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

Mega Leks - KK Partizan 85:80 (Korać Cup, final)

Don’t ever ask.
Well, anyway, it doesn’t matter actually. Even if you asked, I couldn’t answer.
The atmosphere was great. A field music band walked around inside the hall playing the popular march song. It was fantastic to see and hear as thousands of fans were singing Grobarski marš on the top of their voice.

Then the band played the Serbian national anthem, too.

(photo: Twitter)

We had a great start. We jumped to 2:10, Marinković himself scored 8 points, while Koprivica performed such an excellent dunk which can be performed only by professionals.

(photo: Facebook/KK Partizan)

The problem was that Mega Leks reduced the difference. Had they only reduced it, but they even took the lead (12:11). They even jumped to 16:11. They were very aggressive, for the whole time during the game. They played full court press as well as player-to-player fight, as if every Partizan-player would have got a personal backpack. Cvetković kept the spirit in the team, once we even equalized with Wilson’s free throw (21:21). The quarter finished with 24:23, Wilson made a great buzzer beater.

Time-out in the first quarter

(photo: Twitter)

For the second quarter things got back on track. Milutinović started with a fantastic 3-pointer (after a spectacular, quick passing of the ball around the paint, 24:26), Murić followed his example (27:29), Williams stole the ball with a great movement from a Mega-player, he even threw it to the backboard, but it rebounded. But Milutinović appeared out of the blue and pushed the ball back to the ring. A Mega-player picked it out, but the referees validated the basket (27:31).
Then came Edo Murić.
From another planet. With a brutal 3-pointer.

(source: GlimmerKKP)

We kept our advance. Though Vitkovac soon got his third personal foul, Luwawu very aggressively attacked every Partizan-player, Jones got another foul, after a Mega-player played the dying swan

the slow motion replay clearly showed that Jones just barely touched the other player, yet the dude acted as if he got a 16-ton anvil right onto his head. And yes, the referee believed him

aaaand they got a gift free throw (33:36). Players were wrestling and fighting on the court, at one of these a Partizan-player (I didn’t see clearly who it actually was) threw the ball to Wilson while laying on the ground. Wilson ran up and scored (33:40).
And Edo Murić.
Edo Murić had a fantastic performance tonight. He scored from any angle, any distance. He made us jump up to 38:45. Finally the referees quickly fouled him, Mega got another gift free throw (43:45).

A bonus shot by Murić at the end of the first half

(photo: Facebook/KK Partizan)

The result of the half-time was 46:48, we got a free throw (Cvetković scored), one was for Mega, because why not.
The third quarter started with Murić’s gigantic block. Mega Leks turned into even more aggressive, they were very heavy on this full court press. Wilson scored a 3-pointer (46:51), Mega reduced the difference to 49:51. Here came a Koprivica-Jones teamwork (49:53), Mega was again in our back (52:53).

They were awful. One of their trick was full court press, the other is the 3-pointr attack. All of them scored a row of 3-pointers. Seriously, these guys surely swore on their own life not to leave the Niš sports hall until they kill us. As if they would have been playing all-or-nothing.

We kept ourselves, though sometimes we were fouled for unbelievable things (Marinković tripped over a Mega-player laying on the floor, whoops, a foul for Marinković). There was a huge fight on the court, but we were still a bit ahead of Mega. Then, at the very end the standing was 63:64, when Mega scored a buzzer-beater 3-pointer. 66:64 to face the final part of the game.

Williams and Marinković block a Mega-player

(photo: Facebook/KK Partizan)

For the fourth quarter things started to get out of hand. Mega-players were like a bunch of pitbulls, playing the most aggressive possible full court press with player-to-player fights and tension.
And then Cvetković scored such a 3-pointer that the walls of the sports hall got demolished immediately.

(source: GlimmerKKP)

We took back the lead and made it to 66:71. Fans were singing and chanting on the top of their lungs, the team was burning on a thousand degrees, finally referees whistled off a Partizan-attack, giving a foul to Williams, sending everyone to the other side of the court to Partizan’s backboard (gift free throw to Mega - 67:71). Marinković was fouled out, Mega equalized (73:73). Murić scored another XXL-sized 3-pointer (73:76), Williams performed a giant block, and then he got the grip and scored (73:78).
But Mega equalized again (78:78).
55 seconds before the end they took back the lead (80:78).
Partizan got very nervous, referees whistled off all our mistakes. In the last 38 seconds they whistled 4 times, that means 4 free throws. Out of these 4 free throws only 1 went to Partizan, the rest was all for Mega. We tried a lot of 3-pointers, but all rebounded. The only score we could make was Cvetković’s free throw (83:80) 11 seconds before the end.
Only 9 seconds were left. Mega got a free throw - and they missed it out! What is more, Luwawu got fouled out. We ran up, Milutinović wanted to score the 3-pointer of the year - but someone blocked it. As a coup de grace Jones got a foul 5 seconds before the end. Of course Mega got another gift free throw.
They scored.
85:80
That was all.

(photo: Facebook/KK Partizan)

At the end of the match the medals and the cup was given to the players by Dragan Đilas, president of the Serbian Basketball Association. What he got from Grave Diggers, that hissing, booing and whistles, well, he’ll surely not forget it for a while.

This video says it all.

Nobody cares about Mega Leks jumping around and celebrating. The entire hall screams "Partizan ole ole ole" - as if Mega wasn’t even there, as if Partizan had won the Cup.

Mega Leks: Simić, Jaramaz (4), Veljković, Musić, Ivanović (24), Pavlović, Luwawu (13), Kaba (10), Zagorac (9), Simeunović, Nikolić (18), Janković (7)

KK Partizan: Cvetković (14), Aranitović, Jones (4), Murić (16), Marinković (16), Tanasković, Vitkovac, Koprivica (2), Milutinović (7), Williams (4), Jovanović, Wilson (17)

KK Partizan - Crvena Zvezda 68:60 (Korać Cup, semifinal)

VICTORYYYYY!!!

What a victory, oh my God.
In the afternoon of the match day there was already a great police presence around the sports hall of Niš.

(photos: Twitter)

Two hours before the start the sports hall was almost full.

(photo: Twitter)

Then, as the time was coming soon, the squad appeared on the court to warm up.

(photo: Twitter)

They got a very warm welcome from the fans.

While on the stand there was someone whom we haven’t seen for long.

(photo: hotsport.rs)

Yes, it was Predrag "Saša" Danilović personally, who came to see Partizan.
On Partizan’s bench the injured players gathered.

Vrabac, Magdevski, Andrić, Đumić

(photo: Twitter)

To hell with the goddamned Copa Del Rey. I’m fucking not interested in the Spanish royal cup right before the eternal derby, dear ArenaSport.

The start was tough, what else it could be. In the first half there was a long row of fouls on both sides. The first part of the first quarter wasn’t even gone when Koprivica got his third personal foul. After 7:7 Zvezda took the lead (7:10) and they kept it (8:11). We missed out a lot of chances - in fact both teams missed out too many chances, they were all very nervous. They were so nervous that Miller got a technical foul here, in the first quarter. At 8:13 Williams scored from free throw (10:13), then Cvetković sped up and he himself alone (!!!) brought us up to 17:13!!!

(photo: hotsport.rs)

Punch line for the end of the first quarter: Zirbes missed out a free throw.

The atmosphere was great.

The beginning of the second quarter was mostly about wrestling. Players were rolling on the floor struggling with each other, fighting over the ball, finally we could grab it and ran up to Zvezda’s paint.
What started at this point was something amazing, unbelievable and fantastic. Wilson made us jump to 24:13 (he got two free throws and in between he scored a wonderful 3-pointer). Cvetković was burning on 1 million Celsius and made such an assist to Vitkovac that will surely be remembered for long.

(source: GlimmerKKP)

Zvezda tried with full court press, they could reduce the difference a bit to 26:19. Players were literally fighting sometimes, referees couldn’t always follow the stream of events, they just whistled and gave fouls to random players.

It was especially funny because it was mostly the XXL-sized, tattoed Zirbes had to throw those free throws they got. Yet the German was totally out of shape, at least in the first half. He missed out almost all free throws, he could barely score a point here and there.

Jones got a rebound, he scored (28:19). Zvezda was struggling. They could score almost only from free throws

well, if not Zirbes threw them...

they were cramping, struggling. They struggled so hard they almost got piles, but they could come up to only 6 points of difference (28:22), but Murić cut their possible high hopes short with an elegant and cheeky 3-pointer (31:22).
After this Miller got the ball and ran up. He jumped, he sailed through the air like a helicopter, he clearly wanted to do a giant dunk. He rose his hand, he focused all his power into his palm that was holding the ball...
...and the ball rebounded from the ring with a fantastic trajectory.

At this point I fell on the floor from laugh and made such noises like a retarded seal.

We ran up for a counter-attack, Jones scored with a rakish movement. Our advantage was 11 points (33:22).

(photo: hotsport.rs)

At the end of the quarter the referees just had to give the 4th foul to Williams, because why not. Zvezda struggled hard enough to earn 3 more points (this time they could score from free throw), then we could have some rest.

Grave Diggers some time in the second quarter

In the third quarter Zvezda barely walked out to the court when Koprivica settled back the 10-point difference (35:25).

Jones scored (37:25), Murić brought a genious 3-pointer (40:25). Zvezda struggled ahead, sometimes they could score (40:29), but Jones always interrupted them, keeping the red hopes low instead of high, to keep them away from any possible emotional disturbance.
What a great pedagugoe Kevin Jones is.
After this a smaller war started under Zvezda’s backboard. Players were fighting, wrestling, the ball dropped all around, three Zvezda-players jumped on a Partizan-player, finally the ball reached Murić. Murić looked around then he threw a GIANT 3-pointer "from another planet" that the plaster fell off from the ceiling (45:29).
Zvezda got a row of free throws (45:32) - they couldn’t really score any field goal... Grave Diggers started to chant their little song about Vesna Čović, again

no, I won’t write it here, it’s too obscene

but the referees found it too harsh, so much that the speaker had to announce that if fans continue to "support their team in such an unsportsmanlike way", there will be nasty consequences.

Interesting, when back then opponent fans yelled life-threatening, obscene words to Duško Vujošević or when they called Bogdan Bogdanović "ustaša", nobody stopped the game and nobody told red fans to shut the fuck up. Double standards, my a.....

After this Grave Diggers chanted their song even louder about what Vesna Čović should do and especially how. At 45:34 Wilson scored a 3-pointer (48:34), and finally Zvezda could score a field goal after a long time. (48:37)
Then came Milutinović’s great moment.
The standing was 50:37, Cvetković ran up with the ball, dribbling. He broke through the red defense line, a defender pushed him to the ground. Cvetković threw the ball while he himself was falling, but the ball rebounded. Milutinović was sneaking under the backboard, he jumped, grabbed the rebounding ball and ruthlessly pushed it into the ring.

(source: GlimmerKKP)

At the end of the quarter Zvezda got a friendly clout on their head in the form of a gift free throw from the referees. We finished the third part with 52:39.
In the beginning of the fourth quarter Jones had his moments, changing the standing from 52:41 to 56:41. Zvezda was struggling (56:47), while the Wilson-Murić duo easily scored 4 more points for us (60:47).

(photo: hotsport.rs)

Wilson scored again, what made it funny was that a red hand touched the ball while flying towards the ring - had it not touch the ball, Wilson would have missed it out (62:47). Zvezda could score only from free throw (62:51). Williams was fouled out, Zvezda reduced their difference, it started to be a bit uncomfortable (65:59) after they got again a lot of free throws. There was less than a minute to go, when Wilson had a fantastic basket (67:59)

I swear I saw it to be a 3-pointer, well, the referee didn’t

Cvetković scored from free throw (68:59). There were only 7 seconds left, but the referees just had to foul out Wilson and give a last free throw to Zvezda (68:60). But they couldn’t take the victory from us.
It was time for a very well-earned celebration.

(photos: Twitter)

And finally, the extra punch line for the end: after the match the totally absent-minded Quincey Miller got on Partizan’s bus (for the great amusement of the Grave Diggers waiting there).

KK Partizan: Cvetković (6), Aranitović, Jones (19), Murić (11), Marinković (5), Tanasković, Vitkovac (3), Koprivica (2), Milutinović (4), Williams (2), Jovanović, Wilson (16)

Crvena Zvezda: Kinsey (22), Rebić, Dangubić (6), Lazić (1), Simanić, Micić (16), Tejić, Simonović, Gudurić, Miller (3), Zirbes (12)

The final of the Korać Cup starts tomorrow at 21:00, we’ll play against Mega Leks. ArenaSport 1 broadcasts it live.

Tajfun Šentjur - KK Partizan 65:83 (Adriatic League, Round 24)

Yesterday I was sick, I had to stay in bed all day long. I couldn’t even turn on the PC. I write this blogpost in hindsight, after ArenaSport had a rerun of this match today in the morning.

At first it looks like a happy training match. We won with almost 20 points of difference. The reality was far not this easy, on the contrary.
Tajfun immediately had a jump to 5:0, while we collected 2 fouls during the first 2 minutes. We equalized with the scores of Murić and Koprivica (5:5), but the home team took back the lead (9:5). Well, they didn’t just take it back, but they kept it. 12:7, 13:10, at this point Jones made a fantastic steal and finished it with a dunk

then finally we took the lead with Vitkovac’s basket (13:14).
Well, our joy didn’t last long. Tajfun got free throws twice in a row, they scored from both (17:14), while Partizan looked a bit cramped. Williams equalized (17:17), but Tajfun was leading again (20:17). Something didn’t work in our machine. We finished the first quarter with 25:19.

Koprivica and Jones hold a Tajfun-player in a "sandwich"

In the second quarter we reduced the difference to 28:26. Tajfun quickly jumped to 31:26. We again reduced to 31:30 (by Jones and Wilson), then Jones took us back the lead (31:32).
Again it didn’t take long for Tajfun to get it back (35:32). They were cheekier and more aggressive than us. We equalized (35:35, Marinković), Tajfun was leading again (37:35). Aleksandar Džikić asked for time-out. He surely made something with the players, because at this point we sped up. We took back the lead (37:38), then Milutinović and Wilson increased our advantage to 39:43. There was one home team score before the end, we finished the first half with 41:43.

Vrabac fighting with Parker

In the beginning of the second half Murić and Wilson made our position sure (41:50).

Murić was on high speed for the whole game, he ran, he blocked, he scored, he was the hero of the day.

Here Tajfun scored (43:50), and for quite a long time that was the only score they could make. All their attempts failed, even a hook rebounded from the ring. Meanwhile we were flying upt to 43:58.
It was around the end of the quarter, when Tajfun picked themselves together a bit (48:60). But Murić was unstoppable. A 3-pointer here (48:63), a 3-pointer there (49:66). Wilson also scored one (52:69), just to make everything sure.

Vrabac trying to stop Ponjavić

In the last quarter we increased our advantage to 20 points (56:76), then for a long time none of the teams could score. Finally Tajfun broke the silence (58:76). No problem, Milutinović scored, too, the difference was again 20 points (58:78). Tajfun then made a jump to 63:78, Aleksandar Džikić asked for time-out

it was tough, he scolded someone in live broadcast shouting "what the fuck is wrong with you"

then we walked back to the court - and it was Vrabac-time.

After this Vrabac got a bonuss hot (63:81), then he scored another basket (63:83). There was just one free throw left for Tajfun 23 seconds before the end (65:83).
The League made some highlights about Edo Murić, he was the MVP of the game (22 points, 5 rebounds - defensive -, 4 assists). Click, watch, get amazed and salute.

Highlights:

Tajfun Šentjur: S. Sebić (2), M. Sebić (7), Debelak, Držić (2), Čebular (15), Germek, Bratož (9), Clark (8), Ponjavić (12), Drobnjak, Bolčina (8), Parker (2)

KK Partizan: Aranitović, Jones (12), Murić (22), Marinković (5), Vitkovac (9), Koprivica (6), Magdevski, Milutinović (5), Williams (3), Vrabac (9), Wilson (12)

League table will be brought later.
Update: current League standings
1. Budućnost 46 points
2. CZ 42 points
3. Cedevita 42 points
4. Mega Leks 40 points
5. Partizan 35 points
6. Cibona 35 points
7. Zadar 35 points
8. Union Olimpija 34 points
9. MZT Skopje 33 points
10. Igokea 33 points
11. Krka 33 points
12. Metalac 33 points
13. Sutjeska 32 points
14. Tajfun Šentjur 31 points
(photos: aba-liga.com)