XXXI. Summer Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro - Day 15, 20th August, 2016

THE WATER POLO TEAM IS THE OLYMPIC CHAMPION!!!

They won!!!

They are the best!!!

What a game it was.
They splashed into the water and sank the Croatian team. It was no question even for a moment who'll win.
The Croatians could keep the pace only in the very beginning. They equalized after 0:1, but then they couldn't. Not once.
Serbia was leading to 2:3 at the end of the first quarter. Goalkeeper Mitrović made amazing tricks and saves. He saved everything. Every possible and impossible shot. I’m sure he allowed those 7 scores into the box by fraternal sympathy. To keep those poor neighbours away from complete destruction. He saved 12 from 19 (!!!) shots.
In the half-time it was 3:6 for Serbia.
The other hero of the day was Dušan Mandić. Partizan’s former team captain was more wicked than all the devils of hell. He scored such goals that made the pool dry. Both from distance and from nearby. All you could see was the water started to boil as if you’d threw a piece of raw meat among piranhas. Then a mighty left hand raised, swung the ball, shot and scored a giant goal. Then Dušan Mandić appeared, too (belonging to the left hand mentioned above) to celebrate.

(photo: mozzartsport.com)

For the third half the standing was 5:9, even though Croats substituted their goalkeeper in the meantime. Josip Pavić arrived and the totally done Marko Bijač could have a rest.
Filip Filipović nevertheless had a nice welcome gift for Pavić (4:8).

It was already sure even at this point that the Croatian team needs a smaller miracle to be able even just to equalize.
For the last quarter the Croatians fell apart. The most typical moment was when the Croatian coach asked for timeout at 6:10, then when the teams returned to the pool Mandić scored just another goal. Serbs started to celebrate in the very last minute of the game already, and then when the end buzz came...

ŠAMPIONI!!!
Posted by Partizane naš si ponos on Saturday, August 20, 2016

Champions.
They totally deserve to celebrate and to be celebrated.

Živko Gocić, one of the toughest players of Team Serbia could not keep his tears back on the podium. Next to him there is Dušan Mandić celebrating

And big big congratulations to the Serbian female volleyball team for their silver medal...

...and to the Serbian female basketball team for the bronze!

Predrag Danilović was there to support the basketball team...

...as well as Saša Đorđević

(unmarked photos: Facebook/Olimpijski komitet Srbije)

XXXI. Summer Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro - Day 12, 17th August, 2016

Congratulations and salutations to Tijana Bogdanović for the silver medal and Ivana Španović for the bronze!
Bogdanović clashed with Kim So-hui from South Korea in the final of women’s 49 kg tae-kwon-do. Getting to the Olympic final at the age of 18 is a victory in itself. For the next Games it will surely be a gold medal :)

Tijana Bogdanović on the podium

Ivana Španović finished 3rd in women’s triple jump with 7.08. Two Americans got the two other medals, the gold went to multiple world and Olympic champion Tianna Bartoletta (7.17), while also multiple world and indoor world champion Brittney Reese won silver (7.15).

Ivana Španović and her bronze jump

And now the best part: the Serbian basketball team WON over Croatia in a bloody battle and qualified to the semifinal!
In the first quarter Serbia was leading with one point (19:20), for the half-time it changed to 38:32. Then came the Raduljica-Bogdanović-Mačvan trio

PARTIZAN!!!

and brought up Serbia to 52:66.
In the last quarter the Croats clenched their teeth and came up to 72:74. Bogdanović was fouled out around the end. Croats were just one step behind Serbs (79:80). The last minute was about fouls and free throws only. The game was fragmented. Finally Serbia won to 83:86 scoring their last points only from free throws. (Adriatic League feeling...) In the semifinal they will play against Australia.

(photos: Facebook/Olimpijski komitet Srbije)

Saša Pavlović signed to Panathinaikos

The latest news speak about the departure of Saša Pavlović and Partizan’s basketball team. News are still not confirmed, but Pavlović has allegedly signed to Greek team Panathinaikos, where he’ll work with former Partizan player and Serbian national team coach Saša Đorđević personally.
As soon as there is any confirmation, I’ll update the post.

Update:
Saša Pavlović personally confirmed the news to the Serbian press. He said, the reason behind transferring to Greece was head coach Saša Đorđević. Đorđević mentioned earlier, he would have liked Pavlović to get signed to Panathinaikos - now it happened.

Update 2:
Finally here is the official version: Panathinaikos confirmed the signing of Saša Pavlović on Facebook.

Η ΚΑΕ Παναθηναϊκός ανακοινώνει την επίτευξη συμφωνίας με τον Αλεξάνταρ Πάβλοβιτς για τον επόμενο χρόνο! #paobcΔιαβάστε περισσότερα εδώ ➳ http://bit.ly/1D3YwWQ
Posted by Panathinaikos BC on Friday, July 10, 2015

Grobari Za Nas - basketball charity game in Pionir Hall

Last night a basketball charity game titled "Grobari Za Nas" was organized in Pionir Hall. Partizan's former and current players played in two mixed teams. One of them was "Team Black", the other was "Team White".
Team Black: Boris Dallo, Vule Avdalović, Saša Pavlović, Dragan Milosavljević, Veselin Petrović, Dušan Kecman, Andreja Milutinović, Dejan Milojević, Aleksandar Čubrilo, Milan Mačvan, Božo Đumić, Miloš Glišić, Petar Aranitović, Miroslav Radošević, Saša Đorđević, Predrag Danilović
Team White: Milenko Tepić, Nebojša Zorkić, Mihajlo Andrić, Edo Murić, Petar Božić, Vlado Šćepanović, Vanja Marinković, Nenad Čanak, Goran Grbović, Nemanja Bezbradica, Ioannis Kouzeloglou, Vladimir Dragutinović, Dejan Tomašević, Josh Akognon

If, God forbid, I forgot about anyone, please, correct me in the comment box.

Legends.
Legends everywhere.
As anyone could imagine, Pionir Hall had a brutally full house, people were sitting even on the ceiling. Everyone was screaming, chanting, singing, cheering, getting emotional, applausing and enjoying themselves a lot.
Just like a very big family with too many members.
SOS Kanal was nice enough to put the match on their schedule for all those who couldn't be there for financial, distantial or other reasons, with lots of interviews, fun and nostalgia

but for God's sake, they started it with a 30-minute delay, they knew everyone was watching them and only them, they just had to put 3 tons of commercial spots before the game, may devils take them for a sledge-ride on their birthday

so now I treat you, too, with a big bunch of photos, videos and others. Enjoy!

Arriving in style. Actor Sergej Trifunović and Saša Đorđević

Warming-up is the core of every game

The number of legends per person was too damn high

Of course, Miša Tumbas was also there

What is more, at this game Miša was the member of Duško Vujošević’s coach staff

There were a lot of legends and famous people on the tribunes, too. The entire football team was there as well as former players, current players of Partizan’s other departments and Partizan-fan celebrities.

Actor Bojan Perić

Singer Marko Bulat

The entire football team

...and the coach staff

Fans were singing "Jedan je Ilić kapiten" even here

Ivica Kralj and Niša Saveljić, former football players

Kosta Perović, former basketball player

Momčilo "Moca" Vukotić with his family

The smirking young man is handball player Vladimir Mandić

Then came the moment when the players of both teams were called on the ground one after the other. Ovation, emotions, nostalgia, a few tears, just in secret.

Goran Grbović

Nebojša Zorkić and Vladimir Dragutinović

Dejan Milojević

Predrag Danilović

Saša Đorđević

Everyone got a small golden-coloured little sculpture, here it is handed to Saša Pavlović

Milenko Tepić and Nebojša Zorić

One for the family photo album

Team White

Team Black

The game was exactly as it had to be. Everyone enjoyed their time, the fans even started to chant "hoćemo pobedu" (we want victory) in the heat of the match.

The start of the game

Dušan Kecman

One legend plus one legend make two legends

The atmosphere was so high that even Duško Vujošević was smiling

Kecman vs. Šćepanović

Veselin Petrović

The two Saša’s

Bench

Ioannis Kouzeloglou

Saša-show

Everyone, who counts

Top moment: the joyous duo of Goran Grbović and Duško Vujošević

Marko Bulat was singing

The Great Duet

Dule and Sons

This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship

At the end: group hug

After the match Josh Akognon was asked about his first impressions. He claimed, never ever in his life he has experienced it. Never. Not even in college championship, nor NBA, China or any other European country he has played at so far.

- It’s crazy. It makes you wanna win - he said to SOS Kanal’s reporter.
Old friends were also following the events, and even if they couldn’t be there, they still sent their greetings.

Zelim da dubem u piunir odma
— Joffrey Lauvergne (@1JOLOLO) March 11, 2015

Bogdan i ja, i mi smo tu ! #grobarizanas @ima1tim @LeaderOfHorde pic.twitter.com/grdxQTlpkj
— Westermann Léo (@lwestermann) March 11, 2015

To samo moze PARTIZAN ! ⚫️⚪️⚫️⚪️ #GrobariZaNas#kkpartizan#wearepartizan pic.twitter.com/0DHHTuCEvb
— Luka Bogdanovic (@BogdanovicLuka) March 11, 2015

The charity game was to help the basketball club in their poor financial conditions.

(photos: Twitter, Facebook/KK Partizan, Fudbalski klub Partizan)