ABA Liga, round 11: KK Partizan - Cedevita 82:92

I deliberately didn’t write about the game against Lietuvos back on Tuesday. It would have been senseless, just as the game itself was. We lost, we were shit, it just wrecked my nerves, it was useless, simple as that.

Just like this one.

I’ll be honest, I missed out the entire first quarter

I’ll be even more honest, I have no regrets.

The second quarter was interesting, because sometimes we took the lead. What is more, sometimes our actions distantly reminded of basketball. Williams-Goss carried the team on his back, not just here, but for the whole game. I’m not a fan of this American, but this time he deserves a high five. (photo: Facebook/KK Partizan)

The half time result was 44:44, Cedevita equalized right before the buzz. The third quarter was again a surprise

at least for the worn-out, tired-as-hell-of-it-all fan

because we still did things that actually looked like basketball. No, not for the whole quarter, come on. Still, there was some pace, running and some very very distant idea in the heads. In tracks only though. For a while it was nip-and-tuck, then the Zagrebians got bored of this fumbling and made a jump from 56:56 to 59:63. The quarter ended with 62:67, but the team ran out of oxygen already after 5-6 minutes.

Seriously, the best part of this whole game was Cedevita’s commercial with all those bears in a break.

As for the last quarter… let’s just forget it.

Šalić and Cherry had a fight right at the beginning. Other than that time passed slower than a rheumatic snail. I just hoped they would finish it until the game between Juventus and Inter starts. (They did.) Still there were moments that brought me new grey hair… Cedevita was leading to 74:79, maybe two minutes were left, Miller stole the ball from a Croatian player, then wanted to run up to slam, but he dropped the ball from his hand, and the ball rolled out of the court.

Then about a minute before the end Cedevita reached the 10-point-difference (78:88) and kept it until the final buzz.

After the game raging Grave Diggers hissed and booed the team, as they walked back to the locker-room, while throwing curses on head coach Miroslav Nikolić demanding his resign.

I really don’t want to look overly pessimistic, but dear everyone, I don’t think it will change in the near future.

KK Partizan: Miller (15), Williams-Goss (25), Aranitović (2), Tanasković (7), Veličković (2), Tomić, Pecarski, Gavrilović (4), Andrić (7), Čakarević (4), Stevanović (9), Šalić (7)

Cedevita: Ukić (23), Krušlin (8), Perković, Katić, Nichols (12), Žganec (2), Musa (16), Cherry (10), Markota (5), Ramljak, Stipanović (8), Murphy (8)

Current championship standings:

1. Budućnost 21 points

2. Cedevita 19 points

3. Crvena Zvezda 18 points

4. FMP 16 points

5. KK Partizan 16 points

6. Zadar 16 points

7. Petrol Olimpija 16 points

8. Mornar Bar 16 points

9. Mega Bemax 15 points

10. Igokea 15 points

11. Cibona 14 points

12. MZT Skopje 13 points

Cedevita - KK Partizan 79:67 (ABA Liga, round 22)

Auuuu.
This short word (emotional expression?) includes the whole game. It was tough, it was a struggle, we didn't play well, we got defeated.
The first quarter wasn’t that bad, though it was clear even then that this Zagreb night won’t be a night to remember. We quickly scored 7 points at the beginning, we were leading to 5:7, then nothing happened for two and a half minutes. Really nothing. Well, all right, there were too many missed-out attempts on both sides. Finally Cedevita equalized in the 4th minute (7:7) and from then on it was a nip-and-tuck game in the first part. A basket here, a basket there. Only one in a minute though. After five and a half minutes the standing was 9:7, after a bit more than six minutes Marinković scored a 3-pointer, 9:10. About a minute later 11:10. You get the point. It wasn’t spectacular, it wasn’t exciting, it was slow. We still won the first quarter though, the standing was 16:16, half a minute was left when Andrić scored (16:18).

Birčević, Koprivica and Hatcher try to stop Žganec

In the second quarter Cedevita decided to step over this fumbling and took control in their hands. They jumped to 24:18, though the slow and struggling pace of the game didn't speed up. Croatians were leading, we made a lot of mistakes (I don’t remember when I had seen last time so many offensive rebounds). For our great luck Cedevita was the same effective with pushing the ball to the ring as us, yet still somehow they managed to do it a bit better than us. The standing was 30:22, then 32:25, the pace was again 1 basket/minute for both teams. For the end of the quarter Croatians were ahead with 10 points (36:26). We could nevertheless pick ourselves together for the last minutes and made a 37:30 half-time standing.

All the game’s struggles in one photo: Birčević fighting for the ball with Džanan Musa

We usually drop back a bit in the third quarter every time. This time it looked like this: the struggling pace was still on, together with the million missed out attempts and Cedevita leading to 48:32. There wasn’t any special trick in their game, they had the same struggling pace like us, they made a lot of mistakes like us, just, God knows, maybe mentally they were a bit more collected and they could push through their will despite the fumbling. The difference was almost 20 points (55:36), though finally we could avoid this shame. Birčević (he was the best in this game) and Marinković clenched their teeth and pushed us up to 57:43. A few seconds were left when the Croatians could still force a basket in. (59:43)

A Cedevita-player surrounded by Vrabac and Birčević

In the last quarter we made the difference a bit less (62:50) there was even some slight hope that maybe if we can speed up, we could make it really tough for Cedevita... I think you won’t take it as a spoiler if I say we couldn’t. The Croatian team could hold the 10+ diffeerence, while we struggled to score. Majstorović was fouled out, but it did neither good, nor harm. Croatians were leading to 75:58, we reduced it to 75:63, but at this point there was less than one and a half minutes left from the game. Hatcher scored (77:65), one more Croatian basket slid in 8 seconds before the end, finally Birčević scored a buzzer-beater (79:67).

Cedevita: James (8), Krušlin (6), Boatright (21), Katić (3), Žganec (10), Musa (2), Bilan (14), Shurna, Begić (1), Rogić, Tomas (3), Arapović (11)

KK Partizan: Ratkovica (6), Vrabac, Marinković (12), Veličković (6), Majstorović (4), Birčević (18), Koprivica (5), Andrić (4), Hatcher (8), Pot, Gordon (2), Luković (2)

Highlights:

Current standings:
1. CZ 43 points
2. Cedevita 38 points
3. Budućnost 38 points
4. Partizan 38 points
5. Cibona 33 points
6. Igokea 32 points
7. Union Olimpija 31 points
8. FMP 31 points
9. Karpoš 31 points
10. Mega Leks 30 points
11. MZT Skopje 30 points
12. Mornar Bar 29 points
13. Krka 29 points
14. Zadar 29 points

Independent of the results of the games left Partizan has qualified to the play-offs of ABA Liga.

(photos: aba-liga.com)

KK Partizan - Cedevita 87:97 (ABA Liga, round 9)

Again a game that slipped out of our hands.
We had a great start though. It was even excellent. We were leading, the team was bursting from energy.

Then it was 14:7. We had a strong start, we played well and spectacular. Cedevita tried to find their breath. They could still equalize (14:14), they even took the lead (17:20), but Veličković took it back twice and we finished the first quarter with a one-point advantage with his scores (23:22).

The second quarter was even better.
Our advantage was growing. 27:23, then 32:23... at a point Cedevita’s head coach had a meltdown, he got a technical foul. It made him freaked out, he yelled with the referees, finally he had to leave the court. The assistant coach took his duty, and I was sure he was waiting for this very moment. Gianmarco Pozzecco made an unbelievable show at the bench. If I didn’t have such a terrible mood after this defeat, I’d say things like Pozzecco for president or this guy and all his gestures must be spread all over the internet as gifs. Here is a compilation with him, you can click and take a look. (If you don’t have a too bad mood, it may even be entertaining.)
At the end of the video you can see and hear it well: Partizan-fans gave a loud applause to him and his team.
Meanwhile we were leading with more than 10 points.

Everything worked well, we did whatever we wanted. Then two and a half minutes before the end Ratkovica was fouled, that was the point when we somehow halted. Cedevita started to reduce their difference, they equalized from 49:42. We could still keep our advantage with a free throw (51:49), that was the half-time result.

Koprivica and Hatcher

Then came the third quarter.
At first we kept ourselves. Nothing seemed to be suspicious. (61:56) Then Cedevita equalized (61:61) and took the lead (61:63). We equalized, but Cedevita again took the lead (63:68). From this point on there was no return... They jumped to 65:73, meanwhile Veličković got a technical foul for yelling off the referee’s head. At the end of the quarter we got a free throw, Hatcher scored one, missed out the other. We were heading to the final quarter with 66:73.

Adin Vrabac

Let’s not talk about the last quarter...
We failed. We were nervous. We fell apart. The opponent took advantage of it all. Their point guard, Jackson was like as if he was sent directly from hell to Pionir Hall. He was very quick, tricked himself through Partizan’s defense and threw a million baskets. The other players of Cedevita could have walked off the court to the snack bar for a beer, Jackson did whatever he wanted. They were leading to 73:83, then we started to reduce the difference slowly and struggling. Two and a half minutes before the end it was 84:87, but we couldn’t make it any closer. Jackson was fouled out at the end, but only 50 seconds were left, it did neither good nor harm.
And a message for those fans morons who yelled at Aleksandar Džikić after the game: suck a horse.

Highlights:

KK Partizan: Robinson, Ratkovica (8), Vrabac, Marinković (8), Veličković (20), Birčević (7), Koprivica (2), Andrić (11), Hatcher (19), Pot, Karahodžić, Luković (12)

Cedevita: James (8), Krušlin (2), Katić, Babić (9), Žganec (3), Musa, Bilan (19), Begić (3), Tomas (16), Arapović (5), Jackson (32)

Current standing of the Liga:
1. Budućnost 17 points
2. CZ 16 points
3. Cedevita 15 points
4. Partizan 15 points
5. Cibona 14 points
6. Igokea 13 points
7. Mega Leks 12 points
8. FMP 11 points
9. Krka 11 points
10. Zadar 11 points
11. Mornar Bar 10 points
12. Karpoš 10 points
13. MZT Skopje 10 points
14. Union Olimpija 9 points

(photos: Facebook/KK Partizan)

KK Partizan - Cedevita 82:61 (Adriatic League, Round 25)

I love to write about games like this.
This one was one big basketball gala. Fantastic atmosphere, a lot of talented players, tricks and many spectacular actions. We were leading for the whole time, Cedevita couldn’t even approach us.
What is more, this match was placed to Hala Sportova in Novi Beograd. This was KK Partizan’s home before they moved to Pionir Hall (Pionir Hall now is the home of a tennis championship, that’s why the basketball team played at the other side of river Sava).
Partizan made this retro-feeling run on the maximum. First, that’s how the entrance ticket looked like:

(photo: Facebook/KK Partizan)

Old school, printed program brochure was also available.

(photos: mondo.rs)

Serbian swimmer ace Velimir Stjepanović was also present at the game, he got a 70’s style basketball jersey.

(photo: mondo.rs)

(photo: Twitter)

Former top gun Novica Veličković was also there. His contract expired with his current teams, there are many rumours about him and his possible return to Partizan.

(photo: hotsport.rs)

After all these the atmosphere couldn’t be anything else but fantastic.

We went out to the court and bang, it was 7:2 within seconds. At this point Koprivica quickly got out to the bench - he returned later, but he had a plaster on his forehead.

(photo: hotsport.rs)

Jones and Wilson did amazing things. The two of them made us jump to 11:6, later Williams joined them (13:9). Less than 5 minutes passed from the first quarter, when Murić got his 3rd personal foul from the referees. Cedevita got a fre throw (13:11), then something happened, and this something was not else than Vanja Marinković.

Then Williams stole the ball, ran up and performed a BRUTAL slam dunk.

Williams Airlines

(photo: aba-liga.com)

It was still the first quarter, Willams was unstoppable.

And so on. Tricks, dribblings, dunks, fans going crazy. For the whole time, to the end of the game.

Keep in mind though, we needed a seriously under-achieving Cedevita. No one knows what happened to the Croatians today, but they were their own shadows. They were weak and had absoultely no idea what to do with us. Their coach asked for time-out every now and then, but couldn’t clear up the chaos in the heads.

We retunred to the second quarter and continued where we stopped. Our advantage quickly grew to 10 points (36:26, Vrabac).
In the meantime fans were shouting "Vučiću, pederu".

If you don’t know the story behind it: after the infamous Serbia - Albania football game the reporter was talking to the two invited football experts (one of them was Partizan’s ex-goalkeeper Ivica Kralj) on the top of Partizan’s stadium, when a fan could somehow get into the press section, ran to the camera and screamed "Vučiću, pederu!" (Vučić, you faggot) right into the lens. The video gained cult state since then, a long row of remixes has been made about it and became almost like a greeting among Partizan-fans (not just among them).

In the meantime Cedevita had numerous attempts, but none of them was successful. The ball rebounded even when they tried with dunk.
Partizan was like a miracle. Jones threw baskets one after the other, Murić sent the ball into the ring after a fantastic row of passing it here and there and the counter was at 45:31. We finished the first half with 48:34.

Cvetković some time during the game

(photo: hotsport.rs)

In the third quarter Cedevita didn’t even walked out to the court, when Wilson scored (50:34).
Then Jones (52:34).
Then Wilson again (54:34). We were leading with 20 points.
Cedevita collapsed, Partizan did whatever they wanted.
Like this:

Then Cvetković had to be picked from the ground after he clashed with a Cedevita player under our backboard and he got a hit on his solar plexus (if I could see it well). He laid on the floor for quite a while.

(photo: Twitter)

But Cvele just took a deep breath and returned back to the game, because Cvele is a hero.
The third part ended with 64:44, after Williams (again) made the impossible possible.

(photo: hotsport.rs)

The fourth quarter was a fiesta.
At this point it didn’t matter that Williams ran so hard after a ball that he fell through the boards. When he crawled back to the court, fans greeted him with ovation.

(photo: Twitter)

Or Murić made an amazing steal, dribbled through the court and made such a slam dunk that it could be heard even in Genex tower.
At the very end Koprivica was fouled out, but that really didn’t matter at all. We won against Cedevita with an amazing, magnificent game.
It was high time to celebrate.

(photos: hotsport.rs)

Novica Veličković got VIP-hugs

(photos: Twitter)

Mrs. Milka, mother of Aleksandar Džikić was especially satisfied with Edo Murić (and if Mrs. Milka likes you, then you’re really great)

(photo: Twitter)

(photos: hotsport.rs)

Highlights:

KK Partizan: Cvetković (5), Aranitović, Jones (21), Murić (15), Marinković (4), Vitkovac (3), Koprivica (2), Magdevski, Milutinović, Williams (12), Vrabac (4), Wilson (16)

Cedevita: Pullen (10), White (1), Katić, Pilepić (6), Babić (3), Žganec (1), Walker (7), Bilan (13), Mazalin, Gordić (5), Žorić (7), Arapović (8)

Current standing of the league:
1. Budućnost 47 points
2. CZ 44 points
3. Cedevita 43 points
4. Mega Leks 41 points
5. Partizan 37 points
6. Cibona 36 points
7. Zadar 36 points
8. MZT Skopje 35 points
9. Union Olimpija 35 points
10. Krka 35 points
11. Igokea 35 points
12. Metalac 35 points
13. Sutjeska 34 points
14. Tajfun Šentjur 32 points

Cedevita - KK Partizan 75:72 (Adriatic League, Round 12)

Again a goddamned, fucking game that was won by the referees for the opponent in the last quarter. This was not the first time... and how much is there left?...
We had such a great start though.
We walked out to the court, then Jones flashed and we were leading to 0:5. Cedevita switched the standing, they even made it to 11:7.
Their happiness didn’t last for long.
First it was Jones (11:9).
Then Milutinović, from free throw (11:10).
Magdevski came, saw and smashed. We were leading again (11:12).
Vitkovac, from free throw (11:14).
Jones again, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, Big Kev knows it well. (11:16) We made a 9-point series. From here we had a solid lead, finishing the first part to 17:23.
We kept our advantage for the entire second quarter as well. Cedevita equalized only once (25:25), but we made a 7-point series as an answer (25:32). For the end of the first half the home team came dangerously close (31:32), but we kept the lead with the scores of Jones and Marinković. The half-time result was 35:36.

Vitkovac surrounded by Cedevita-players. Vrabac is watching, while Đumić is wrestling with a defender in the background

(photo: aba-liga.com)

In the third quarter the counter was switching back and forth. At first Cedevita took the lead (37:36), we took it back (37:38), with Jones’s basket. They threw another one (39:38), so did Vitkovac (39:40). And so on. The difference was minimal, 1 or maybe 2 points here or there. Then at 44:43 Wilson equalized from free throw (44:44). Cedevita scored a 3-pointer (47:44), we took back the lead with the baskets of Aranitović and Perović (47:48). The back-and-forth game continued. Finally we shook ourselves, at 47:46 we took back the lead again with Perović’s free throw (47:48), Đumić quickly scored as well (47:50). The home team threw, too (49:50), but Vitkovac scored one more just before the end. We finished the third part with 49:52.
The last quarter was like a nightmare. The game was going on eventlessly until that point, but for the last part it seemed as if all the devils of hell entered the court to turn everything upside down. As if everything would have conspired against us. Cedevita quickly took back the lead and made it to 58:54. Vitkovac and Walker started a wrestling fight, as if the American would have always be seeking for a chance to cross Partizan’s player.

He even had such a unique hairstyle

(photo: aba-liga.com)

Then finally the referee took a deep breath and gave us a free throw. Vitkovac scored, the difference was only 1 point (55:54).
It didn’t last long. Cedevita settled back their 4-5-point advantage they gained in the last quarter (60:56). We approached them again (63:62), Jones even took back the lead (63:64).
At this point Marinković scored such a giant 3-pointer like a dream. But the mentally handicapped referees invalidated it saying that it was scored right at the buzz. Slow motion replay, everyone was staring at the screen... then the referee waved to go ahead, making it sure for everyone that the only thing Partizan can get here is the last sacrament, maybe, but not this 3-pointer.
From this point on Cedevita kept the lead for the rest of the game. We could equalize only once, 18 seconds before the end. The standing was 71:71 - and then Anđušić missed out a 3-pointer attempt.

Again and again I can say only what I have already said numerous times: only those are allowed to throw a stone on Danilo Anđušić who never ever screwed up anything, never ever tripped and fell in the great, decisive moment. Dear fellow fans who are full of hatred now: we are all humans. He, too, just like you, no matter how much a few of you try to act as an all-knowing demigod.

And the referee just had to whistle a foul against Partizan in this moment. 73:71. Only 11 seconds are left. We also get a free throw. 73:72, only 6 seconds are left.
Unbelievable. The referee again whistles a foul against Partizan. And Cedevita scores from the gift free throw, of course. 74:72. Only 5 seconds are left.
The referee can’t keep quiet. Only 2 seconds were left when he whistled again a foul against Partizan. It just can’t be. And Cedevita scores. That’s the end. 75:72

Highlights:

Cedevita: Pullen (12), White (9), Katić (5), Pilepić (6), Babić (9), Žganec (2), Walker (11), Musa, Bilan (13), Gordić (2), Žorić (4), Arapović (2)

KK Partizan: Cvetković, Aranitović (4), Jones (21), Marinković (5), Vitkovac (10), Đumić (2), Perović (6), Magdevski (8), Milutinović (3), Vrabac (2), Wilson (3), Anđušić (8)

League table will be brought later.

Update: current standing of the League
1. Budućnost 22 points
2. CZ 21 points
3. Cedevita 21 points
4. Mega Leks 21 points
5. Zadar 19 points
6. Krka 18 points
7. Igokea 17 points
8. Union Olimpija 17 points
9. Tajfun Šentjur 17 points
10. MZT Skopje 16 points
11. Partizan 16 points
12. Cibona 16 points
13. Metalac 16 points
14. Sutjeska 15 points

KK Partizan - Cedevita 76:64 (Adriatic League)

"Derby match".
You get what I mean.
At this "derby match" we started with a 12:0 series. Pavlović heated up the Steam Roller right at the beginning, there was no return.

(photo: abaliga.com)

Today’s online stream was one of the worst kinds, and I didn’t find any better all over the internet. All of them lagged, making the stream unwatchable. Thankfully Adriatic League has this kind habit to upload all the matches to Youtube in full time. Until then I try to re-enact the game.

So, it took more than 7 minutes for Cedevita to score 1 (one) point. There were less than 3 minutes to go when they could pass the ball through the ring after getting a free throw. (The second attempt was unsuccessful.) Mačvan and Dallo did a great teamwork, Dallo threw the ball to the basket from behind the 3-pointer line, but missed it. Mačvan, Partizan’s official troll was sneaking under the backboard, made a fantastic rebound and scored with a wide grin on his face, right at the buzz. 14:1
Cedevita picked themselves together a bit (16:7 was the result at the end of the quarter) and tried to keep up this pace for the next period. In reality the two teams were wrestling for 2 minutes without much result (17:12), then Partizan thought it was enough. Gagić was the first in line with a free throw (19:12), then Andrić celebrated his birthday with a 3-pointer (24:14). Our advantage was still two-digit (28:18), Andrić brought another 3-pointer - birthdays happen only once a year, so you have to do it in style... (31:20).

(photo: abaliga.com)

I think, this was the point when Mačvan walked off the ground with painful face, holding his right shoulder.

(photo: telegraf.rs)

Our pace didn’t slow down despite all.

The half-time result was 39:26 and Mačvan resurrected for the second half.

Children play on the ground in half-time

Milenko Tepić was watching the game from the tribune

(photos: Twitter)

I swear, at the beginning of the third period I saw the counter displaying 42:24, but after an upheaval there were only 41 points at our side. (I very much hope Adriatic League uploads this match as soon as possible. I have no idea what happened here, stream was lagging very heavily.)

Mačvan’s resurrection

(photo: Facebook/KK Partizan)

All in all, the standing was 41:28, most probably it didn’t bring any comfort to Cedevita that a point was taken from us. We quickly made up our lost ground (43:28) with Bogdanović adding a 3-pointer (46:28). Another upheaval came, players were wrestling under Cedevita’s backboard, then Gagić got a technical foul.

Gagić disagreed

(photo: Twitter)

The standing was then 46:31, it seemed Cedevita might speed up (46:34, then 46:36), but Dallo stopped them (48:36), then Pavlović quickly made it to 53:40. Then 55:42, finally Milutinović set the result of the third quarter (60:42).

(photo: Facebook/KK Partizan)

In the final one Cedevita reduced the difference to 60:48, but we made ourselves comfortable with two 3-pointers (66:52). Dallo helped to make it even higher (68:54, then 70:54), Milosavljević scored a 3-pointer (74:60), and our last basket was thrown by Milutinović (76:62). The very last score was done by Cedevita but even that didn’t save them from the two-digit difference. 76:64

Highlights - as soon as the entire match is uploaded, I’ll post that, too.

Until then victory photos.

(photos: Facebook/KK Partizan) 

(photo: Twitter)

Cedevita - KK Partizan 70:50 (Adriatic League, Round 3)

This was the worst match of the year.
It was worse than playing against the red team with 3 players only, in the final of the previous Serbian league season. That match was blood, sweat and tears, this was butterfly fart (or even less). Two very weak teams stood up against each other.
Cedevita threw the first basket just after a few seconds, then Gagić equalized. We even took the lead after he scored again with an excellent movement (2:4). Our advantage didn’t last long... Croatians replied with a 3-pointer. Bogdanović had a rebound after Murić tried to score, but Cedevita reacted immediately (9:6).
And so forth... It was going like this for almost the entire match. Whenever Partizan threw a basket and reduced the difference, the home team immediately, instantly replied with a score. It was very distressing, especially that Partizan missed their chances in a row. We could throw two (2) 3-pointers during the entire match. It’s not much delightful either that Croatian players also missed out numerous chances.
In the middle of the first quarter Murić made a turnover, ran up to the opponent’s foul lane and threw a great basket (11:10). What is more, a bit later, after Bilan’s personal foul we got a foul shot and equalized. We kept the pace even at 13:13, but at this moment we already had a long row of missed chances behind us. Cedevita got two foul shots, they scored from both, as it’s supposed to be. The quarter ended with 17:13.

Bogdanović acts as a living blockade for Cedevita’s player, while Murić is watching from behind

The second quarter started again with lots of missed chances at both sides. It was so awful that Average Fan was close to a nose bleeding. Finally Dallo got fed up with this fumbling (17:15), but the reply was quick (19:15). Both teams operated with countless imprecise shots/passes and fouls. Once Bezbradica fell on the court, then Milutinov threw someone on the ground. Then someone made a foul against Gagić... and so on. For a whole minute there was only wrestling, with so many missed chances that was painful to see. Again Partizan broke the silence, but the counter-attack was instant again (21:17).

 Match action: Gordić trying to deactivate Tepić

The next minute brought a four-point series by Cedevita. It included everything, foul shot, turnover, ineffecitve block, even a bonus shot. Partizan tried to decrease the difference (25:20), but the Croatian team didn’t let them do so (26:20, then 28:20). Nothing worked out for Partizan. Finally Gagić threw a basket (28:22), Milutinov also did his best (28:24), at half-time the result was 29:24.

Match action: Gagić blocking

The third quarter brought the first 3-pointer of Partizan, by Edo Murić (31:29). Yet it was still the Match Of Missed Chances, for both teams. It says all that after almost 25 minutes of playing the result was still 33:31. Even the impossible was missed out. Cedevita wasn’t better than Partizan at all, just tonight even Lady Luck wasn’t on our side. 36:31, then 38:31, finally little Marinković threw from a foul shot (38:32). We had a lot of turnovers, but none, NONE of them ended in the basket. 41:32, 43:32, Average Fan was already waiting for the match to end... Tepić, at long last, 43:34, with immediate response... At 46:34 Gagić got his 4th personal foul. Partizan complained, everyone was staring at the monitors - I admit, I don’t know how it ended, I didn’t understand the explanation of the Serbian presenter well enough, but fact is Gagić wasn’t fouled out during the rest of the match. The end of the quarter brought 46:35, Bezbradica scored one from a foul shot.
The last quarter started again with too many missed chances, both teams were fumbling too much. We had to wait for more than 2 minutes for the first score. It was by Dallo (46:36). This was the point when Cedevita started to increase the difference. It was possible because Partizan kept on missing chances (the rest of our tryings were blocked by the Croatian players), then at 52:39 Murić was fouled out. Plus Cedevita made a seven-point series (59:39) and bang, the opponent was 20 points ahead of us.

Match action: Bezbradica trying to stop Zubčić

Dallo tried again to decrease the difference, but again the response was instant (61:41). Marinković threw the second 3-pointer of Partizan (61:44), the reply was 2 baskets by the home team (65:44). Bogdanović also scored two (65:48), but Cedevita couldn’t stand not having a 20-point difference (68:48). They threw another basket, finally Dallo fixed the result (70:50).

Cedevita: Mazalin, Zubčić (11), Ramljak (5), Pilepić (11), Babić (7), A. Delaš (3), Zganec (6), Bilan (13), M. Delaš (6), Gordić (8), Tomaš, Arapović
KK Partizan: Tepić (4), Aranitović, Kouzeloglou, Murić (10), Marinković (6), Dallo (7), Milutinov (2), Gagić (10), Andrić (2), Bezbradica (1), Bogdanović (8), Šalić

Current league standings:

1. Crvena Zvezda 6 points
2. Szolnoki Olaj 5 points
3. Union Olimpija 5 points
4. Krka 4 points
5. Cedevita 4 points
6. Partizan 4 points
7. Budućnost 4 points
8. MZT Skopje 3 points
9. Mega Vizura 3 points
10. Zadar 3 points
11. Levski 3 points
12. Igokea 3 points
13. Metalac 2 points
14. Cibona 2 points

(photos: Facebook/KK Partizan)

Coming up: Cedevita - KK Partizan TODAY!!! (Adriatic League, Round 3)

Today, on Saturday, 11th October at 7 pm Partizan clashes with Cedevita. Duško Vujošević is not allowed to come to Zagreb with the team for being suspended, he will be substituted by secondary coch Velimir Gašić.
- Cedevita improved a lot during the past few years - Gašić said at the press conference. - What they achieve in Euroleague is also something to respect. As for us, the upcoming days will be tense for us. We play not just in Adriatic League but in Eurocup as well. During the next week we’ll have 3 away matches which require a great amount of energy from the team. I do believe though we are ready for all challenges.
- They might not be in their best shape yet, but it shouldn’t be wise to draw long-term conclusions from the fact they lost their first two matches - the trainer explained about Cedevita. - They play a very fast game and they have the ability to control the rhythm of the match. We still remember well the semi-final of the previous season when they won the match with a basket thrown from the other half of the court. We also analyized the game against Krka. After that loss the team is eager to play a good match and to win.
Edo Murić also spoke on behalf of the players.
- The atmosphere at the match against Krka was amazing. I hope many will come to this match, too. Our team is young, for some players this is the first serious challenge. I do believe though we’ll get better and better. Cedevita is a very strong team, they lost their first two matches, plus now they’ll play at home, they are surely very motivated. We’ll be there not just to play but to bring the best out of us.

The match will be broadcasted live by Sport Klub 3.