of the legal services. I just try to summarize all those that happened so far - of course I'll include my own point of view as well, but that's strictly my very own, personal opinion, not some sort of "ex cathedra" manifestation. Anyone can add their opinion, in a cultured, educated manner.
As I wrote in an earlier blogpost, we could all have a sense at the end of the autumn season that Andrija Živković would not stay at Partizan. News spoke about a number of big, European clubs that would have gladly signed the young world champion, but none of them succeeded. Then came the news about a contract with the former manager, Pini Zahavi. The contract included a clause, namely if Živković is not sold until his contract with Partizan expires, then the club must pay almost two million euros of retention money to the Israeli manager.
An average fan would feel dizzy even at this point. What’s this?... What do you mean that the club must pay retention money, if they can’t sell the kid until the expiration of the contract?... Whose idea was this, and most of all, who agreed with it and who signed it?... For whom did it serve good and why? What did those lawyers say who examined the contract before signing it? Has any lawyer examined it at all, or they just signed it and done?...
At this point Partizan’s sports director, Ivica Iliev entered the picture and started his long media-tour. He told to Kurir if they can’t sell Živković, or Živković doesn’t extend his contract with the club, then Partizan may go bankrupt because of that retention money they have to pay to Zahavi (at this point the amount of money was already 2,5 million euros).
"If [Živković] doesn’t extend his contract [with Partizan], then Partizan must pay punishment fee. It means that we can put a padlock on the club. More than 200 families can find themselves in the street, and Andrija will be remembered as the player who made the club going bankrupt", cites Mozzartsport.
Maybe it’s just me, but Iliev seemed to start a kind of manipulative game even at this point. Nevertheless a day later Andrija Živković’s father, Jovica released an open letter. Apart from the heavy, overheated style of the letter
honestly, which parent would not be angry in such a situation, when it’s about their child?...
Živković sr. writes about background details that are at least thought-provoking. He even attached documents to his letter. In short: the father says, Partizan’s then-general secretary Darko Grubor claimed that Andrija Živković is their possession - most probably technically. It means, whatever happens to Živković (transfer, etc.), it is all Partizan’s tether, aka nobody, not even parents can have any word in it. The father goes further: it was the club (and its then-management) that pressured his son into this Pini Zahavi-contract. According to him, nobody was informed about this contract, neither the parents, nor the player and his agent. The father claims, the contract is hidden at a non-public place.
Obviously it’s somewhere at the club, but they will surely never put it public.
Furthermore, Jovica Živković denies those charges that blame him (and his son) with materialism, to be motivated by money only. The father adds, even Real Madrid (!!!) wanted to sign Andrija for 15 million euros (!!!), even though they would have immediately put him on loan. The father claims, other top European clubs had offers for his son, but they refused all of them, because Andrija wanted to play for Partizan.
After this a group of people who are allegedly Partizan-fans also released an open letter, in which they called the young player scapegoat (with additional offensive words), even calling him "zvezdaš".
As if they would have forgotten about Živković’s goals, matches, tricks he did for Partizan as well as his world championship.
Interesting that this open letter was published by a certain Vladimir Vuletić on his own Facebook profile. It’s that Vladimir Vuletić, who is otherwise the chairman of Partizan’s supervisory board.
"Fan letter". Yes. Sure. You get what I mean.
At this point an unbelievably disgusting mud-throwing has started. First Albert Nagy spoke, who was Partizan’s sports director during the Pini Zahavi-contract. He didn’t say many details, rather he just washed his hands. Then spoke Saša Ilić, who only made the upheaval even bigger with his statement, dividing the ab ovo confused, angry and puzzled fans.
I can speak about Saša Ilić only with the biggest possible respect, and now, as a simple, average fan I ask him with the biggest respect never ever to speak in public about what was said behind the doors of the locker-room.
Then even former Partizan goalkeeper Vladimir Stojković spoke, though nobody asked him. On the other hand, as he is in Israel now, he surely doesn’t know any more details about this case than an ordinary, news-reading fan. Meanwhile (upon non-confirmed news) the documents of the Živković-contract are at the police, but nobody mentioned what they investigate and who reported the case to the authorities.
The management keeps silent. (Vazura was just rolling his eyes.) Neither the current, nor the former management members are willing to speak (except for Albert Nagy). Former FK Partizan president Dragan Đurić denied everything. The others didn’t speak a word.
In the meantime Iliev tours around the entire sports media, keeping the public under pressure saying that it's all Živković’s fault, because the player prefers money more than Partizan. This made Živković’s current manager, Predrag Đorđević upset so much that even he released an open letter, in which he turns off the entire Partizan-management saying that it’s not else than blackmailing a 19-year-old kid, who would like to just play football for his beloved team, yet this beloved team’s management makes it impossible. While Iliev keeps the public, the players, the fans and Andrija Živković himself under pressure.
And well, the result is obvious: upon the current state of events Andrija Živković will surely not extend his contract with the club in the summer.
If you allow me to be this personal: I’m terrified by Iliev’s manipulations. I don’t know what he wants with it all, why he is doing it and for whom/what, but he should stop it right now, because it reached the disgusting level.
And if I may add a thought: if I were Živković, I would also not extend my contract. After he gave his heart and soul to the club, that he played and scored even being injured, after all this he is thrown away like an used piece of rag and he is dragged into the mire in front of the public... His heart goes for Partizan, but I personally can understand that he is fed up with it all. He is the most innocent of it all, yet it’s still his name that’s tainted.
The story hasn’t ended yet, but the next sequel is the topic of another blogpost.
As I wrote in an earlier blogpost, we could all have a sense at the end of the autumn season that Andrija Živković would not stay at Partizan. News spoke about a number of big, European clubs that would have gladly signed the young world champion, but none of them succeeded. Then came the news about a contract with the former manager, Pini Zahavi. The contract included a clause, namely if Živković is not sold until his contract with Partizan expires, then the club must pay almost two million euros of retention money to the Israeli manager.
An average fan would feel dizzy even at this point. What’s this?... What do you mean that the club must pay retention money, if they can’t sell the kid until the expiration of the contract?... Whose idea was this, and most of all, who agreed with it and who signed it?... For whom did it serve good and why? What did those lawyers say who examined the contract before signing it? Has any lawyer examined it at all, or they just signed it and done?...
At this point Partizan’s sports director, Ivica Iliev entered the picture and started his long media-tour. He told to Kurir if they can’t sell Živković, or Živković doesn’t extend his contract with the club, then Partizan may go bankrupt because of that retention money they have to pay to Zahavi (at this point the amount of money was already 2,5 million euros).
"If [Živković] doesn’t extend his contract [with Partizan], then Partizan must pay punishment fee. It means that we can put a padlock on the club. More than 200 families can find themselves in the street, and Andrija will be remembered as the player who made the club going bankrupt", cites Mozzartsport.
Maybe it’s just me, but Iliev seemed to start a kind of manipulative game even at this point. Nevertheless a day later Andrija Živković’s father, Jovica released an open letter. Apart from the heavy, overheated style of the letter
honestly, which parent would not be angry in such a situation, when it’s about their child?...
Živković sr. writes about background details that are at least thought-provoking. He even attached documents to his letter. In short: the father says, Partizan’s then-general secretary Darko Grubor claimed that Andrija Živković is their possession - most probably technically. It means, whatever happens to Živković (transfer, etc.), it is all Partizan’s tether, aka nobody, not even parents can have any word in it. The father goes further: it was the club (and its then-management) that pressured his son into this Pini Zahavi-contract. According to him, nobody was informed about this contract, neither the parents, nor the player and his agent. The father claims, the contract is hidden at a non-public place.
Obviously it’s somewhere at the club, but they will surely never put it public.
Furthermore, Jovica Živković denies those charges that blame him (and his son) with materialism, to be motivated by money only. The father adds, even Real Madrid (!!!) wanted to sign Andrija for 15 million euros (!!!), even though they would have immediately put him on loan. The father claims, other top European clubs had offers for his son, but they refused all of them, because Andrija wanted to play for Partizan.
After this a group of people who are allegedly Partizan-fans also released an open letter, in which they called the young player scapegoat (with additional offensive words), even calling him "zvezdaš".
As if they would have forgotten about Živković’s goals, matches, tricks he did for Partizan as well as his world championship.
Interesting that this open letter was published by a certain Vladimir Vuletić on his own Facebook profile. It’s that Vladimir Vuletić, who is otherwise the chairman of Partizan’s supervisory board.
"Fan letter". Yes. Sure. You get what I mean.
At this point an unbelievably disgusting mud-throwing has started. First Albert Nagy spoke, who was Partizan’s sports director during the Pini Zahavi-contract. He didn’t say many details, rather he just washed his hands. Then spoke Saša Ilić, who only made the upheaval even bigger with his statement, dividing the ab ovo confused, angry and puzzled fans.
I can speak about Saša Ilić only with the biggest possible respect, and now, as a simple, average fan I ask him with the biggest respect never ever to speak in public about what was said behind the doors of the locker-room.
Then even former Partizan goalkeeper Vladimir Stojković spoke, though nobody asked him. On the other hand, as he is in Israel now, he surely doesn’t know any more details about this case than an ordinary, news-reading fan. Meanwhile (upon non-confirmed news) the documents of the Živković-contract are at the police, but nobody mentioned what they investigate and who reported the case to the authorities.
The management keeps silent. (Vazura was just rolling his eyes.) Neither the current, nor the former management members are willing to speak (except for Albert Nagy). Former FK Partizan president Dragan Đurić denied everything. The others didn’t speak a word.
In the meantime Iliev tours around the entire sports media, keeping the public under pressure saying that it's all Živković’s fault, because the player prefers money more than Partizan. This made Živković’s current manager, Predrag Đorđević upset so much that even he released an open letter, in which he turns off the entire Partizan-management saying that it’s not else than blackmailing a 19-year-old kid, who would like to just play football for his beloved team, yet this beloved team’s management makes it impossible. While Iliev keeps the public, the players, the fans and Andrija Živković himself under pressure.
And well, the result is obvious: upon the current state of events Andrija Živković will surely not extend his contract with the club in the summer.
If you allow me to be this personal: I’m terrified by Iliev’s manipulations. I don’t know what he wants with it all, why he is doing it and for whom/what, but he should stop it right now, because it reached the disgusting level.
And if I may add a thought: if I were Živković, I would also not extend my contract. After he gave his heart and soul to the club, that he played and scored even being injured, after all this he is thrown away like an used piece of rag and he is dragged into the mire in front of the public... His heart goes for Partizan, but I personally can understand that he is fed up with it all. He is the most innocent of it all, yet it’s still his name that’s tainted.
The story hasn’t ended yet, but the next sequel is the topic of another blogpost.
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
KK Partizan - Crvena Zvezda 86:81 (Adriatic League, Round 21)
VICTORY!!!!
Not just a simple victory, but stomping them, humiliating them, tearing them to pieces. We drank their blood, we dug their graves and danced on them.
Before the game fans were gathering, the team was warming up. They were celebrated even at this point...
...and then Aleksandar Džikić appeared at the tunnel.
Then came the call of the players, one by one, as it always happens before every game. Pionir Hall wanted to explode even then.
Someone should tell the cameraman not to hold the machine this low, because the sight of Dejan Radonjić’s ass is just horror.
All those who didn’t want to believe their eyes to see Partizan’s former player Tarence Kinsey among Zvezda-players, well, they unfortunately have to believe their eyes.
It was some time in the beginning of January that Kinsey terminated his contract with his then-team Trabzonspor. News circulated that he was to return to Serbia. Partizan-fans were begging him on all social media sites to return to the team. Finally Kinsey chose the red team. His reason was that he would get more salary there.
Fans were preparing for his welcome with a personal banner, made just for him.
So did Nebojša Čović, president of KKCZ.
Čović has been undergoing judical process for a while. The charges against him are bribery and abuse of authority among others he committed in Kosovo. The Serbian Police’s Department for Organized Crime is investigating, while Partizan-fans gloat over it all. (Who wouldn’t?...)
The game started with a struggle. Zvezda made it to 0:8, while we just couldn’t score one single basket. The ball kept on rebounding from the ring. Finally Jones broke the silence (2:8).
I think this was the moment when Kinsey entered the court. I don’t remember when I heard such a boo and hiss last time. Fans were whistling, booing, cursing, making obscene gestures - it surely wasn’t Kinsey’s best moment. (He spoiled it all by accepting Čika Čoki’s money...)
We reduced the difference to 5:9. Marinković scored a fantastic 3-pointer.
Was it just me, or did Cvetković really have a "personal bodyguard" from Zvezda-players whenever he tried to put himself into action?
The standing grew to 5:14. Red guys very heavily focused on stolen balls, they were very fast and even more aggressive.
Okay, without the two main rats, Blažič and Kalinić they were far not that awful as they used to earlier. Even the inhumane-sized Humane Mountain Marjanović has moved to the US. Though they still have their speed and aggressiveness.
At this point the American trio sped up. Williams (7:14), Jones with two shots (11:16), Wilson (14:16). Then Murić came, saw and took us the lead with an amazing 3-pointer (17:16). Zvezda took it back with a basket, but Murić was unstoppable.
This game was Murić’s big time. He kept on scoring and had the most noble revenge for all those injuries he got on previous derbies.
Murić got a bonus shot as well, we were leading to 20:16. Zvezda again took it back (20:21), but now Jones punished them: soon before the buzz he threw a 3-pointer. We finished the first quarter with 23:21.
In the second quarter Zvezda took back the lead again (23:24). It was going on for almost the whole time that the counter was switching between the two sides. The difference was always 1-2 points, the two teams kept on squeezing each other’s throat. The game itself mirrored it, it was a heavy, "grinding" match with a lot of fouls. Vitkovac took back the lead for us (25:24), then Zvezda took it back again (25:30). Players clashed, fell on the floor, while referees either whistled it as a foul or not.
In the second quarter Zvezda kept on leading for the whole time, but always with just 2-3 points. We missed out a lot of chances, it has been long since we had so many rebounding balls. Most of the scores came from free throw on both sides. There was one period when it was a bit tough, reds made it to 35:44, but Marinković (38:44), Vitkovac (41:46) and Cvetković together reduced it to only 4 points, so we ended the first half with 44:48.
Quite a number of football players were present, too, as well as almost the entire management of the football team. But if you don’t mind, I won’t post here Vazura’s ugly, disgusting, fat face.
We sped up for the second half. Murić reduced the difference (47:48), then Cvetković took back the lead.
Then again Murić (53:50). Jones, from free throw (55:52). Zvezda equalizes (55:55). Wilson won’t let it at that (57:55). Zvezda equalizes from free throw (57:57), again Wilson takes the lead us back (59:57). Reds again equalize, again from free throw (59:59), what is more, after a steal they take the lead (59:61). Now Williams equalizes (61:61). Zirbes plays the dying swan under Zvezda’s backboard, the referee whistles for offensive foul. Zirbes scores from the gift free throw with an evil grin (61:63). Wilson equalizes again (63:63). The referee whistles another foul for Partizan, another gift free throw for the other side (63:64). Again Wilson equalizes, from free throw (64:64).
Zvezda is back on the lead, after stealing the ball from us again (64:66). Wilson again equalizes, we even get a bonus shot. 67:66, we are leading at the end of the third quarter!
The final quarter was opened by Cvetković (69:66). Williams was fouled out, Zvezda started to be more and more aggerssive (69:68). Referees continuously whistled offensive foul on us, but they couldn’t suppress us, because the Aranitović-Vitkovac duo brought us 4 points (73:68). Partizan was playing full court pressure, the referee whistled it off as a foul (with a gift free throw for Zvezda, of course), but reds missed it out. No problem, they got another gift, now they could score (73:70). Then Cvetković threw a giant 3-pointer.
Zvezda got another gift free thow (why not... 76:71), then finally they made a field goal, after a long time (76:73), so did Jones (78:73). The good old referee again gave a gift free throw to the red striped team (78:75).
At 80:78 Miller was also fouled out (what a tantrum he made...). Jones was pushed down to the floor, the referee didn’t whistle. Jones had a noble revenge (82:78) and here there was only 1 minute and 17 seconds left. The referee whistles offensive foul on Vitkovac, free throw for Zvezda, again (82:79). Gudurić also gets fouled out. Free throw for Partizan. Murić scores (84:79).
Only 41 seconds are left. Time-out for Zvezda. Afterwards they score (84:81). Only 17 seconds left.
And then came Murić.
Only 3 seconds are left. Cvetković grabs the ball, runs up, but a red player blocks him with his last breath.
But it’s okay.
Everything’s okay.
WE WON!!!!
But Zvezda wouldn’t be Zvezda if they hadn’t poked their nose into our joy. All we could see was an upheaval in the middle of the court, players pushing each other and (seemingly) fighting, then Aleksandar Džikić personally disarms Štimac, who seemingly lost control.
Then they eventually walked off the court and we could celebrate.
Old friends sent their greetings after the game.
Highlights:
KK Partizan: Cvetković (16), Aranitović (2), Jones (17), Murić (15), Marinković (6), Vitkovac (9), Đumić (2), Magdevski, Milutinović, Williams (4), Vrabac, Wilson (15)
Crvena Zvezda: Kinsey (8), Rebić (2), Dangubić (7), Lazić (12), Simanić, Micić (4), Simonović (2), Gudurić (2), Jović (4), Miller (10), Zirbes (26), Štimac (4)
Current standing of the League:
1. Budućnost 40 points
2. Cedevita 37 points
3. CZ 36 points
4. Mega Leks 35 points
5. MZT Skopje 30 points
6. Igokea 30 points
7. Partizan 30 points
8. Cibona 30 points
9. Zadar 30 points
10. Union Olimpija 29 points
11. Krka 29 points
12. Metalac 29 points
13. Sutjeska 28 points
14. Tajfun Šentjur 28 points
Not just a simple victory, but stomping them, humiliating them, tearing them to pieces. We drank their blood, we dug their graves and danced on them.
Before the game fans were gathering, the team was warming up. They were celebrated even at this point...
(photo: Twitter)
...and then Aleksandar Džikić appeared at the tunnel.
Then came the call of the players, one by one, as it always happens before every game. Pionir Hall wanted to explode even then.
Someone should tell the cameraman not to hold the machine this low, because the sight of Dejan Radonjić’s ass is just horror.
All those who didn’t want to believe their eyes to see Partizan’s former player Tarence Kinsey among Zvezda-players, well, they unfortunately have to believe their eyes.
It was some time in the beginning of January that Kinsey terminated his contract with his then-team Trabzonspor. News circulated that he was to return to Serbia. Partizan-fans were begging him on all social media sites to return to the team. Finally Kinsey chose the red team. His reason was that he would get more salary there.
Fans were preparing for his welcome with a personal banner, made just for him.
(photo: Twitter)
So did Nebojša Čović, president of KKCZ.
(photo: Twitter)
Čović has been undergoing judical process for a while. The charges against him are bribery and abuse of authority among others he committed in Kosovo. The Serbian Police’s Department for Organized Crime is investigating, while Partizan-fans gloat over it all. (Who wouldn’t?...)
The game started with a struggle. Zvezda made it to 0:8, while we just couldn’t score one single basket. The ball kept on rebounding from the ring. Finally Jones broke the silence (2:8).
I think this was the moment when Kinsey entered the court. I don’t remember when I heard such a boo and hiss last time. Fans were whistling, booing, cursing, making obscene gestures - it surely wasn’t Kinsey’s best moment. (He spoiled it all by accepting Čika Čoki’s money...)
We reduced the difference to 5:9. Marinković scored a fantastic 3-pointer.
Was it just me, or did Cvetković really have a "personal bodyguard" from Zvezda-players whenever he tried to put himself into action?
The standing grew to 5:14. Red guys very heavily focused on stolen balls, they were very fast and even more aggressive.
Okay, without the two main rats, Blažič and Kalinić they were far not that awful as they used to earlier. Even the inhumane-sized Humane Mountain Marjanović has moved to the US. Though they still have their speed and aggressiveness.
At this point the American trio sped up. Williams (7:14), Jones with two shots (11:16), Wilson (14:16). Then Murić came, saw and took us the lead with an amazing 3-pointer (17:16). Zvezda took it back with a basket, but Murić was unstoppable.
This game was Murić’s big time. He kept on scoring and had the most noble revenge for all those injuries he got on previous derbies.
(photo: aba-liga.com)
Murić got a bonus shot as well, we were leading to 20:16. Zvezda again took it back (20:21), but now Jones punished them: soon before the buzz he threw a 3-pointer. We finished the first quarter with 23:21.
In the second quarter Zvezda took back the lead again (23:24). It was going on for almost the whole time that the counter was switching between the two sides. The difference was always 1-2 points, the two teams kept on squeezing each other’s throat. The game itself mirrored it, it was a heavy, "grinding" match with a lot of fouls. Vitkovac took back the lead for us (25:24), then Zvezda took it back again (25:30). Players clashed, fell on the floor, while referees either whistled it as a foul or not.
(photo: aba-liga.com)
In the second quarter Zvezda kept on leading for the whole time, but always with just 2-3 points. We missed out a lot of chances, it has been long since we had so many rebounding balls. Most of the scores came from free throw on both sides. There was one period when it was a bit tough, reds made it to 35:44, but Marinković (38:44), Vitkovac (41:46) and Cvetković together reduced it to only 4 points, so we ended the first half with 44:48.
Milica Mandić was also there
(photo: Facebook/KK Partizan)
Quite a number of football players were present, too, as well as almost the entire management of the football team. But if you don’t mind, I won’t post here Vazura’s ugly, disgusting, fat face.
We sped up for the second half. Murić reduced the difference (47:48), then Cvetković took back the lead.
Then again Murić (53:50). Jones, from free throw (55:52). Zvezda equalizes (55:55). Wilson won’t let it at that (57:55). Zvezda equalizes from free throw (57:57), again Wilson takes the lead us back (59:57). Reds again equalize, again from free throw (59:59), what is more, after a steal they take the lead (59:61). Now Williams equalizes (61:61). Zirbes plays the dying swan under Zvezda’s backboard, the referee whistles for offensive foul. Zirbes scores from the gift free throw with an evil grin (61:63). Wilson equalizes again (63:63). The referee whistles another foul for Partizan, another gift free throw for the other side (63:64). Again Wilson equalizes, from free throw (64:64).
(photo: Facebook/KK Partizan)
Zvezda is back on the lead, after stealing the ball from us again (64:66). Wilson again equalizes, we even get a bonus shot. 67:66, we are leading at the end of the third quarter!
Jović is trying to stop Cvetković, with no success
(photo: aba-liga.com)
The final quarter was opened by Cvetković (69:66). Williams was fouled out, Zvezda started to be more and more aggerssive (69:68). Referees continuously whistled offensive foul on us, but they couldn’t suppress us, because the Aranitović-Vitkovac duo brought us 4 points (73:68). Partizan was playing full court pressure, the referee whistled it off as a foul (with a gift free throw for Zvezda, of course), but reds missed it out. No problem, they got another gift, now they could score (73:70). Then Cvetković threw a giant 3-pointer.
Zvezda got another gift free thow (why not... 76:71), then finally they made a field goal, after a long time (76:73), so did Jones (78:73). The good old referee again gave a gift free throw to the red striped team (78:75).
At 80:78 Miller was also fouled out (what a tantrum he made...). Jones was pushed down to the floor, the referee didn’t whistle. Jones had a noble revenge (82:78) and here there was only 1 minute and 17 seconds left. The referee whistles offensive foul on Vitkovac, free throw for Zvezda, again (82:79). Gudurić also gets fouled out. Free throw for Partizan. Murić scores (84:79).
Only 41 seconds are left. Time-out for Zvezda. Afterwards they score (84:81). Only 17 seconds left.
And then came Murić.
Only 3 seconds are left. Cvetković grabs the ball, runs up, but a red player blocks him with his last breath.
But it’s okay.
Everything’s okay.
WE WON!!!!
(photo: aba-liga.com)
(photo: Facebook/KK Partizan)
(photos: aba-liga.com)
(photo: Twitter)
Then they eventually walked off the court and we could celebrate.
(photos: aba-liga.com)
(photo: Facebook/KK Partizan)
Old friends sent their greetings after the game.
Bravo Momci Svaka Cast⚫⚪⚫⚪⚫⚪😏
— Dallo Boris (@1Bobo2) January 25, 2016
Bravo momci!! ⚫️⚪️
— Westermann Léo (@lwestermann) January 25, 2016
Bravo majstori,svaka cast! 👊
— Bogdan Bogdanovic (@LeaderOfHorde) January 25, 2016
Bravo @KKP 👏🏻👏🏻⚫️⚪️⚫️⚪️
— Djoko Salic (@djoko_salic) January 25, 2016
💪✊🔥👏👏⚡️💥 bravo momci ◼️◻️ svaka čast 😎
— Joffrey Lauvergne (@1JOLOLO) January 25, 2016
Bravooo momci! 👏
— Danilo Andjusic (@Djusa33) January 25, 2016
Highlights:
KK Partizan: Cvetković (16), Aranitović (2), Jones (17), Murić (15), Marinković (6), Vitkovac (9), Đumić (2), Magdevski, Milutinović, Williams (4), Vrabac, Wilson (15)
Crvena Zvezda: Kinsey (8), Rebić (2), Dangubić (7), Lazić (12), Simanić, Micić (4), Simonović (2), Gudurić (2), Jović (4), Miller (10), Zirbes (26), Štimac (4)
Current standing of the League:
1. Budućnost 40 points
2. Cedevita 37 points
3. CZ 36 points
4. Mega Leks 35 points
5. MZT Skopje 30 points
6. Igokea 30 points
7. Partizan 30 points
8. Cibona 30 points
9. Zadar 30 points
10. Union Olimpija 29 points
11. Krka 29 points
12. Metalac 29 points
13. Sutjeska 28 points
14. Tajfun Šentjur 28 points
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Inđija - OK Partizan 0:3 (superliga, round 11)
This game was played yesterday.
I heard about it for the first time on Friday only.
I'm not even surprised anymore that there is such a big silence about the volleyball league in the media. The volleyball association seems to give no shit at all. Their home page is a catastrophe, they report games only in an "in brief"-style. No photos about the games and even their Youtube-channel hasn't been refreshed since last year (they had at least match highlights then). They are not present on any social media either.
In 2016. In the 21st century.
Professionalism, my a...
Only minimal information is available. Most important is that Partizan won easily against Inđija. We were leading for the whole time, winning the first part to 21:25, the second to 14:25 and the third to 16:25.
Inđija: Lalić (10), Sretenović (1), Pešut (8), U. Grković (libero), A. Grković (4), Čolović, Andrić, Mićić (8), Stević, Kovačević (4)
Head coach: Vladimir Šarenac
OK Partizan: Buša (17), Pantić (12), Nedeljković, Žugić, Lopar (7), Kostić (1), Rajković (libero), Jokanović (1), Veličković (13), Polomac (5), Popović, Perišić
Head coach: Vladimir Vasović
Current championship standings:
1. CZ 30 points
2. Vojvodina 27 points
3. Niš 20 points
4. Novi Pazar 21 points
5. Partizan 16 points
6. Spartak Ljig 15 points
7. Radnički 12 points
8. Ribnica 12 points
9. Klek 11 points
10. Inđija 1 point
I heard about it for the first time on Friday only.
I'm not even surprised anymore that there is such a big silence about the volleyball league in the media. The volleyball association seems to give no shit at all. Their home page is a catastrophe, they report games only in an "in brief"-style. No photos about the games and even their Youtube-channel hasn't been refreshed since last year (they had at least match highlights then). They are not present on any social media either.
In 2016. In the 21st century.
Professionalism, my a...
Only minimal information is available. Most important is that Partizan won easily against Inđija. We were leading for the whole time, winning the first part to 21:25, the second to 14:25 and the third to 16:25.
Inđija: Lalić (10), Sretenović (1), Pešut (8), U. Grković (libero), A. Grković (4), Čolović, Andrić, Mićić (8), Stević, Kovačević (4)
Head coach: Vladimir Šarenac
OK Partizan: Buša (17), Pantić (12), Nedeljković, Žugić, Lopar (7), Kostić (1), Rajković (libero), Jokanović (1), Veličković (13), Polomac (5), Popović, Perišić
Head coach: Vladimir Vasović
Current championship standings:
1. CZ 30 points
2. Vojvodina 27 points
3. Niš 20 points
4. Novi Pazar 21 points
5. Partizan 16 points
6. Spartak Ljig 15 points
7. Radnički 12 points
8. Ribnica 12 points
9. Klek 11 points
10. Inđija 1 point
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
BREAKING: Snežana Filipović has resigned
Snežana Filipović, FK Partizan’s marketing manager
oh, so sorry, my bad. She is not Filipović anymore, but Snežana Borjan, because shethrusted herself on married to Serbo-Canadian ex-Rad, ex-Radnički Niš goalkeeper, Milan Borjan
has resigned today from her position.
It wouldn’t matter too much. Such things had happened and will happen, too. The reason why this blogpost was still written is that SnežanaFilipović Borjan published the world’s stupidest, most unnecessary press release after her resignation. You can read it here in Serbian, it’s very entertaining.
But let’s see what she’s writing in the press release.
"Since I’ve come to office, I’ve been in a very difficult situation, not just because the economical and financial problems of the club, but also because as a woman I constantly have to undergo all kinds of trials, prejudices and the critics of public opinion."
Dear Sneki, where should I start... You know, the truth is that you yourself did everything for these "trials, prejudices and critics", as you name it. It’s enough just to type your name into Google, a long row of news and images pop up that are all about you pushing yourself to the spotlight. None of them mentions Partizan, your work (if there was any of such a thing as "your work" at all...), only about you showing off. Only you, your private life, and all that big pile of garbage that fell out of your mouth. You did everything to show NOT the image of a serious, committed marketing manager, but instead the image of a stupid, shallow-minded, blonde bitch, typically whom people make obscene notes about. You acted like a brainless celebrity, instead of a professional marketing expert. Why are you surprised?...
She goes on.
"Between September 2012 and January 2016 we signed 24 sponsor contracts, we achieved TV rights and got advertising space during European cup competitions."
For your intention, dearie: during the Đurić-era the team had 0 (zero) sponsors, even though you have been posing as a marketing manager even then. Not just there was no sponsor at all for the team, but even the advertising boards of the stadium were left empty. Nobody wanted to put there their advertisings. Nobody. Let me not link those revolted open letters by fans which charge you right with the lack of sponsors and advertisers, as one of the reasons why the club was and still is in a horrible financial situation. The appearance of the first sponsors can be dated after the Vazura-Vučelić hyena couple used up all their contacts, together with all their bribing/blackmailing abilities. And for sure they didn’t do it for pure love, but for double-digit percentage of shares.
TV rights and advertising space come as the part of the contract. You don’t need to have big talent for that, just a bit familiar with rights.
Let’s go on.
"The PR-activity of the club is of European level."
I had to stop here to laugh. Well done, Sneki, well done. You licked Biki’s* ass so deep that your tongue is covered with shit now.
*Biki, aka Biljana Obradović, FK Partizan’s so-called PR-manager
"...based only on personal contacts. [...] As not just the club, but the whole country is in a very difficult financial/economical situation, the club could maintain only with difficulties, for the lack of resources. As a result, the budget of the marketing department was zero dinars."
Zero dinars. Of course. You could still pay a New Year’s Eve holiday in the Maldives from your zero-budget earning. I guess you’d been saving up for months. Don’t take me wrong; I wouldn’t mind you going to the Maldives or even to the Moon if you had worked hard and dedicated all your time and energy to make it better for Partizan. But you’re not better than your mafioso (ex-)bosses.
By the way, where are the incomes from those sponsor contracts you mentioned above? Why is the budget of the marketing department is zero after 24 contracts? YOU are the marketing manager (or rather, you were...), why did you not do anything to change it? It’s YOUR responsibility, dear Sneki, not of the club or of the country, but yours. As the person in charge at the marketing department you and nobody else should have fought for bigger percentage. Oh, wait, you would have had to work hard to earn it, not just posting duckfaces on your Instagram, right?... Shit happens.
But the best is still yet to come.
"I always wanted to give my best, the maximum."
Well, Sneki, if this was your maximum you could give, then shame on you. It’s better then if you leave. Go away, as far as you can from the club.
My own two cents for the end: I’m happy for the departure of Snežana Borjan as much as for the departure of Stefan Babović. Yet I didn’t write about Babović in a separate post, because despite all he could do it in a gentleman-alike way, silently, with no raid in the press. Yet Snežana made this press release, which can be taken as the public tantrum of a spoiled 12-year-old girl.
Biljana Obradović, you’re next!...
oh, so sorry, my bad. She is not Filipović anymore, but Snežana Borjan, because she
has resigned today from her position.
It wouldn’t matter too much. Such things had happened and will happen, too. The reason why this blogpost was still written is that Snežana
On this photo posing still as the marketing manager of FK Partizan
(photo: nadlanu.com)
But let’s see what she’s writing in the press release.
"Since I’ve come to office, I’ve been in a very difficult situation, not just because the economical and financial problems of the club, but also because as a woman I constantly have to undergo all kinds of trials, prejudices and the critics of public opinion."
Dear Sneki, where should I start... You know, the truth is that you yourself did everything for these "trials, prejudices and critics", as you name it. It’s enough just to type your name into Google, a long row of news and images pop up that are all about you pushing yourself to the spotlight. None of them mentions Partizan, your work (if there was any of such a thing as "your work" at all...), only about you showing off. Only you, your private life, and all that big pile of garbage that fell out of your mouth. You did everything to show NOT the image of a serious, committed marketing manager, but instead the image of a stupid, shallow-minded, blonde bitch, typically whom people make obscene notes about. You acted like a brainless celebrity, instead of a professional marketing expert. Why are you surprised?...
She goes on.
"Between September 2012 and January 2016 we signed 24 sponsor contracts, we achieved TV rights and got advertising space during European cup competitions."
For your intention, dearie: during the Đurić-era the team had 0 (zero) sponsors, even though you have been posing as a marketing manager even then. Not just there was no sponsor at all for the team, but even the advertising boards of the stadium were left empty. Nobody wanted to put there their advertisings. Nobody. Let me not link those revolted open letters by fans which charge you right with the lack of sponsors and advertisers, as one of the reasons why the club was and still is in a horrible financial situation. The appearance of the first sponsors can be dated after the Vazura-Vučelić hyena couple used up all their contacts, together with all their bribing/blackmailing abilities. And for sure they didn’t do it for pure love, but for double-digit percentage of shares.
TV rights and advertising space come as the part of the contract. You don’t need to have big talent for that, just a bit familiar with rights.
Let’s go on.
"The PR-activity of the club is of European level."
I had to stop here to laugh. Well done, Sneki, well done. You licked Biki’s* ass so deep that your tongue is covered with shit now.
*Biki, aka Biljana Obradović, FK Partizan’s so-called PR-manager
"...based only on personal contacts. [...] As not just the club, but the whole country is in a very difficult financial/economical situation, the club could maintain only with difficulties, for the lack of resources. As a result, the budget of the marketing department was zero dinars."
Zero dinars. Of course. You could still pay a New Year’s Eve holiday in the Maldives from your zero-budget earning. I guess you’d been saving up for months. Don’t take me wrong; I wouldn’t mind you going to the Maldives or even to the Moon if you had worked hard and dedicated all your time and energy to make it better for Partizan. But you’re not better than your mafioso (ex-)bosses.
By the way, where are the incomes from those sponsor contracts you mentioned above? Why is the budget of the marketing department is zero after 24 contracts? YOU are the marketing manager (or rather, you were...), why did you not do anything to change it? It’s YOUR responsibility, dear Sneki, not of the club or of the country, but yours. As the person in charge at the marketing department you and nobody else should have fought for bigger percentage. Oh, wait, you would have had to work hard to earn it, not just posting duckfaces on your Instagram, right?... Shit happens.
But the best is still yet to come.
"I always wanted to give my best, the maximum."
Well, Sneki, if this was your maximum you could give, then shame on you. It’s better then if you leave. Go away, as far as you can from the club.
My own two cents for the end: I’m happy for the departure of Snežana Borjan as much as for the departure of Stefan Babović. Yet I didn’t write about Babović in a separate post, because despite all he could do it in a gentleman-alike way, silently, with no raid in the press. Yet Snežana made this press release, which can be taken as the public tantrum of a spoiled 12-year-old girl.
Biljana Obradović, you’re next!...
Sunday, January 17, 2016
OK Partizan - Vojvodina 0:3 (superliga, round 10)
This is when I get a total frontal brain haemorrhage, when I get to know BELATED, that the match, which was supposed to be played on Saturday, was in fact played back on Wednesday, without any notice. Nobody ever mentioned it at anywhere - well, nobody mentioned either that the championship continues this week after the winter break. This pisses me off every single time, this attitude that is clearly the leftover of communism, this "who cares"/"whatever" way of thinking. For fuck’s sake, be more professional, just a bit!... Move your asses, everybody, from the volleyball association through the clubs to the media, because if you keep this up, then don’t get surprised that the best players will leave abroad faster than you can blink.
After this no wonder that there were only 50 (!!!) people on the stands at this match. This will surely be the most wonderful (NOT) season beginning in the volleyball team’s history. Many greetings to all those in charge who made it real.
Partizan appeared practically with their youth team against Vojvodina, but still they kept themselves hard and solid. We were leading in the first set to 17:13. Vojvodina equalized (17:17) and though we took back the lead (19:18), the guests made a 0:4 series (19:22). Finally Nikolić took the Novi Sad team on his back and they won the first part to 23:25.
The second part was even tougher. Vojvodina sped up, first they made it to 7:11, then to 9:14, but Partizan didn’t give up. We reduced the difference to only 1 point (21:22), but Vojvodina eventually won this set, too (22:25).
In the beginning of the third part Vojvodina was leading (7:8), but we switched the standing. First it was 13:10, then 16:14. Vojvodina equalized (19:19), but Polomac hit a giant ace (20:19). Just the guests switched the standing back with Simić’s two points (20:21) and from then on they didn’t let control out of their hands. They won the last set to 23:25.
OK Partizan: Buša (17), Pantić (9), Nedeljković, Žugić, Lopar (10), Kostić, Rajković (libero), Jokanović, Veličković (6), Polomac (5), Popović, Perišić
Head coach: Vladimir Vasović
Vojvodina: Simić (4), Nikolić (8), Stanković (5), Petrović, Vemić (9), Premović, Jovanović (1), Kujundžić, Peković (libero), Mehić (2), Radović (2), Minić (19)
Head coach: Strahinja Kozić
Current championship standings:
1. CZ 27 points
2. Vojvodina 27 points
3. Novi Pazar 21 points
4. Niš 17 points
5. Partizan 13 points
6. Radnički 12 points
7. Spartak Ljig 12 points
8. Klek 11 points
9. Ribnica 9 points
10. Inđija 1 point
After this no wonder that there were only 50 (!!!) people on the stands at this match. This will surely be the most wonderful (NOT) season beginning in the volleyball team’s history. Many greetings to all those in charge who made it real.
Partizan appeared practically with their youth team against Vojvodina, but still they kept themselves hard and solid. We were leading in the first set to 17:13. Vojvodina equalized (17:17) and though we took back the lead (19:18), the guests made a 0:4 series (19:22). Finally Nikolić took the Novi Sad team on his back and they won the first part to 23:25.
The second part was even tougher. Vojvodina sped up, first they made it to 7:11, then to 9:14, but Partizan didn’t give up. We reduced the difference to only 1 point (21:22), but Vojvodina eventually won this set, too (22:25).
In the beginning of the third part Vojvodina was leading (7:8), but we switched the standing. First it was 13:10, then 16:14. Vojvodina equalized (19:19), but Polomac hit a giant ace (20:19). Just the guests switched the standing back with Simić’s two points (20:21) and from then on they didn’t let control out of their hands. They won the last set to 23:25.
(photo: zurnal.rs)
OK Partizan: Buša (17), Pantić (9), Nedeljković, Žugić, Lopar (10), Kostić, Rajković (libero), Jokanović, Veličković (6), Polomac (5), Popović, Perišić
Head coach: Vladimir Vasović
Vojvodina: Simić (4), Nikolić (8), Stanković (5), Petrović, Vemić (9), Premović, Jovanović (1), Kujundžić, Peković (libero), Mehić (2), Radović (2), Minić (19)
Head coach: Strahinja Kozić
Current championship standings:
1. CZ 27 points
2. Vojvodina 27 points
3. Novi Pazar 21 points
4. Niš 17 points
5. Partizan 13 points
6. Radnički 12 points
7. Spartak Ljig 12 points
8. Klek 11 points
9. Ribnica 9 points
10. Inđija 1 point
Krka - KK Partizan 70:75 (Adriatic League, Round 20)
Yesss! After 20 rounds we finally got our first away victory!!!
I’ll be honest: I missed out numerous moments from the first half. The truth is, I was watching the waterpolo game between Serbia and Slovakia parallel with this one on another stream, clicking here and there all the time. I did not regret it, the two water polo teams had an exciting game with a lot of battles. And Serbia won, qualifying themselves to the quarterifinal!
Meanwhile Cvetković took the whole team on his back, ploughed up the court and he was like an uncontrollable imperial star destroyer. (3:9) At 3:11 Krka picked themselves together a bit and equalized for the end of the first quarter (11:11).
Looking into my notes I see there was always a long idle time between scores. When Wilson scored the 11th point for Partizan, there were barely more than 3 minutes left. Krka scored mostly from free throw.
In the second quarter Cvetković continued what he started in the first one (11:16), but the home team was again way too close to us (17:18). But Cvetković was unstoppable. We didn’t even reach the half-time, but he was already like a nuclear reactor soon before meltdown. (17:22) The newly signed Williams also had his moment (17:24), then again it was Cvele-time. (17:26)
Vitkovac and Jones scored, the difference was 10 points for us (20:30). The end of the first half was 27:36, after Krka’s 3-pointer Wilson threw one more.
For the third quarter Krka again tried to pick themselves together. First they equalized (37:37), then they took the lead (39:37). Jones equalized from free throw (39:39). What is more, Cvetković had an amazing moment, flashing across the court among the shocked Slovenian players. Then he passed the ball to Jones with an elegant switch, Jones just had to serve it right into the ring. 39:41, we took back the lead.
Yes, just Krka equalized again (41:41). What is more, the well-meaning uncle referee gave them an extra bonus shot. (42:41)
For the second half the Serbian stream collapsed. After a long and hysterical search I could find only a Croatian one. It worked well, in HD, with no lagging, but the Croatian commentator spoke in such a bored, monotonous tone that I almost fell asleep. He came back to his spirits only when Krka took the lead.
Jones again. We are leading again (42:43). Krka takes it back again (45:43). They even got a free throw (46:43). Vitkovac also got one (46:44), not much, but more than nothing. But Krka sped up. (48:44) So did Cvetković (48:47). Krka quickly scored a 3-pointer. (51:47)
Vrabac and Cvetković didn’t leave it at that. We equalized (51:51). Krka threw again a basket (53:51), Jones equalized (53:53). Again a score from Krka (55:53), now Williams answered (53:53). Buzz. Let’s get ready for the final quarter.
In the beginning Krka scored again (57:55), we equalized again (57:57, Vitkovac). This was the point when Krka probably got fed up with the flow of events and threw two 3-pointers (63:57).
Oh, no. There goes again our victory. It’s just impossible. That’s it, folks, let’s close the shutters, goodbye, Adriatic League.
But the two Americans, Jones and Wilson pulled the team back from the edge of the abyss. They together made a fantastic series (of course Cvetković took part in it as well, with his assists), that we didn’t just equalize, but took back the lead (63:65).
We just forgot about the referees. Now they put themselves into action. Probably they got scared that Partizan might win the game. They quickly put a foul on Vitkovac. Krka equalized with the gift free throw (65:65). Vitkovac and Jones together made 3 points (65:68).
But Krka again equalized (68:68).
Then came Vitkovac.
Partizan’s entire bench was on their feet. There were only 48 seconds left. Jones missed out an attempt for 3-pointer. Krka ran up to our backboard, the entire Partizan blocks them, the referees whistle it off. Time-out. Only 23 seconds are left. One referee stares at the monitor where questionnable fouls can be checked by slow motion replay. Finally Krka gets only a throw-in instead of free throw. They miss out the chance, the ball flies out of the court near the backboard. What is more, referees whistle for offensive foul. Free throw for Partizan. The whole company walks up to the other paint. Jones gets the ball, he throws, he scores (68:73). Krka can throw in a basket, too (70:73). Only 8 seconds left. Referees again whistle a foul on Krka. Free throw for Partizan, now it’s Wilson’s turn. He does it. 70:75. There’s one more Krka-attack left, but the ball again flies out of the court near the backboard.
That’s the end.
We won.
We can celebrate.
Highlights:
Krka: Rebec, Tratnik, Ivanov (11), Sinovec (11), Rojc (3), Lalić (11), Tomić, Kastrati (15), Dimec (3), Polutak, Ritlop (6), Lapornik (10)
KK Partizan: Cvetković (21), Aranitović, Jones (19), Murić, Marinković, Vitkovac (12), Đumić (1), Magdevski, Milutinović, Williams (4), Vrabac (4), Wilson (14)
Update: current standing of the League
1. Budućnost 40 points*
2. CZ 35 points
3. Cedevita 35 points
4. Mega Leks 33 points
5. Cibona 29 points
6. Zadar 29 points
7. Metalac 29 points*
8. MZT Skopje 28 points
9. Igokea 28 points
10. Partizan 28 points
11. Krka 28 points
12. Union Olimpija 27 points
13. Sutjeska 27 points
14. Tajfun Šentjur 27 points
Teams marked with * have played 21 games already.
I’ll be honest: I missed out numerous moments from the first half. The truth is, I was watching the waterpolo game between Serbia and Slovakia parallel with this one on another stream, clicking here and there all the time. I did not regret it, the two water polo teams had an exciting game with a lot of battles. And Serbia won, qualifying themselves to the quarterifinal!
Meanwhile Cvetković took the whole team on his back, ploughed up the court and he was like an uncontrollable imperial star destroyer. (3:9) At 3:11 Krka picked themselves together a bit and equalized for the end of the first quarter (11:11).
Looking into my notes I see there was always a long idle time between scores. When Wilson scored the 11th point for Partizan, there were barely more than 3 minutes left. Krka scored mostly from free throw.
In the second quarter Cvetković continued what he started in the first one (11:16), but the home team was again way too close to us (17:18). But Cvetković was unstoppable. We didn’t even reach the half-time, but he was already like a nuclear reactor soon before meltdown. (17:22) The newly signed Williams also had his moment (17:24), then again it was Cvele-time. (17:26)
Williams (no. 25) and Jones trying to stop Krka’s player, while Marinković is watching from the background
(photo: Facebook/KK Partizan)
Vitkovac and Jones scored, the difference was 10 points for us (20:30). The end of the first half was 27:36, after Krka’s 3-pointer Wilson threw one more.
Aleksandar Cvetković, hero of the day
(photo: aba-lilga.com)
For the third quarter Krka again tried to pick themselves together. First they equalized (37:37), then they took the lead (39:37). Jones equalized from free throw (39:39). What is more, Cvetković had an amazing moment, flashing across the court among the shocked Slovenian players. Then he passed the ball to Jones with an elegant switch, Jones just had to serve it right into the ring. 39:41, we took back the lead.
Yes, just Krka equalized again (41:41). What is more, the well-meaning uncle referee gave them an extra bonus shot. (42:41)
For the second half the Serbian stream collapsed. After a long and hysterical search I could find only a Croatian one. It worked well, in HD, with no lagging, but the Croatian commentator spoke in such a bored, monotonous tone that I almost fell asleep. He came back to his spirits only when Krka took the lead.
Jones again. We are leading again (42:43). Krka takes it back again (45:43). They even got a free throw (46:43). Vitkovac also got one (46:44), not much, but more than nothing. But Krka sped up. (48:44) So did Cvetković (48:47). Krka quickly scored a 3-pointer. (51:47)
Vrabac and Cvetković didn’t leave it at that. We equalized (51:51). Krka threw again a basket (53:51), Jones equalized (53:53). Again a score from Krka (55:53), now Williams answered (53:53). Buzz. Let’s get ready for the final quarter.
Edo Murić some time during the game
(photo: aba-liga.com)
In the beginning Krka scored again (57:55), we equalized again (57:57, Vitkovac). This was the point when Krka probably got fed up with the flow of events and threw two 3-pointers (63:57).
Oh, no. There goes again our victory. It’s just impossible. That’s it, folks, let’s close the shutters, goodbye, Adriatic League.
But the two Americans, Jones and Wilson pulled the team back from the edge of the abyss. They together made a fantastic series (of course Cvetković took part in it as well, with his assists), that we didn’t just equalize, but took back the lead (63:65).
We just forgot about the referees. Now they put themselves into action. Probably they got scared that Partizan might win the game. They quickly put a foul on Vitkovac. Krka equalized with the gift free throw (65:65). Vitkovac and Jones together made 3 points (65:68).
But Krka again equalized (68:68).
Then came Vitkovac.
Partizan’s entire bench was on their feet. There were only 48 seconds left. Jones missed out an attempt for 3-pointer. Krka ran up to our backboard, the entire Partizan blocks them, the referees whistle it off. Time-out. Only 23 seconds are left. One referee stares at the monitor where questionnable fouls can be checked by slow motion replay. Finally Krka gets only a throw-in instead of free throw. They miss out the chance, the ball flies out of the court near the backboard. What is more, referees whistle for offensive foul. Free throw for Partizan. The whole company walks up to the other paint. Jones gets the ball, he throws, he scores (68:73). Krka can throw in a basket, too (70:73). Only 8 seconds left. Referees again whistle a foul on Krka. Free throw for Partizan, now it’s Wilson’s turn. He does it. 70:75. There’s one more Krka-attack left, but the ball again flies out of the court near the backboard.
That’s the end.
We won.
We can celebrate.
(photos: aba-liga.com)
Highlights:
Krka: Rebec, Tratnik, Ivanov (11), Sinovec (11), Rojc (3), Lalić (11), Tomić, Kastrati (15), Dimec (3), Polutak, Ritlop (6), Lapornik (10)
KK Partizan: Cvetković (21), Aranitović, Jones (19), Murić, Marinković, Vitkovac (12), Đumić (1), Magdevski, Milutinović, Williams (4), Vrabac (4), Wilson (14)
League table will be brought tomorrow, I promise I won’t forget it this time.
Update: current standing of the League
1. Budućnost 40 points*
2. CZ 35 points
3. Cedevita 35 points
4. Mega Leks 33 points
5. Cibona 29 points
6. Zadar 29 points
7. Metalac 29 points*
8. MZT Skopje 28 points
9. Igokea 28 points
10. Partizan 28 points
11. Krka 28 points
12. Union Olimpija 27 points
13. Sutjeska 27 points
14. Tajfun Šentjur 27 points
Teams marked with * have played 21 games already.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Highlights of the transfer season - part 1.
In this post I try to go through the names of all players who arrived at or left Partizan during the winter transfer season. The list is far from being complete, it focuses only on the events around the football and basketball team. (At the other departments of Partizan there have been either no changes or no news about the possible changes.)
Two new players arrived at the football team right after the end of the autumn season. Marko Jovanović, defender, played for Voždovac previously. Bojan Šaranov, goalkeeper, spent 7 seasons at OFK Beograd, being on loan at a number of other teams. Before Partizan he played for Ergotelis in Greece.
Just a few days after signing the contract with Partizan Šaranov went out to party - with not else than the former players of the neighbouring red-striped team as well as their current team captain. The phenomenal night was eternalized on Instagram - it’s still there, the players celebrate with a big bottle of whisky. If you don’t mind, I won’t upload or embed the photo, because I do not want to puke. If you still want to see it, I give you a link of a news site, where you can take a look. Enjoy (or not).
It also means that Živko Živković will probably not needed anymore in ul. Humska. Živković told a few times to the media that he would probably not start the spring season with Partizan, but still he could not sign to any other team yet. (He is even included in the name list of those players who travel with Partizan to Cyprus for a winter training camp.)
Indirectly, but still a winter transfer event for a (former) Partizan-player: Slaviša Jokanović signed for the head coach post of FC Fulham.
At the end of December Nemanja Mihajlović was signed from Rad. Meanwhile Partizan’s basketball player Danilo Anđušić confirmed that he would not extend his contract with the team. In the first week of January he signed to Polish team Anwil Wloclawek.
The football team’s new head coach, Ivan Tomić started his job at Partizan at the end of December as well. He was signed after Ljubinko Drulović had been discharged at the end of the autumn season. Tomić started it fair and square, he openly told he would not need a number of players. He even told names: Stefan Babović and Petar Grbić was clearly not in the new coach’s favour. The media mentioned even Bojinov and Fabricio, too.
As for Stefan Babović, Partizan terminated the contract with him right today. The official statement stated "mutual agreement". There’s no reliable information about Fabricio, but he is not included among those who travel to Cyprus for training camp. Petar Grbić signed to Turkish super league team Akhisaspor on the first week of January.
The Andrija Živković-saga started on the very last day of December. There is only one thing sure, that the young midfielder will not stay at Partizan. During the past days/weeks the most bizarre rumours were circulating about him: sports sites claimed that Borussia Dortmund wanted to sign him, then Benfica popped up as a possible future team. A Chinese team offered 1,3 million euros for him, but Partizan rejected it. In the meantime Živković got a new manager: his contract expired with the previous one, Pini Zahavi from Israel and they did not extend it. His new manager is Predrag Đorđević.
Yes, it’s THAT Pini Zahavi, who had a long number of controversial steps, mostly about players’ rights and transfer money, and not only with Andrija Živković.
Partizan got offers for other players, too: Bojinov was targeted by Spanish and Chinese clubs, but on one hand Partizan demanded at least 2 million euros from him, on the other Bojinov told to the media (in his usual style...) that he wouldn’t leave ul. Humska until he can win at least one eternal derby, and/or he scores at least 12 goals in a season. Aboubakar and Brašanac was also among those who could be (or could have been) sold. Clubs from China, Saudi Arabia and Turkey wanted to sign the Cameroonian, Partizan priced him for 1,5 million euros. (Aboubakar was also not included among those players who travel to Cyprus.) Brašanac got offers from two renowned Belgian clubs; one of them offered 2,7 million euros for the midfielder, but Partizan management told them, Brašanac was not for sale.
Among those who possibly arrive at Partizan, the first two names were two Romanian players (Denis Alibec and Constantin Budescu), but head coach Tomić later denied the rumours. Brazilian/Belorussian Renan Bressan was also mentioned, but these news were denied by Iliev. As always, in almost every transfer season, Cléo's name also came up. The Brazilian would gladly return to Partizan, but Iliev said, there are serious obstacles in the way.
The other big soap opera of the winter transfer season is the story of Vojvodina, Partizan and Mirko Ivanić. Partizan wants to sign Vojvodina’s midfielder since forever, yet negotiations always come to a halt after a while. Vojvodina constantly turns the price of the player higher and higher, while Partizan claimed, they can’t and don’t want to pay more than 1 million euros for Ivanić.
Nota bene: the neigbouring striped team also checked in at Vojvodina with an offer for Ivanić. They would pay 1,4 million euros. The funniest/most tragic fact is though that it’s Ivanić himself whom nobody actually asked what he wants. He admitted to a sports site that he in fact doesn’t want to sign to any of these two teams, because he’d prefer to go abroad, but it’s highly possible that his current club will put the kid under very heavy pressure so that eventually he will have to sign to one or the other.
The biggest boom of the transfer season was definitely Ivan Šaponjić signing to SL Benfica for five and a half years.
The price was allegedly 3 million euros or so (there was another version that he would have been sold for only 1,5 million, but then he stays at Partizan on loan for the end of the season, but it seems he stays in Lisbon).
Finally, the punch line: Duško Vujošević signed to French team Limoges as head coach, this way he can work again with two of his former players, Léo Westermann and Bo McCalebb.
As the closing of this blogpost here is a photo about the football players getting ready for the training camp in Cyprus. And those who think it's Ismael Beko Fofana on the left side of the photo, well, they are right.
The second part of the highlights will be posted at the end of the transfer season.
Two new players arrived at the football team right after the end of the autumn season. Marko Jovanović, defender, played for Voždovac previously. Bojan Šaranov, goalkeeper, spent 7 seasons at OFK Beograd, being on loan at a number of other teams. Before Partizan he played for Ergotelis in Greece.
Marko Jovanović
Bojan Šaranov
(photos: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
Just a few days after signing the contract with Partizan Šaranov went out to party - with not else than the former players of the neighbouring red-striped team as well as their current team captain. The phenomenal night was eternalized on Instagram - it’s still there, the players celebrate with a big bottle of whisky. If you don’t mind, I won’t upload or embed the photo, because I do not want to puke. If you still want to see it, I give you a link of a news site, where you can take a look. Enjoy (or not).
It also means that Živko Živković will probably not needed anymore in ul. Humska. Živković told a few times to the media that he would probably not start the spring season with Partizan, but still he could not sign to any other team yet. (He is even included in the name list of those players who travel with Partizan to Cyprus for a winter training camp.)
Indirectly, but still a winter transfer event for a (former) Partizan-player: Slaviša Jokanović signed for the head coach post of FC Fulham.
(photo: Facebook/Fulham FC Official)
At the end of December Nemanja Mihajlović was signed from Rad. Meanwhile Partizan’s basketball player Danilo Anđušić confirmed that he would not extend his contract with the team. In the first week of January he signed to Polish team Anwil Wloclawek.
The football team’s new head coach, Ivan Tomić started his job at Partizan at the end of December as well. He was signed after Ljubinko Drulović had been discharged at the end of the autumn season. Tomić started it fair and square, he openly told he would not need a number of players. He even told names: Stefan Babović and Petar Grbić was clearly not in the new coach’s favour. The media mentioned even Bojinov and Fabricio, too.
As for Stefan Babović, Partizan terminated the contract with him right today. The official statement stated "mutual agreement". There’s no reliable information about Fabricio, but he is not included among those who travel to Cyprus for training camp. Petar Grbić signed to Turkish super league team Akhisaspor on the first week of January.
(photo: akhisarspor.com)
The Andrija Živković-saga started on the very last day of December. There is only one thing sure, that the young midfielder will not stay at Partizan. During the past days/weeks the most bizarre rumours were circulating about him: sports sites claimed that Borussia Dortmund wanted to sign him, then Benfica popped up as a possible future team. A Chinese team offered 1,3 million euros for him, but Partizan rejected it. In the meantime Živković got a new manager: his contract expired with the previous one, Pini Zahavi from Israel and they did not extend it. His new manager is Predrag Đorđević.
Yes, it’s THAT Pini Zahavi, who had a long number of controversial steps, mostly about players’ rights and transfer money, and not only with Andrija Živković.
Partizan got offers for other players, too: Bojinov was targeted by Spanish and Chinese clubs, but on one hand Partizan demanded at least 2 million euros from him, on the other Bojinov told to the media (in his usual style...) that he wouldn’t leave ul. Humska until he can win at least one eternal derby, and/or he scores at least 12 goals in a season. Aboubakar and Brašanac was also among those who could be (or could have been) sold. Clubs from China, Saudi Arabia and Turkey wanted to sign the Cameroonian, Partizan priced him for 1,5 million euros. (Aboubakar was also not included among those players who travel to Cyprus.) Brašanac got offers from two renowned Belgian clubs; one of them offered 2,7 million euros for the midfielder, but Partizan management told them, Brašanac was not for sale.
Among those who possibly arrive at Partizan, the first two names were two Romanian players (Denis Alibec and Constantin Budescu), but head coach Tomić later denied the rumours. Brazilian/Belorussian Renan Bressan was also mentioned, but these news were denied by Iliev. As always, in almost every transfer season, Cléo's name also came up. The Brazilian would gladly return to Partizan, but Iliev said, there are serious obstacles in the way.
The other big soap opera of the winter transfer season is the story of Vojvodina, Partizan and Mirko Ivanić. Partizan wants to sign Vojvodina’s midfielder since forever, yet negotiations always come to a halt after a while. Vojvodina constantly turns the price of the player higher and higher, while Partizan claimed, they can’t and don’t want to pay more than 1 million euros for Ivanić.
Nota bene: the neigbouring striped team also checked in at Vojvodina with an offer for Ivanić. They would pay 1,4 million euros. The funniest/most tragic fact is though that it’s Ivanić himself whom nobody actually asked what he wants. He admitted to a sports site that he in fact doesn’t want to sign to any of these two teams, because he’d prefer to go abroad, but it’s highly possible that his current club will put the kid under very heavy pressure so that eventually he will have to sign to one or the other.
The biggest boom of the transfer season was definitely Ivan Šaponjić signing to SL Benfica for five and a half years.
(photos: Twitter)
The price was allegedly 3 million euros or so (there was another version that he would have been sold for only 1,5 million, but then he stays at Partizan on loan for the end of the season, but it seems he stays in Lisbon).
Finally, the punch line: Duško Vujošević signed to French team Limoges as head coach, this way he can work again with two of his former players, Léo Westermann and Bo McCalebb.
As the closing of this blogpost here is a photo about the football players getting ready for the training camp in Cyprus. And those who think it's Ismael Beko Fofana on the left side of the photo, well, they are right.
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
The second part of the highlights will be posted at the end of the transfer season.
Monday, January 11, 2016
KK Partizan - Cibona 85:82 (Adriatic League, Round 19)
There was a big deal of excitement (even tension) in the air before this game. Earlier this week the basketball team’s management suddenly terminated the contract of head coach Petar Božić, on "mutual agreement"
even though not much earlier they had a press release making everyone sure that the head coach had got the full support of the basketball team’s presidency
(by the way: after this "event" basketball team president Nikola Peković travelled back to Minnesota, because he is in fact still the active player of Timberwolves - and they were beaten ruthlessly right at the next game by Denver Nuggets)
and they immediately signed Aleksandar Džikić.
Partizan’s bench is not new for Džikić, he had been second trainer here years ago. Then he coached Minnesota Timberwolves as well as Ljubljana and Krka, then he switched to the national team of Macedonia, and now he found himself again at Partizan, this time as head coach.
Fans were waiting for him as if he was some kind of Messiah and when he entered the hall before the game, he got a very loud applause.
In the meantime the team warmed up.
Then we walked out to the court.
The truth is that there was definitely a change in Partizan’s game compared to earlier days. On the court there was a much more aggressive, combative Partizan clashing with the Croatians. No idea what Džikić did to them, but if not else, he pretty much set them afire.
In the beginning Cibona was leading (2:6), then not (7:6). Then still a bit, again (7:8), but then Murić scored a 3-pointer (10:8).
From then on we kept our advantage for 3 quarters. Fans were cheering loud and enthusiastically, Wilson, Murić and Vitkovac threw one basket after the other. Cibona could score only from free throws, then at the end they could pound in a hook as a field goal after a missed-out free throw. We finished the quarter with 26:23.
Cibona equalized at the beginning of the second quarter (26:26), what is more, they even took the lead for a few seconds (Rozić stole the ball with a cheeky movement, then he ran up and dunked it in with an almost-bored looking swing, 26:28), but we quickly equalized and took back the lead (30:28). The pace slowed down a bit, but there was still a great battle on the court, players were sometimes literally wrestling for the ball. We kept on scoring, for the end of the quarter we reached the two-digit difference (46:36).
Then we did such things, too.
We finished the first half with 48:42.
In the third quarter the pace got slow again a bit. Cibona sometimes got dangerously close to us (49:47), but Murić, Vitkovac and Jones quickly made it to 55:49. Partizan’s dominance was clear, then there was a point at 58:51, when Cvetković hammered the ball into the basket, but he was pushed hard by a Cibona-player while scoring, and "Cvele" fell right onto a cameraman, swiping him away together with his camera. The referee whistled, we got a bonus shot. Cvetković missed it out, but he caught his own rebound, then Vrabac scored (62:51).
This was the point when something broke in Cibona’s coach. All the viewer could see was him yelling with the referees, who gave him technical foul in exchange. An elderly gentleman wearing grey sweatshirt was explaining something with great gestures
later I found out he was Aleksandar Petrović, renowned Yugoslav basketball player, today the president of KK Cibona
two stewards stepped to him and discreetly asked him to leave the place. They courted him to the tunnel.
We continued to parade, so much, that the Wilson-Vrabac duo allowed themselves even this cheeky trick.
Cibona started to fall into pieces (Their coach sent killer looks towards the referees.) Our advantage kept on growing, 69:53, then 71:54. At the end of the quarter Đumić was fouled out, but we still had a 14-point advantage before entering the final part (73:59).
Before someone would play the sentimental card and started to whine me something like "oh, but he just wanted to watch a good basketball game", then let me ask, why the hell didn't he sit onto a stand then?... Another question: did he sit there from public money, or did he pay with those dinars he earned with his own blood and sweat? (Did he pay for the entrance at all?...)
The last quarter brought an impossible, wacky game. Cibona sped up, they picked themselves together and started to score. 73:61, 73:63, here Aranitović scored a 3-pointer (76:63), but this didn’t stop Cibona. 78:68, 80:71, then 80:75, and less than two minutes were left when they took back the lead (80:81).
We got a free throw. Vitkovac took the lead back for us (82:81). Tensed nerves, great fight on the court, wrestling, pushing each other, yelling. Another free throw for Partizan, Cvetković scores, just like it’s written in the Big Book of Basketball (84:81). Cibona also got a free throw, they reduced the difference to 2 points (84:82). Unbearable tense, Vitkovac gets fouled out. Another free throw for Cibona. And they miss it out!
Only 9 seconds left. Murić and Florence almost start a fight. Partizan’s Slovenian player is pulled away by 3 teammates. The American complains. The referee whistles, free throw for Partizan. Murić scores, 85:82. Time-out. Unbelievable mass scenes. Only 4 seconds are left when Cibona attacks.
But they miss it out.
The end.
Victory.
BREAKING: During the game Partizan’s new "purchase", Darrell Williams has arrived in Belgrade.
KK Partizan: Cvetković (8), Aranitović (3), Jones (14), Murić (11), Marinković (11), Vitkovac (15), Đumić (5), Koprivica, Magdevski, Milutinović, Vrabac (10), Wilson (8)
Cibona: Florence (8), Krušlin (6), Hukić (3), Uljarević, Šiško, Rozić (20), Slavica (5), Joksimović (6), Andrija Žižić (11), Ante Žižić (12), Siriščević (11)
League table will be brought later.
even though not much earlier they had a press release making everyone sure that the head coach had got the full support of the basketball team’s presidency
(by the way: after this "event" basketball team president Nikola Peković travelled back to Minnesota, because he is in fact still the active player of Timberwolves - and they were beaten ruthlessly right at the next game by Denver Nuggets)
and they immediately signed Aleksandar Džikić.
Partizan’s bench is not new for Džikić, he had been second trainer here years ago. Then he coached Minnesota Timberwolves as well as Ljubljana and Krka, then he switched to the national team of Macedonia, and now he found himself again at Partizan, this time as head coach.
Fans were waiting for him as if he was some kind of Messiah and when he entered the hall before the game, he got a very loud applause.
In the meantime the team warmed up.
(photos: Twitter)
Then we walked out to the court.
The truth is that there was definitely a change in Partizan’s game compared to earlier days. On the court there was a much more aggressive, combative Partizan clashing with the Croatians. No idea what Džikić did to them, but if not else, he pretty much set them afire.
In the beginning Cibona was leading (2:6), then not (7:6). Then still a bit, again (7:8), but then Murić scored a 3-pointer (10:8).
From then on we kept our advantage for 3 quarters. Fans were cheering loud and enthusiastically, Wilson, Murić and Vitkovac threw one basket after the other. Cibona could score only from free throws, then at the end they could pound in a hook as a field goal after a missed-out free throw. We finished the quarter with 26:23.
Cibona equalized at the beginning of the second quarter (26:26), what is more, they even took the lead for a few seconds (Rozić stole the ball with a cheeky movement, then he ran up and dunked it in with an almost-bored looking swing, 26:28), but we quickly equalized and took back the lead (30:28). The pace slowed down a bit, but there was still a great battle on the court, players were sometimes literally wrestling for the ball. We kept on scoring, for the end of the quarter we reached the two-digit difference (46:36).
Then we did such things, too.
We finished the first half with 48:42.
(photo: aba-liga.com)
In the third quarter the pace got slow again a bit. Cibona sometimes got dangerously close to us (49:47), but Murić, Vitkovac and Jones quickly made it to 55:49. Partizan’s dominance was clear, then there was a point at 58:51, when Cvetković hammered the ball into the basket, but he was pushed hard by a Cibona-player while scoring, and "Cvele" fell right onto a cameraman, swiping him away together with his camera. The referee whistled, we got a bonus shot. Cvetković missed it out, but he caught his own rebound, then Vrabac scored (62:51).
This was the point when something broke in Cibona’s coach. All the viewer could see was him yelling with the referees, who gave him technical foul in exchange. An elderly gentleman wearing grey sweatshirt was explaining something with great gestures
later I found out he was Aleksandar Petrović, renowned Yugoslav basketball player, today the president of KK Cibona
two stewards stepped to him and discreetly asked him to leave the place. They courted him to the tunnel.
(photo: aba-liga.com)
We continued to parade, so much, that the Wilson-Vrabac duo allowed themselves even this cheeky trick.
(photo: aba-liga.com)
Cibona started to fall into pieces (Their coach sent killer looks towards the referees.) Our advantage kept on growing, 69:53, then 71:54. At the end of the quarter Đumić was fouled out, but we still had a 14-point advantage before entering the final part (73:59).
Could somebody - anybody - tell me in the meantime what the HECK was Novak Nedić doing in Pionir Hall?...
(photo: Facebook/KK Partizan)
Before someone would play the sentimental card and started to whine me something like "oh, but he just wanted to watch a good basketball game", then let me ask, why the hell didn't he sit onto a stand then?... Another question: did he sit there from public money, or did he pay with those dinars he earned with his own blood and sweat? (Did he pay for the entrance at all?...)
The last quarter brought an impossible, wacky game. Cibona sped up, they picked themselves together and started to score. 73:61, 73:63, here Aranitović scored a 3-pointer (76:63), but this didn’t stop Cibona. 78:68, 80:71, then 80:75, and less than two minutes were left when they took back the lead (80:81).
We got a free throw. Vitkovac took the lead back for us (82:81). Tensed nerves, great fight on the court, wrestling, pushing each other, yelling. Another free throw for Partizan, Cvetković scores, just like it’s written in the Big Book of Basketball (84:81). Cibona also got a free throw, they reduced the difference to 2 points (84:82). Unbearable tense, Vitkovac gets fouled out. Another free throw for Cibona. And they miss it out!
Only 9 seconds left. Murić and Florence almost start a fight. Partizan’s Slovenian player is pulled away by 3 teammates. The American complains. The referee whistles, free throw for Partizan. Murić scores, 85:82. Time-out. Unbelievable mass scenes. Only 4 seconds are left when Cibona attacks.
But they miss it out.
The end.
Victory.
BREAKING: During the game Partizan’s new "purchase", Darrell Williams has arrived in Belgrade.
(photo: Twitter)
KK Partizan: Cvetković (8), Aranitović (3), Jones (14), Murić (11), Marinković (11), Vitkovac (15), Đumić (5), Koprivica, Magdevski, Milutinović, Vrabac (10), Wilson (8)
Cibona: Florence (8), Krušlin (6), Hukić (3), Uljarević, Šiško, Rozić (20), Slavica (5), Joksimović (6), Andrija Žižić (11), Ante Žižić (12), Siriščević (11)
League table will be brought later.
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Sutjeska - KK Partizan 82:71 (Adriatic League, Round 18)
It all started with the Nikšić-based home team telling the press a few days earlier that Partizan-fans would not be allowed to the game, because nobody needs a mass fight between Grave Diggers and local fans. They even told their own fans not to bring any banners or flags, nor anything that gives any hint that there are organized fan groups present at the game. Only individuals, please, nice and civilized.
After all these tonight 300 Partizan-fans could make it to the Nikšić sports hall.
Meanwhile the team warmed up.
There have been not too happy rumours circulating around the team in the past days. Danilo Anđušić’s contract expired, the shooting guard left Partizan (news speak about a Polish team named Anwil Wloclawek signing him - the team takes part in Euroleague). Gossips talked about Jones, too, being unsatisfied with the team’s performance in Adriatic League and he’d like to terminate his contract with Partizan - though for this he’d have to pay a 6-digit retention money to the team. (As he - allegedly - said, it’s not money that’s behind it, the reason is purely our crappy performance.) Božo Đumić, and even Edo Murić was mentioned among those who might possibly leave soon. (Later Đumić denied these news, as for Murić, it is possible that it was a false report.)
So, as you can see, we were preparing against Sutjeska in an especially positive and enthusiastic atmosphere.
(Or not.)
Later you’ll get a blogpost about all transfer news, rumours and facts.
Wilson immediately scored (0:2), right after that referees whistled a foul on Vitkovac (why? who knows...), Sutjeska equalized (2:2). Then, for quite a long time, nothing happened. A lot of missed-out attempts on both sides (all of them were rebounding balls), then after almost 3 minutes the home team scored (4:2). Then again (7:2). They even got a free throw (8:2).
We got nervous. We missed out even more attempts while we made a lot of fouls. Sutjeska scored another 3-pointer (11:2), we still couldn’t throw one single basket.
At this point Wilson came off court and Cvetković entered the game. He shook the team up a bit. We reduced the difference to 13:10 (points earned by Cvetković and Jones), but Sutjeska quickly scored 5 more points - the second basket was a 3-pointer buzzer beater. The first quarter ended with 18:10.
The second quarter started, we made it to 18:17 (Đumić, Vrabac, Aranitović), what is more, Aranitović brought us up to 20:19. Nothing seemed to be problematic even at 22:19, Cvetković came, saw and scored (22:21), but here Sutjeska put their top gun into action. They sent Ratko Varda on court.
Ratko Varda is a phenomenon. Not a heart-warming one, but definitely a phenomenon. With his 36 years he is one of those players with the most routine in the League. Back then he started to play in Partizan, then he took an excursion to the NBA, then to Turkey, Spain, Poland, but he played even in Lebanon, while he regularly returned to the former Yugoslavia to play for this or that team. 213 cm height, brutal muscles, stern look, illegitimate beard and fully tattooed upper arms.
He is surely a nice guy off court, but I bet he himself cranks up pretty much this "big bad bastard" look. After all, it’s an excellent weapon against any opponent. He walks out to the court, looks around with that nasty beard and the players of the other team run home and hide under their blankets.
So, at 22:21 Sutjeska sent their top gun on the court and they immediately made a 10-point series. Just for the sake of it. From 22:21 it became 32:21. Jones could score one (32:23), but Sutjeska was ruthless.
They made it to 47:23.
15-point series. I write it down with letters, too: fifteen points. They scored this much.
We scored none.
They ran through us. They threw 3-pointers one after the others.
We scored once, at the very end, from free throw. The first half finished with 47:25, Sutjeska had more than 20 points of advantage.
In the second half we continued where we stopped.
What the hell are we doing in the Adriatic League? We were a second-league team compared to Sutjeska. We were weak and enervated and had a total lack of ideas. Duško Vujošević would have torn everyone’s head off their neck, if he had been there.
We made it to 50:30 with free throws and Murić’s 3-pointer. We tried to keep the 20-point difference, but we tend to fail. Meanwhile Sutjeska could allow themselves to miss out attempts just for fun, and still they were leading to 58:39. They did whatever they wanted. We finished the third quarter with 65:44. Those points we gained, we made mostly from free throws.
In the last quarter again Cvetković and Jones fought and reduced the difference to 69:50. The 20-point difference was still back (72:52). At 77:55 all Average Fan could wonder about with a dry smile whether Sutjeska will be able to make the 30-point difference. Or which team’s performance is worse in this season, the basketball team’s or the football team’s. At 79:59 even that came to my mind that the basketball team’s management earlier made it sure in the press that they fully support Petar Božić, though if I were the head coach, I would probably resign myself, to save the leftovers of my reputation, especially that we lost 12 matches out of 18.
In the meantime Jones cored a 3-pointer (79:62) and here, at the very end we made a 3:9 series, but that wasn’t enough. Probably not even a miracle would have helped us tonight.
At the press conference after the game a journalist openly asked Petar Božić whether he was thinking about resigning, but the head coach immediately replied with a no, saying that it had never even come to his mind.
Dear fellow fans, we should prepare for the worst. It might happen that next season we will have to fight even for getting into Adriatic League.
Highlights:
Sutjeska: Pavlićević (17), Ćalasan, Albijanić (10), Spasojević (4), Čvorović, Korać (3), Žižić (7), Pavić (6), Vranjes (27), Varda (8), Rush, Šalić
Partizan: Cvetković (10), Aranitović (7), Jones (20), Murić (11), Marinković (3), Vitkovac, Đumić (4), Koprivica, Magdevski, Milutinović, Vrabac (4), Wilson (12)
Current standing of the Liga:
1. Budućnost 34 points
2. Cedevita 33 points
3. CZ 31 points
4. Mega Leks 30 points
5. MZT Skopje 26 points
6. Cibona 26 points
7. Krka 26 points
8. Union Olimpija 25 points
9. Tajfun Šentjur 25 points
10. Metalac 25 points
11. Zadar 25 points
12. Partizan 24 points
13. Igokea 24 points
14. Sutjeska 24 points
After all these tonight 300 Partizan-fans could make it to the Nikšić sports hall.
They even had this banner
(photos: Twitter)
Meanwhile the team warmed up.
(photos: Twitter)
(photo: aba-liga.com)
There have been not too happy rumours circulating around the team in the past days. Danilo Anđušić’s contract expired, the shooting guard left Partizan (news speak about a Polish team named Anwil Wloclawek signing him - the team takes part in Euroleague). Gossips talked about Jones, too, being unsatisfied with the team’s performance in Adriatic League and he’d like to terminate his contract with Partizan - though for this he’d have to pay a 6-digit retention money to the team. (As he - allegedly - said, it’s not money that’s behind it, the reason is purely our crappy performance.) Božo Đumić, and even Edo Murić was mentioned among those who might possibly leave soon. (Later Đumić denied these news, as for Murić, it is possible that it was a false report.)
So, as you can see, we were preparing against Sutjeska in an especially positive and enthusiastic atmosphere.
(Or not.)
Later you’ll get a blogpost about all transfer news, rumours and facts.
Kick-off
(photo: aba-liga.com)
Wilson immediately scored (0:2), right after that referees whistled a foul on Vitkovac (why? who knows...), Sutjeska equalized (2:2). Then, for quite a long time, nothing happened. A lot of missed-out attempts on both sides (all of them were rebounding balls), then after almost 3 minutes the home team scored (4:2). Then again (7:2). They even got a free throw (8:2).
We got nervous. We missed out even more attempts while we made a lot of fouls. Sutjeska scored another 3-pointer (11:2), we still couldn’t throw one single basket.
At this point Wilson came off court and Cvetković entered the game. He shook the team up a bit. We reduced the difference to 13:10 (points earned by Cvetković and Jones), but Sutjeska quickly scored 5 more points - the second basket was a 3-pointer buzzer beater. The first quarter ended with 18:10.
The second quarter started, we made it to 18:17 (Đumić, Vrabac, Aranitović), what is more, Aranitović brought us up to 20:19. Nothing seemed to be problematic even at 22:19, Cvetković came, saw and scored (22:21), but here Sutjeska put their top gun into action. They sent Ratko Varda on court.
Ratko Varda is a phenomenon. Not a heart-warming one, but definitely a phenomenon. With his 36 years he is one of those players with the most routine in the League. Back then he started to play in Partizan, then he took an excursion to the NBA, then to Turkey, Spain, Poland, but he played even in Lebanon, while he regularly returned to the former Yugoslavia to play for this or that team. 213 cm height, brutal muscles, stern look, illegitimate beard and fully tattooed upper arms.
Partizan-players all look small compared to Varda (in white)
(photo: aba-liga.com)
He is surely a nice guy off court, but I bet he himself cranks up pretty much this "big bad bastard" look. After all, it’s an excellent weapon against any opponent. He walks out to the court, looks around with that nasty beard and the players of the other team run home and hide under their blankets.
So, at 22:21 Sutjeska sent their top gun on the court and they immediately made a 10-point series. Just for the sake of it. From 22:21 it became 32:21. Jones could score one (32:23), but Sutjeska was ruthless.
They made it to 47:23.
15-point series. I write it down with letters, too: fifteen points. They scored this much.
We scored none.
They ran through us. They threw 3-pointers one after the others.
We scored once, at the very end, from free throw. The first half finished with 47:25, Sutjeska had more than 20 points of advantage.
In the second half we continued where we stopped.
What the hell are we doing in the Adriatic League? We were a second-league team compared to Sutjeska. We were weak and enervated and had a total lack of ideas. Duško Vujošević would have torn everyone’s head off their neck, if he had been there.
We made it to 50:30 with free throws and Murić’s 3-pointer. We tried to keep the 20-point difference, but we tend to fail. Meanwhile Sutjeska could allow themselves to miss out attempts just for fun, and still they were leading to 58:39. They did whatever they wanted. We finished the third quarter with 65:44. Those points we gained, we made mostly from free throws.
(photo: aba-liga.com)
In the last quarter again Cvetković and Jones fought and reduced the difference to 69:50. The 20-point difference was still back (72:52). At 77:55 all Average Fan could wonder about with a dry smile whether Sutjeska will be able to make the 30-point difference. Or which team’s performance is worse in this season, the basketball team’s or the football team’s. At 79:59 even that came to my mind that the basketball team’s management earlier made it sure in the press that they fully support Petar Božić, though if I were the head coach, I would probably resign myself, to save the leftovers of my reputation, especially that we lost 12 matches out of 18.
In the meantime Jones cored a 3-pointer (79:62) and here, at the very end we made a 3:9 series, but that wasn’t enough. Probably not even a miracle would have helped us tonight.
(photo: Twitter)
At the press conference after the game a journalist openly asked Petar Božić whether he was thinking about resigning, but the head coach immediately replied with a no, saying that it had never even come to his mind.
Dear fellow fans, we should prepare for the worst. It might happen that next season we will have to fight even for getting into Adriatic League.
Highlights:
Sutjeska: Pavlićević (17), Ćalasan, Albijanić (10), Spasojević (4), Čvorović, Korać (3), Žižić (7), Pavić (6), Vranjes (27), Varda (8), Rush, Šalić
Partizan: Cvetković (10), Aranitović (7), Jones (20), Murić (11), Marinković (3), Vitkovac, Đumić (4), Koprivica, Magdevski, Milutinović, Vrabac (4), Wilson (12)
Current standing of the Liga:
1. Budućnost 34 points
2. Cedevita 33 points
3. CZ 31 points
4. Mega Leks 30 points
5. MZT Skopje 26 points
6. Cibona 26 points
7. Krka 26 points
8. Union Olimpija 25 points
9. Tajfun Šentjur 25 points
10. Metalac 25 points
11. Zadar 25 points
12. Partizan 24 points
13. Igokea 24 points
14. Sutjeska 24 points
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