KK Partizan - Mega Leks 78:85 (Adriatic League, Round 15)

Summary of the game: in the first half we demonstrated how to play basketball. In the second we demonstrated how never to play basketball.

It’s very hard to blog about these games, when we play as if it was such an educational documentary.

At the beginning there was a small celebration for Kosta Perović, who said goodbye to the team.

Perović announced earlier this week that he would retire from basketball. He said, a knee injury prevents him from playing, while he lacks motivation as well.

Kosta, thank you for everything!...

(photo: aba-liga.com)

The match started with struggling. Mega quickly made it to 2:5, right in the beginning. Jones brought us up to 4:5, but Mega had a very rough start. Their defense line was from concrete and they attacked very aggressively (which didn’t change during the match). We either got blocked by their defense or when we tried with 3-pointers, they all rebounded from the ring.
All these led us to be in the fallback of a 4:10 standing. Marinković scored a 3-pointer (7:10), then Jones activated himself and equalized (10:10). Mega modified it to 10:14, we still tied up with the scores of Jones and Vitkovac to 13:15. Then at 15:17 Milutinović switched the standing with a 3-pointer. 18:17, we are leading!
Mega equalized from free throw (18:18) and it was almost the end buzz, when Jones came and...

In the second quarter the Parni valjak started to roll. Đumić was on fire (25:19), the others followed his example: Milutinović (27:21), Marinković (29:21) - at this point Mega scored, after long struggling (29:23), but Murić answered with a 3-pointer (32:23). Then, when Marinković scored, we crossed the two-digit line (34:23). We kept it, playing very powerful and aggressive. Mega mostly just assisted for us, though they got a gift free throw here and there from the referees. We finished the first half with 47:29 and anyone could think we’d have a spectacular game with great battles and a shining victory with 10+ points of difference.
Oh, wait...

Banner for the memory of Haris Brkić

(photo: Twitter)

All looked smooth in the beginning of the third quarter. We kept the more-than-10-point difference (48:35), everyone was on full speed.

(photo: aba-liga.com)

Even at 55:37 nothing seemed to be suspicious. The game was going on absoultey well, with great fight, fans screaming and chanting, players demonstrating their top skills. What else do we want?
At 56:41 Aranitović scored a 3-pointer (59:41). Come on, boys, just two more points and the difference will be 20!
Or not.
Don’t ask what happened, I have no ideA harmadik negyed elején még senki sem gyanakodott. Tartottuk a 10 pont feletti különbséget (48:35), mindenki csúcsra járatta magát.a. At first Mega reduced the difference to 59:46. Đumić scored once from free throw (60:46), and that was Partizan’s last score in that quarter.
Mega made a 11-point (!) series. They made it to 60:57, while nothing worked out for our favour. Also, for unknown reasons Petar Božić didn’t asked for time-out. It was just time for the end of the third part.

Vrabac surrounded by 3 defenders

(photo: aba-liga.com)

The last quarter started with Aranitović’s 3-pointer (63:57), but it didn’t keep hopes alive for too long. Mega didn’t just equalize, but even took back the lead (63:64). We couldn’t throw one single basket. The opponent took heart and made it to 63:68. Jones pushed us back to 67:68, then Wilson equalized (70:70). We couldn’t be happy for too long again, a few seconds later Mega took back the lead with a 3-pointer (70:73).
From then on it seemed as if everything would have conspired against us. We started to panic, we had a lot of fouls, referees were whistling continuously while giving free throws to Mega. We couldn’t score at all, neither in, nor out of the paint. Wilson tried to keep the spirit in the team, he scored two baskets, but he couldn’t change the miserable situation overall. At 78:83 Vrabac was fouled out. There were only 7 seconds left. Mega threw one more basket and it ended.

Mihajlo Andrić recently underwent operation in Istanbul, since then he returned to Belgrade. Andrić is a hero, because the first thing he did was going to his team’s match

(photo: aba-liga.com)

Highlights:

KK Partizan: Cvetković (2), P. Aranitović (11), Jones (21), Murić (3), Marinković (11), Vitkovac (1), Đumić (5), Magdevski, Milutinović (9), Vrabac (2), Wilson (13), Anđušić

Mega Leks: Simić, A. Aranitović (15), Đoković, Jaramaz (13), Veljković (7), Ivanović (12), Pavlović, Luwawu (8), Kaba (2), Simeunović (3), Nikolić (19), Janković (6)

League table will be brought tomorrow.
Update: current standing of the League
1. Budućnost 28 points
2. Cedevita 27 points
3. CZ 26 points
4. Mega Leks 25 points
5. Zadar 22 points
6. Tajfun Šentjur 22 points
7. Krka 22 points
8. MZT Skopje 21 points
9. Union Olimpija 21 points
10. Partizan 21 points
11. Cibona 21 points
12. Igokea 20 points
13. Metalac 20 points
14. Sutjeska 19 points

KK Partizan - Metalac 81:70 (Adriatic League, Round 14)

This was a game to remember - not just because we tore Metalac to pieces, but because Edo Murić returned after almost half a year, recovering from his serious injury.
Here is how he was warming up.

Aleksandar Cvetković also returned, though thankfully he didn’t need such a brutally long rest.
Players were wearing these T-shirts when entering the court.

(photo: Twitter)

(photo: mozzartsport.com)

(photo: Facebook/KK Partizan)

With these T-shirts they sent a big high five and a support/love bomb to their teammate Mihajlo Andrić. (Andrić’s injury has renewed, and it was so serious now that Andrić had to undergo surgery. He was sent to the Acibadem Clinics in Istambul. The surgery was successful, Andrić is fine, but it will take months until he recovers.)
Mihajlo Andrić was moved a lot.

Hvala vam na ovome drugari... 😁 Mnogo znaci!!! 💪🏼😬 AJDE JAKO SAD!!! #partizanporodica

A photo posted by Mihajlo Andric (@miha21andric) on Dec 13, 2015 at 10:14am PST

Meanwhile Murić kept on warming up...

...and Average Fan’s nerves got more and more wrecked, because on ArenaSport 1 it was still the extra time of the previous Igokea-Cedevita game going even in the starting time of Partizan’s match. When finally the broadcast started from Pionir Hall, Metalac was leading to 2:7 already. Wonderful, isn’t it?
No problem. Marinković and Murić (who was in the starting 5) quickly modified it to 7:11.

Murić was still wearing bandage on his arm

(photo: hotsport.rs)

My net connection was lagging in the first half. I could still follow the standing, but I might have still missed out a few things. Mea culpa.

We slowly reduced the difference, step by step, then we equalized (15:15), thanks to Wilson and his baskets. What is more, we even took the lead with Marinković’s 3-pointer (18:17). Metalac didn’t let it go at that (18:19), but the Empire Wilson struck back.

Then Vrabac sped up as well. He scored a 3-pointer (23:19), then after 25:22 we finished the first half with  his basket (27:22).
From the second quarter on we had an assertive lead. We didn’t let control out of our hands for a moment. Aranitović threw one basket after the other, the half time result was 47:43, but even this result turned out after we were leading to 47:40, but then Metalac got a free throw (47:41) and at the very end the ball was stolen from Cvetković and Rakićević scored right at the buzz.

Partizan’s former football player Petar Škuletić was present in Pionir Hall. Fans found him and overwhelmed him, and he eagerly posed with children

(photo: Facebook/KK Partizan)

At the beginning of the third quarter the guest team equalized (47:47). We urgently had to do something. Marinković immediately scored a 3-pointer (50:47), because the Captain doesn’t want to act as chance directs. Vitkovac took the Captain’s attitude into consideration (52:47), then Vrabac scored after a fantastic solo (54:47). Metalac reduced the difference, they made a 5-point series, it started to be a bit narrow (54:52), but no problem, Wilson came, saw and scored (56:52).
Then nothing happened for long minutes. None of the teams could score at all. Both Partizan and Metalac hardened their defense wall into concrete at least for 3 minutes, but maybe for more. Finally, there was less than half a minute left from the quarter, when Murić scored (58:52). One basket was scored at the other side as well, we could enter the last part with 58:54.
In the fourth quarter the Valjevo team kept it narrow (60:57), what is more, Kutlešić scored the weirdest basket of the season.

But no problem. Aranitović immediately answered (63:57), Jones and Murić increased our difference to two-digit (67:57), Wilson even crossed the 10-point line (69:57), then he even assisted to Aranitović’s basket (71:57). Metalac collapsed slowly but surely. 74:60, then 77:63, Wilson was in royal spirits. Metalac pressured in two points from free throw (77:65), Jones increased our difference again (79:65). After a 3-pointer by Metalac Vrabac scored again (87:68). One Metalac-basket left (81:70) and end buzz.
It was time to celebrate.

(photo: Facebook/KK Partizan)

Highlights:

KK Partizan: Cvetković, Aranitović (17), Jones (8), Murić (9), Marinković (13), Vitkovac (4), Đumić (4), Magdevski, Milutinović (2), Vrabac (9), Wilson (15), Anđušić

Metalac: Kočović (3), Malešević (7), Badovinac, Čampara, Kutlešić (9), Janković (4), Jevtović (14), Jošilo, Rakićević (13), Bakić (5), Todorović (7), Gabrić (8)

League table will be brought tomorrow.

KK Partizan - Metalac 86:66 (Serbian SuperLiga semifinal, 1st match)

The plan was about RTS 2 and ArenaSport broadcasting this match live, but finally all fans had to watch the one and only available semi-official KLS-stream, because all TV-channels found a volleyball match more important than the basketball championship semifinal.

At least we know our place in the order of importance.

But first things first, we warmed up.

Someone’s sneaker got pictured

Pavlović is warming up

Edo Murić was watching the game from the auditorium. Very bad news about him is that he must undergo operation with his injured shoulder. Nobody knows when he will recover fully.

Thanks to you, Jenkins, you bastard...

Then we ran out to the court and made the standing quickly to 6:3. At a point Metalac equalized (8:8), but we took back the lead with the baskets of Milutinov and Mačvan (12:8). There was a big fight on the court, with lots of fouls and free throws. We made it to 19:10, Mačvan was very active during the entire quarter. Pavlović’s free throw brought the 10-point difference (28:18). We finished the quarter with 31:20, with Andrić’s 3-pointer just before the buzz.

Of course Miša Tumbas was there giving emotional support to the players

For the second quarter volleyball has ended, we could watch the game on TV (or TV stream). In the beginning Metalac scored (31:22), followed by a long silence. No baskets were scored, the two teams were just strangling each other silently. After more than 3 minutes (the display’s clock on the wall was at 06:50) when Mačvan threw a basket (33:22). The battle was still great, with fouls and free throws. At 35:24 Metalac’s trainer asked for a time-out. After that the guest team scored (35:26), but then Partizan made a 11:2 series. We scored mostly from free throw, but it could be seen clearly our 3-pointer king Andrić that he will make it big this time. The half-time result was 46:28, even at this point we were about to make the 20-point difference.

In the half-time, as always, children were playing on the court

For the third quarter we made the 20 points (50:28).
We continued like this. Pavlović, Marinković, Milutinov and Andrić increased the difference to 60:32. Even the 30-point difference seemed to be achieved. Dallo made a dunk with Pavlović’s assist (68:39). For the last quarter we entered with a 25-point difference (68:43).

Partizan-bench during the match

In the finale Metalac reduced the difference to 68:50, Milutinov settled back the 20-point difference (71:50). He made a slam dunk, while two Metalac-players were hanging on him (73:50). In the meantime Andrić threw a row of 3-pointers with a humble smile (79:55). At 82:65 Đumić was fouled out, then at 84:66, just a few seconds before the end Glišić scored a basket. 86:66. We won with a 20-point difference against Metalac, this way we are leading to 1:0. Next match is tomorrow, from 18:00 (on RTS 2 and ArenaSport 1, hopefully).

(Photos: Twitter)

Coming up: football and basketball tomorrow, with no pause

Tomorrow brings two matches in a row, once the first finishes, the second starts. The football team opens the day at 16:30. They will play against OFK Beograd - that match that is still left from Round 9 of SuperLiga. The match takes place in ul. Humska.
- Maybe we look more dead than alive, but reality is completely different - Marko Nikolić brought up the two lost matches against Besiktas and Jagodina. - The team of Besiktas was another dimension. As for Jagodina, right now we have no time to celebrate, nor to be sad. We won eight competitive matches. The one against Jagodina was the time for loss... Now it is time again to win - said the head coach with hope.
- The match against OFK has psychological importance. If we won, we would be the first on the league table again, leading with 2 points ahead of Vojvodina and 4 ahead of Crvena Zvezda. It will definitely be a good match.
Injuries weaken the team; Ostojić is in Istambul now on a checkup, Brašanac is at Belgrade’s Vojnomedicinska Akademija hospital and at this very moment nobody can say anything when he will fully recover. Vulićević must undergo operation in Germany soon.
- There will surely be changes in the team. Some have been playing from the beginning of the season, for now they are exhausted. Now the time has come for those who had been in the background. A few players deserve to rest, they are overloaded.

The football team is followed by the basketball players. Eurocup’s new round is coming up and they’ll meet Hapoel Jerusalem at an away match. They start at 18:30. Duško Vujošević does not have any illusions.
- Of course we want to win and we’ll bring the best out of ourselves, but let’s be honest and do not have high expectations - he said. - We are motivated to win and I’d be very happy if we did so, but right now the expectation is to do our best.
- Hapoel is a very good team, no wonder they take part in Eurocup, or previously in Euroleague - said second trainer Velimir Gašić. - They are in great shape compared to last season. They have five players from the US, they all bring very serious offensive power.
The team will miss Milan Mačvan, who got a smaller injury earlier.

ArenaSport 1 broadcasts both matches live.

News from the basketball and football departments

Nikola Milutinov is in hospital. Nothing serious happened, KK Partizan's center had to undergo a tonsillectomy at the Belgrade City Clinics. To make all fans sure he is in the best hands, the operation was performed by Prof. Dr. Rade Kosanović. The anaesthetist was Dr. Dragan Marinković - both medicals are great fans of Partizan.
Milutinov must stay in hospital for the weekend, he can go home on Monday. He has to rest at least for two more weeks.

***

Marko Nikolić was punished by the Serbian Football Association for that red card he got at the match against Radnički last week. The trainer is not allowed on the bench at the upcoming match against Donji Srem (this Sunday at 19:00), and he has to pay a 200 000-dinar-fee as well.
The reason behind it all is that he got the red card because he "got into conflict" with the opponent players. Nikolić himself said only that he wanted to prevent a major incident.

I got this forbiddance that he is not allowed on the bench. But for God's sake, this 200 000-dinar fee is way too much.