KK Partizan - Konstantin 89:80 (Serbian SuperLiga play-off, Round 8)

It all looked to be smooth in the beginning. An easy, training match-alike event with a victory, of course. Something we need after the eternal derby, where our self-esteem was roughed up.
In the first quarter our biggest problem was whether Bezbradica could score 10 points right in the beginning of the game or we should wait until the second part. We were leading to 25:14 and we kept it up in the next quarter as well. The difference was almost always above 10 points and there was one - very pleasant - part of the game when Average Fan could hardly follow counting the quick baskets one after the other. The pace was easy and light, just what one needs on an early summer Tuesday afternoon. Murić was excellent, Đumić pushed the ball to the ring like a dependable worker, and after all these the result was 52:39 in the half-time. Average Fan went to the kitchen for a mug of coffee and watched peacefully as children were playing on the court in the half-time pause.
I’ll be honest: all my respect goes to Konstantin that they didn’t collapse despite Partizan's domination and having all odds against themselves. They were brave, they fought and they were not willing to give up. They reduced the difference to 57:52. At this point we also had to speed up from our cozy pace. Murić and Marinković settled back the 10-point difference after a series of 3-pointes (67:57), but Konstantin kept on fighting (69:60). Finally we ended the third part to 74:62, but the last quarter was still left.
It began with 74:69 and we couldn’t really settle back to the 10-point difference anymore. Konstantin’s players scored a lot of 3-pointers, surprisingly quickly and precisely. They reduced the difference to 79:75. Tepić quickly threw two baskets (83:75), but the guest team was again panting right into our ears from behind (83:79). Then Bezbradica took the team on his back, that Bezbradica, who played extraordinarily for the whole game. He was joined by Marinković and the two together with Milutinov successfully made it to 89:79 for the end. Still we couldn’t finish it with a two-digit difference, because Konstantin got a free throw at the very end and they could score one. (89:80)

(photo: zurnal.rs)

Here, at the end of the post Partizan’s former football player, Predrag Mijatović asks for your attention. He joined Aleksandar Mitrović’s "Save KK Partizan"-campaign.

Fans can also join by clicking this link. Up to now more than 4 million dinars were collected for the basketball team.

Easter

Easter is celebrated today in Serbia as well as all other Orthodox countries and communities. Celebrating Easter the football team visited a childrens' home and brought them special gifts: they signed 30 black and white Easter eggs. These eggs all will be sold at an auction and the entire income will be spent for the benefit of children living there.
On the photos, in respective order: Miroslav Vulićević, Stefan Babović, Gregor Balažic, Ivan Bandalovski, Darko Brašanac, Saša Ilić, Lazar Ćirković, Nikola Drinčić, Nikola Ninković, Petar Grbić, Branko Ilić, Filip Kjajić, Nemanja Kojić, Predrag Luka, Milan Lukač, Nenad Marinković, Saša Marković, Miloš Ostojić, Nemanja Petrović, Ivan Petrović, Ivan Šaponjić, Vladimir Volkov, Andrija Živković, Živko Živković, and finally the basket with all the eggs.

I wish Happy Easter everyone who is celebrating today.

Srećan Uskrs! Hristos voskrese!

(Photos: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

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)