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.

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.

#33 #1stW 🏀

A photo posted by Danilo Andjusic (@daniloandjusic) on Jan 9, 2016 at 5:12am PST

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.

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.

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

KK Partizan - Igokea 66:73 (Adriatic League, Round 17)

We did the very same as here. We had a horror second half after an excellent first one. Though in the beginning the team was full of energy.

35 minuta pre početka meča XVII kola @ABA_League protiv Igokee, igrači Partizana su izašli na zagrevanje. pic.twitter.com/iPyHtt6kj1

— KK Partizan NIS (@PartizanBC) December 27, 2015

We warmed up...

(photos: Twitter)

...then we walked out to the court and immediately turned the standing from 2:3 to 5:3 with Wilson’s 3-pointer.

There were a very saddeningly little amount of audience in Pionir Hall. You can see on the upper photo how empty the stands are. During the game the sports hall got a bit more filled with people, but the official statistics still talk about not more than 2500 spectators.

Wilson was on full speed. He ran through the court, threw baskets, either from rebound or from free throw, the way it was just needed. The others followed his footsteps, Vrabac, Vitkovac, Cvetković, Jones, Murić all scored. For the end of the first half we were leading with more than 10 points (22:11).

(photo: aba-liga.com)

In the second quarter our advantage was still around 9 points, though around here it started to be a bit annoying that we just couldn’t throw one single 3-pointer.

The last one we managed to score was by Cvetković in the first quarter. I think I won’t spoil the end by telling you, we couldn’t score any 3-pointer for quite a long time ahead.

Not scoring any 3-pointers was just one side of the problem, but on the other, even our 2-pointer attempts failed. The ball either rebounded from the ring or we were blocked by Igokea-players. But never mind, we could still keep up our advantage. The closest Igokea could get to us was 4 points (28:24), but Wilson, Anđušić and Milutinović (with his last-minute score) ensured everyone that we are in control. We finished the second quarter with 34:28.

The only flaw of this confident leading was that it was more and more difficult for us to score, as the half-time approached. Even this last action by Milutinović was in fact a free throw. But let’s not be voracious, we are leading with 6 points, aren’t we?

(photo: aba-liga.com)

Then came the third quarter.
In the beginning it was 38:28, nobody suspected anything.
Then Igokea made it to 38:34, Petar Božić quickly asked for time-out. Then Wilson scored (40:34).
The problem was that after two and a half quarters Igokea found out that they can in fact throw 3-pointers. (40:37).
No problem, Milutinoivć threw a basket, with one bonus shot (43:37).
But Igokea equalized (43:43). Murić could score a 3-pointer (46:43), but even this didn’t help. Igokea took the lead (46:48). Anđušić equalized (48:48), but before the end buzz Igokea scored again. 48:50, buzz, we had a short time to find our breaths and then we had to enter the final part.

If I smoked, at this point I would have surely lighted a cigarette with a dry smile and a shrug. But I don’t smoke. I was just drumming nervously with the pen I was making notes with during the game, sometimes facepalming, sometimes just with a weary sigh.

(photos: aba-liga.com)

The last quarter was controlled by Igokea. We couldn’t even approach them. The closest standing was 50:52 in the beginning of the quarter, after Vrabac’s free throw. Nothing, just nothing worked for us. None of the players had any significant performance - maybe Wilson, at the beginning of the match, but later he faded and was unremarkable.

I have an always stronger impression about Anđušić that he can’t wait for his contract to expire with Partizan, so he can leave and find some other team. From an outsider’s point of view it seems, he invests more energy even into caring for his social media profiles than into his performance on matches. Maybe it’s not just a co-incidence that he appears less and less on court lately.

It was a physical pain to watch Partizan in the last quarter. After a while Igokea was leading with 10 points (52:62). We tried to reduce the difference, but it got back to 10 points after a while (56:66). Anđušić tried with a 3-pointer, but still, the difference was still 8 points (60:68). Igokea scored again (60:70). Wilson reduced it to 66:70, but all his scores were from free throws. Igokea mercilessly threw a 3-pointer 45 seconds before the end (66:73).
That was the end of all.

We screwed it up

Very much

(photos: hotsport.rs)

Nobody wants to be now in the place of Petar Božić.

(photo: aba-liga.com)

As Fellow Fan added a sharp but true comment at the end of the game: we should pray.

Highlights:

KK Partizan: Cvetković (5), Aranitović (2), Jones (8), Murić (5), Marinković (2), Vitkovac (4), Đumić, Magdevski, Milutinović (6), Vrabac (5), Wilson (20), Anđušić (9)

Igokea: Pašajlić, Krstić (10), Ćapin (8), Pešaković (2), Kesar (5), Mikulić, Booker (12), Milošević (3), Radenović (7), Radivojević (26), Talić

League table will be brought later.
Update: current standing of the League
1. Budućnost 32 points
2. Cedevita 31 points
3. CZ 30 points
4. Mega Leks 28 points
5. Krka 25 points
6. MZT Skopje 24 points
7. Cibona 24 points
8. Tajfun Šentjur 24 points
9. Zadar 24 points
10. Metalac 24 points
11. Union Olimpija 23 points
12. Igokea 23 points
13. Partizan 23 points
14. Sutjeska 22 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 - Tajfun Šentjur 89:85 (Adriatic League, Round 11)

This was not a simple victory, this was a resurrection. It’s amazing what we made in the last quarter.

Warming up

(photo: abaliga.com)

Partizan played in front of almost empty stands, it was rather sad to see. Also, upon informations the German female basketball team wanted to have a training in Pionir Hall from 19:00 (Serbian and German female basketball teams play European Championship qualifying tomorrow in Belgrade), so even time was a bit limited.

Start-off

(photo: Twitter)

The first quarter started a bit slowly, guests took the lead (2:4), then came Aranitović and switched the standing (5:4). The rest of the quarter was spent with easy basketball playing. We were leading for the whole time with 5-7 points, Vrabac and Milutinović had a great time. At this point it seemed that we beat the league newbie with a routine victory.
Well, we didn’t.
We finished the first part with 20:15, in the second part it was 30:23, most of all by Kevin Jones. But then Tajfun equalized (30:30), while we couldn’t score one single 3-pointer. The guests took the lead and for a long time they didn’t let us take it back.

Well, let’s see the positive side of it: the difference never grew into two-digit. Optimism is important, isn’t it?

We were struggling. Our defense line was like a corridor. If we could score, it was mostly from free throws. Tajfun continuously had a 3-4-point advantage. It doesn’t look that dangerous at the first glance, but it was still very bothersome, because on our side nothing seemed to work out. We finished the first half with 39:42.

(photo: abaliga.com)

In the third quarter we continued to struggle. Tajfun had numerous steals and increased their difference to 43:47.
And then came Vitkovac and Jones. We took back the lead (48:47).
Marinković demonstrated the block of the round.

At this part of the game the counter was switching there and back. The two teams grabbing out the lead from each other’s hands, 50:49, 50:51, 52:51, then the guests scored a 3-pointer, we equalized (54:54), but the Slovenian team took back the lead again. We finished the third part with 58:61.
The last quarter started with Anđušić equalizing (61:61). Tajfun fought hard and took back the lead (61:63) and did not want to let it out of their hands. We were behind always with only 1-2 points, sometimes we could even equalize, but Tajfun immediately took back the lead again. Finally after sweating blood we took the lead with Anđušić’s 3-pointer (74:73). Cvetković also scored one (77:73), but soon after he was fouled out. Tajfun reduced the difference to 77:75, at this point Vitkovac scored (79:75). Tajfun reduced the difference again, the standing was 79:78. Aranitović and Anđušić increased it to 83:78. Tajfun again reduced (83:81), it was Jones’s turn now (85:81). Tajfun’s players got more and more rough. There was not even half a minute left, when referees whistled 3 free throws in a line. First for Jones (87:84), then for Tajfun (87:85), finally for Anđušić (89:85). For the last seconds there was just some nerve-racking wrestling left, and then we could celebrate.

(photos: Twitter)

Highlights:

KK Partizan: Cvetković (11), Aranitović (14), Jones (17), Marinković (10), Vitkovac (10), Đumić (2), Koprivica, Perović, Milutinović (7), Vrabac (6), Wilson (2), Anđušić (10)

Tajfun Šentjur: Sebić (5), Držić, Čebular (29), Zimič, Bratož (10), Clark (7), Ponjavić (11), Drobnjak (2), Bolčina (14), Parker (7)

League table comes later.

Update: current standing of the League
1. Budućnost 20 points
2. CZ 19 points
3. Cedevita 19 points
4. Mega Leks 19 points
5. Zadar 17 points
6. Krka 17 points
7. Igokea 16 points
8. MZT Skopje 15 points
9. Union Olimpija 15 points
10. Cibona 15 points
11. Partizan 15 points
12. Tajfun Šentjur 15 points
13. Metalac 15 points
14. Sutjeska 14 points

KK Partizan - Budućnost 86:77 (Adriatic League, Round 9)

Victory!!!
What a victory, oh my God. We won over the opponent with a fantastic, exciting, screaming-nailbiting, going-into-the-heaven-at-the-end match.
The game started with a very nice gesture. A few weeks ago, after the game against Krka a photo circulated around the internet about a little boy, who was sitting at his chair crying, being devastated by the unjust defeat.

(photo: Facebook/Grobarski trash romantizam)

KK Partizan found the little boy and invited him to their training. He even got his very own jersey and he became the 13th member of the team.

(photos: Facebook/KK Partizan)

Being the 13th member of the team he walked out to the court together with the team before the start of the game. As a serious, regular player must do.

He shook hands with the referees as well

(photo: Twitter)

Can you show any little boy whose biggest dream is not this?...

Then we walked out to the court, Cvetković came, saw and scored (2:0). After Budućnost’s equalizing Jones quickly changed the standing to 6:2. The only problem was that Budućnost took the lead (6:7). And as trouble never comes alone, Andrić got injured again, only 1-2 minutes after the start, even though he has just recovered from his previous one. He limped off the court and couldn’t join back the game.

So far there are almost no news about Andrić’s injury and most probably there’ll be none before Monday. After the match head coach Petar Božić just said, they very much hope it’s not more than a pulled muscle.

The standing became 6:10 in the meantime. The opponent had a Canadian player, namely Devoe Joseph, who kept on scoring 3-pointers. He was awful and unstoppable. They made it to 10:18. Aranitović reduced the difference to 15:18, but it quickly changed to 15:23. Anđušić brought a 3-pointer (18:23), so did the other side (18:26). Meanwhile referees put themselves into action. At 20:28 they invalidated Vitkovac’s basket, for God knows which reason, the slow motion replay didn’t show any foul. Fans booed, whistled, Average Fan just had a bitter sigh and started to fall into depression. We finished the first quarter with 22:30, Anđušić scored a basket soon before the end.

Fans messaged to Duško Vujošević with their banners, saying thank you to the former head coach for all his work and dedication

(photo: Twitter)

The second quarter didn’t start easily either. The difference became two-digit (22:32). Vrabac tried to reduce it (24:32) and at this point something started to get into motion. Jones caught Marinković’s rebound and smashed it into the basket (26:32). Marinković scored a giga-sized 3-pointer, throwing it probably from the neighbourly Charlie Chaplin street (29:32). Then Marinković suddenly fell on the ground, after clashing an opponent player. Free throw, Anđušić stood to the paint, and the difference became only 1 point (31:32). Budućnost tried with all their might to keep their advantage (31:34), but we kept the pace either by Vrabac’s basket (33:34) or by Perović’s score (35:36). At 35:38 referees gave a random free throw to the guests, because why not (35:40), so did they after Đumić’s basket, because they were in the mood, probably (37:41). But Đumić still kept the log (and the steam roller) rolling (39:41), then Aranitović sped up and equalized (41:41).
And after this we took back the lead with Marinković’s core. 43:41, bre!!

(photo:  hotsport.rs)

And just 2 seconds before the half time buzz the referee whistled a foul on Vrabac and gave a gift free throw to Budućnost.
We finished the first half with 43:42, Budućnost’s player missed out one free throw, the referees’ attempt to equalize had failed.

Children playing on the court in half-time

(photo: Twitter)

The third part started with Anđušić’s amazing steal and brutal basket (45:42). Then Budućnost attacked and all we could see was Anđušić suddenly falling to the ground. The slow motion replay clearly showed Budućnost’s player pushing Anđušić down on purpose.
Can you guess what the referee judged?
Yes, you found it out.
Fail on Anđušić. Don’t ever ask why.
Of course with the usual gift free throw to Budućnost. 45:44
What is more, the guests took back the lead. 45:46, it’s just impossible. I started to search for a spade to dig my own grave.
But here came Vitkovac, he scored and took us back the lead (47:46). What is more, the difference grew to 49:46.

I couldn’t see who scored this latter basket, my net died for a short while. (Me, too.)

And it could have been even 51:46, but the corrupted referees invalidated Jones’s basket, because they could do it.

May all the biased referees of Adriatic League get diarrhea at a public place.

Eventually we got a free throw, Cvetković scored (51:46, at long last), but referees continued to run amok. They seemed to hate a couple of Partizan-players... Then an opponent player pushed Vitkovac to the ground while attacking. Referees didn’t whistle, but a bit later they still gave foul to Aranitović, nobody knows, why.

It was too much even for the usually modest Petar Božić

(hotsport.rs)

At this point something was thrown to the court. No, unfortunately it didn’t hit the referee.

But Aranitović isn’t that kind of player who can get discouraged by a foul. He raised our difference to 53:48 from free throw, then he threw a 3-pointer as well (56:48). At 56:52 Marinković shot and scored (58:52). Jones kept our 4-point difference (60:56), Marinković also helped (62:58), at the end of the quarter the Jones-Anđušić axis made it to 68:61.

(photo: hotsport.rs)

(photo: mondo.rs)

Murić has still not recovered, for 5 months now

(photo: hotsport.rs)

We were ready for the last quarter.
Budućnost reduced the difference to 68:64. After that referees fouled out Đumić. The guests equalized (68:68). Marinković took back the lead from free throw (70:68), the opponent equalized again (70:70).

Volatile salt, defibrillator, grave digger, priest, last sacrament to me, NOW...

...and then came the Jones-Cvetković duo.
It was amazing what these two made in the last minutes.

(gifs: GlimmerKKP)

From 72:70 we made it to 84:72!!!
Budućnost tried to reduce the difference (84:75), but Jones scored again (86:75). For the end there were two opponent free throws left, they settled the end result with them (86:77), also Jones deserves the "Rebound King" title.

Absolutely well-deserved celebration

(photo: Twitter)

(photo: hotsport.rs)

KK Partizan: Cvetković (12), Aranitović (12), Jones (18), Marinković (14), Vitkovac (3), Đumić (4), Perović (2), Magdevski, Andrić. Milutinović (2), Vrabac (6), Anđušić (13)

Budućnost: Suad Sehović (4), Jaramaz (13), Subotić (7), Sead Sehović (4), Ćarapić, Cook (11), Baćović (4), Ilić, Dragićević (11), Marić (2), Rikić (6), Joseph (15)

Highlights:

League table comes later, there are a few games left from this round.

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

Cibona - KK Partizan 63:57 (Adriatic League, Round 6)

It was a very bad match, with a lot of mistakes and struggles, and even the referees didn’t like us.
Cibona made it to 7:0 at the very beginning. By sweating blood, with the baskets of Đumić, Vitkovac and Marinković we switched the standing to 7:9. Cibona quickly equalized and changed the standing to 16:9. Vitkovac reduced the difference from free throws to 16:13. We finished the first quarter with 18:15, Magdevski scored in the last second.
The standing was modified to 23:17 in the following quarter. Nothing worked for us. We missed out all attempts, the ball always rebounded when we threw and the referees judged against us following some very strange logics.

Logics, bwahahahahaha....

For our luck Cibona also missed out a lot of chances, or else they would have been leading even here with too many points. Still they made it to 29:21, but then entered Danilo Anđušić, who just returned to KK Partizan.
Anđušić came, Anđušić saw and the standing became 29:28.

(photo: Facebook/KK Partizan)

That was the half time result as well.
Then we came back for the second half and switched the standing with Milutinović’s 3-pointer (29:31). Cibona took back the lead (32:31), but Vitkovac again switched it (32:34). Cibona equalized (34:34), Vitkovac threw another 3-pointer (34:37). Here we could keep our advantage quite well, at a point we were leading to 36:42. Cibona reduced it to 41:42, then Anđušić interfered. We entered the last quarter with 43:46.
In the fourth part Vrabac scored (43:48), so did Vitkovac (46:50), then... then we just struggled. It wasn’t a good game. There was nothing spectacular, no great fight, but too many missed out chances (on both sides), struggling, sometimes even wrestling. It was rather exhausting than exciting. The extra bonus was that referees kept on whistling against us more and more often, interrupting our attacks with (any) excuse, giving free throws to Cibona. At 48:50 the Croatian team took back the lead (51:50). Milutinović switched the standing once more (54:55), but then Cibona equalized and took back the lead with a 3-pointer (58:55). They quickly made it to 60:55, then Vitkovac performed an amazing steal and scored a fantastic basket (60:57).
Then came the referees.
They whistled fault on us always in the middle of our attacks and every single time they served free throws to Cibona on golden plate. This injustice made Cvetković lose control so much that he pushed a Cibona-player to the ground. For this he was fouled out. We had a few tryings (well, when we had the chance...), but none of them had any fruits. Finally it ended with 63:57.

Not only Vitkovac reached the low(est) level, but the team as well

(photo: Facebook/KK Partizan)

Highlights:

Cibona: Beriša (4), Krušlin (22), Hukić, Rozić (4), Jagodić-Kuridža (8), Slavica (2), Mandić, Mavra (9), Jokšimović (5), Žižić (7)

KK Partizan: Cvetković (5), Aranitović (3), Marinković (6), Vitkovac (16), Đumić (4), Koprivica, Perović, Magdevski (2), Milutinović (8), Glišić, Vrabac (2), Anđušić (11)

I bring you league table tomorrow, there are games left from this round.

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