A (not that long) summer break

I don't mind at all (on the contrary!) that the summer break is this short in the football season. Compared to the two-month-long winter break, when I almost cut my veins, this few-week-long holiday is really bearable, especially that the CL-qualifyings are at the corner and afterwards the championship starts as well. (Meanwhile it's hot as hell, Average Fan tries not to get cooked, nor to get a heat stroke.)

The biggest happening of the transfer season was the return of Danilo Pantić to Partizan. I tell you, I’m one of those few who’s very happy for the boy’s return.

I know it's been trendy lately to curse, mock, spit and threaten Pantić as well as anyone who’s on his side. Yes, I also did get a portion after raising my voice for the kid and/or telling off a few haters. It made me laugh hard to see all those neurotic, spitting armchair-smartasses who put all possible threatenings into sight in case of Pantić’s return. Some of them looked as if ambulance should be called for them. So, I’m happy for Pantić being back to Partizan and can’t wait for his goals and assists.

Danilo Pantić in all smiles at his arrival at Partizan’s training camp in Zlatibor

Posing with Neca at a training

He even played at a friendly against Mladost

(photos: partizan.rs)

Another thing - independent of Pantić - that the team have played two friendlies so far and lost both. One against Zeta (MNE), to 0:1, another against Mladost (again 1:0). Oh well. These games are just friendlies, with no consequences and better to lose now than in the championship/CL.
As for other transfers, little Milenković went to Fiorentina. Partizan's management decided about his fate with the Italians back in the spring, what is more, it seems, Fiorentina takes Vlahović, too, as soon as the kid reaches the coming of age. No news yet about possible arrivals. There are a few rumours about Seydouba Souma though, but Partizan have been trying to get this midfielder from Guinea since forever, so far with no success. (Maybe, if I remember well, there was a Brazilian player as well in the possible transfers, but nothing happened.)
Meanwhile the team travelled to Slovenia for a training camp, there will be friendlies, then on 11th or 12th July comes the Champions League qualifying against Budućnost Podgorica.

***

I honestly admit, I didn't follow the basketball team for a while. Their performance was so very depressing and awful that every single game (among those I actually watched...) made me totally pissed and very sad at the same time. It was painful and infuriating to see the very same tactics - regardless of opponent or league - on every single goddamned game. Same tactics, same half-talents who will probably never have any more chance in life and especially to see every single game have the same screenplay, moment to moment. Shitty first quarter, struggling second (when we somehow equalized), suicidal third, finally (if we had luck) a combative fourth in a style that should have been present in EVERY SINGLE FUCKING QUARTER. Then, if we were lucky enough, we could win the game with this last quarter, if not, then not. It happened every time, on every game. And I hate to say it, but I was right: I said right in the beginning that even though this performance might take us until a certain point either in the freshly baked Basketball Champions League (the Euroleague of the poor...) or ABA Liga or in the Serbian superliga, but it's not enough for happiness. After this in Champions League PAOK smashed us into the face, in the semifinal of ABA Liga Cedevita simply stepped over us (based on our shitty performance we wouldn't have deserved to qualify to the final...), but the really bad surprise was in the Serbian league: we were eliminated in the semifinal by FMP (!!!). They say the last time it happened to KK Partizan to get eliminated in the semifinal was in 1998. Honestly, it didn't surprise me after this very disappointing season. Head coach Aleksandar Džikić has left for Budućnost, the two Americans left - Robinson has left during the season (he added absolutely nothing to the team), Hatcher left at the end of the season (he had some performance, though in a team like this even Michael Jordan himself couldn't make any miracle). I can't pick any player who had an exemplary or just an acceptable performance. I know that everyone is all over Novica Veličković, but the thing is, that in his case it was more about routine and heart than abilities/talent, but as the saying goes, in the land of the blind the one-eyed will be the king. The team is searching for a head coach now, but most of all it's searching for its old self.

***

As for the rest of the team sports: the water polo team has won the Serbian league. After practically the whole team left last year, it was a miracle even that there were a few remaining in Banjica to continue the work. They continued, so much that they won the championship title and will enter Champions League.
The handball team were running the gauntlet during the past season. Key players left, one after the other, a new coach was needed, too, plus the play-off became play-out at the end of the season. They finished on the 3rd place of the play-out, avoiding relegation, but who knows what comes in the next season.
The volleyball team ended much worse. OK Partizan was factually an U21 team for the season and they got releagated to the 2nd league. Honestly? I'm not surprised. My heart breaks for the team, but knowing their circumstances, it couldn't be avoided. It's no wonder at all, with so young players and such financial possibilities that are worse than worst. The team was practically on an amateur level.
That's all, folks.

Novi Pazar - OK Partizan 3:1 (superliga, round 3)

I ran through the records of the game and I was saddened to see that Partizan’s former player Dušan Lopar plays in Novi Pazar now :(

Obviously there are reasons behind it. The problem is that I know nothing about the transfers of the volleyball league. It was by chance that I got to know about the start of this season at all. I can guess only about who does not play in Partizan anymore. Have I told how much I love the free flow of information?... (I surely haven’t, because such thing as "free flow of information" doesn’t exist here, God damn it.)

Okay.
Novi Pazar gave the game (and the first set) a tough start (7:4, 8:5), we could still equalize (10:10) with the points of Ristić and Turanjanin. We even took the lead, mostly by Novi Pazar’s mistakes, but volleyball is played for points, and at the end nobody cares how the team gained those points (especially if the team wins). We couldn’t be happy with the lead for too long, the home team equalized, they even took back the lead. We equalized again (17:17) thanks to the Veličković-Ristić duo. Novi Pazar again took the lead, it was surely a big struggle and a big fight. Turanjanin, Ristić and Buša will appear in the nightmares of Novi Pazar players... 24:24. Then 26:26. What is more, 26:27, Turanjanin blocks like the best firewall. Novi Pazar equalizes again. 27:27. Then 28:28. 28:29, again Turanjanin. What a game it could be... Novi Pazar again equalizes. 29:29. Buša scores, 29:30. Finally Polomac blocks, 29:31, monstre set with Partizan-victory.
The second set again started with Novi Pazar’s advantage (5:2, 6:5), we equalized again (7:7). Novi Pazar was ahead of us with only one step (11:10, 12:11), then Sretenović blocked and equalized (12:12). Ristić took the lead (12:13). And we kept our advantage! 13:16, 14:18, then Novi Pazar equalized, with clenched teeth, for sure. No problem, we took back the lead (18:20, 19:21). Novi Pazar equalized again and again, but they were always behind us. Then they took the lead (27:26) and it seems their nerves were a bit stronger at the end. They won this set to 28:26 and equalized.
For the third set we ran out of breath. After these two killer games it’s no wonder... 7:1, 8:2, 10:4, then we jumped to 12:9. Novi Pazar’s players probably also got tired for this point, they made more and more mistakes (that was also the reason why we reduced the difference to 3 points). The home team marched ahead, it was a smooth win for them. 25:18
We tried to keep ourselves at the beginning of the fourth set. 5:5, 5:6, 7:7, but somehow Novi Pazar could always make the best out of these draws. Around 14:10 we probably got completely exhausted. 20:11, 23:13, we gained a few points at the end, but in fact they were from the opponent’s mistakes.
Never mind.
Heroes.

Novi Pazar: Bekrić, S. Ristić (5), Hasan Zatrić, Lopar (14), Oković, Daca (6), Šormaz (3), Žuković (libero), Hamza Zatrić (2), Radosavljević (12), Simić, Hamzagić (29)
Head coach: Saša Stefanović

OK Partizan: Buša (12), Sretenović (2), Nedeljković (libero), Skakić, Batak, A. Ristić (16), Kovač, Dragović (2), Negić (libero), Veličković (7), Polomac (7), Turanjanin (10)
Head coach: Vladimir Vasović

Current championship standings:
1. Vojvodina 9 points
2. Novi Pazar 9 points
3. CZ 8 points
4. Ribnica 6 points
5. Klek 3 points
6. Niš 3 points
7. Spartak Ljig 3 points
8. Partizan 2 points
9. Radnički Kragujevac 2 points
10. Jedinstvo 0 point

OK Partizan - Klek 3:2 (superliga, round 2)

We won over Klek with blood and sweat. The opponent had a very tough game and they won the first set to 21:25. We equalized in the second, thanks to Ristić, who had a fantastic performance (25:23). Klek won the third set with a big advantage (15:25) taking back the lead. But Partizan is Partizan, and not a bunch of whinies. We sped up and equalized again (25:20) led by Polomac.
Fifth set.
6:2 for us. Then 9:3. Steam roller time! But Klek was persistent enough to reduce it to 12:10.
But we have Boris Buša. And our Boris Buša won the game for us, for Partizan.
Well done, boys!

Posted by Odbojkaški Klub Partizan on Saturday, October 22, 2016

OK Partizan: Buša (22), Sretenović (4), Nedeljković (libero), Skakić, Batak (1), Ristić (17), Kovač (3), Dragović, Negić (libero), Veličković (16), Polomac (6), Turanjanin (11)
Head coach: Vladimir Vasović

Klek: Tomić (14), Ateljević (8), Vujović, Grbić, Tanović (6), Narančić (17), Roljić (7), Đukanović, Petrović (libero), Providžalo (13), Petrović, Slavnić (libero)
Head coach: Đuro Dapčević

Current championship standings:
1. CZ 6 points
2. Novi Pazar 6 points
3. Vojvodina 6 points
4. Spartak Ljig 3 points
5. Partizan 2 points
6. Klek 2 points
7. Radnički Kragujevac 2 points
8. Jedinstvo Stara Pazova 0 point
9. Ribnica 0 point
10. Niš 0 point

Crvena Zvezda - OK Partizan 3:0 (play-off, semifinal, 5th match)

Well, that was it.

By the way, the official match report can go to hell with all that butt-kissing for the other side. Thank you.

In the first set we kept the pace. We equalized from 7:4 to 7:7, then from 12:10 to 12:12, what is more, we even took the lead (12:14). We kept it until 19:19, then Zvezda took it back, but we were constantly behind them with one, or maybe just two points. In the finish they could speed back as much that they won the set with two (2) points. (25:23)
For the second set we seemingly ran out of air. 5:2, 7:3, 12:5 - from here we resurrected to 13:11, but Zvezda didn’t slow down (17:12, 19:15), while we were just trying to find our breath. They won it to 25:18, but hope still didn’t die (at least not for Average Fan).
Most probably nor did it for the boys either, because in the third set we equalized from 5:1 to 5:5. We kept the pace with them, nip-and-tuck (7:7, 8:8). Then it was 10:9, then suddenly 16:11. We reduced the difference to 18:16, but Zvezda adjusted it to 20:17. Partizan didn’t give up. We fought hard and brave, we were dauntless and for this there goes a shoutout and a big respect to the team. We were behind them for the whole time, in the finish we even equalized (23:23), we didn’t let them run away (24:24), finally with blood and sweat they won to 26:24. With this Zvezda qualified to the final, where Vojvodina have been waiting for them with open arms.

Dear Fans,
Let’s pay our respect to head coach Vladimir Vasović with a silent and respectful standing-up and saluting, because he had to build up this team from scratch, after practically everyone left last summer and he had only very young players to count on. And still the team could make it to the semifinal, where we caused heavy, sweaty nightmares to Zvezda.
A high-five and hats off to all the players of OK Partizan for putting out their heart and soul, making it to the semifinal, especially that there was a period during the regular season when the danger of being dropped out of the superliga was seriously in the air. I’m very proud of all of you.
Probably not just me :)

(photo: zurnal.rs)

Crvena Zvezda: Okolić (13 - 1 ace), Jevtić (libero), Đurđević, Skrbić, Gmitrović, Milutinović (5), Jakovljević (9), Stojsavljević (4), Munćan (1), Blagojević (20 - 1 ace), Veljović, Buculjević (3 - 3 aces)
Head coach: Dragan Kobiljski

OK Partizan: Buša (10), Pantić (8), Nedeljković, Žugić, Lopar (3), Kostić, Rajković (libero), Jokanović (1), Veličković (14 - 2 aces), Polomac (4), Popović, Perišić
Head coach: Vladimir Vasović

OK Partizan - Crvena Zvezda 3:2 (play-off, semifinal, 4th match)

My goodness, WHAT A GAME IT WAS.

Every single TV-channel earned the jackpot of "going to hell" for not broadcasting it.

It was a battle of two giants. Two hordes of enraged wild elephants clashed and fought until the last breath.
We brought back this game from the grave twice. Zvezda had match ball twice at the end. We could switch it back twice.
We simply couldn’t lose this game.
Even though it looked so more than once during the game that all we could do here is to die with glory, because laurels don’t seem to have black and white colours.
And still.
Zvezda won the first set. We fought hard, we were even leading (21:20), but finally Zvezda squeezed out the victory. It wasn’t an easy game for them tough, we made it as hard for them as possible, ending it to 24:26.
For the second set there are no words. The second set mirrored the entire game, but probably also Partizan’s entire season so far.
In the second set Zvezda made a brutal advantage. 8:12, 10:16, 15:21. Average Fan started to make a slipknot on the nearest available rope to make all these sufferings to a quick end.
Then Partizan had an awesome resurrection.
19:21.
Kostić was the embodiment of the Steam Roller. Compared to this game when I was grumbling a bit because of him, this time Ivan Kostić washed up the floor of Vizura sports hall with the red team. He achieved 8 aces (!!!!!) during the match. So now you raise yourself up, stand straight and salute for the Captain.

(photo: mondo.rs)

There was no stop. We switched from 15:21 to 26:24. It’s not simply a world class performance, but something we will remember even after years.
Then came the third set.
Zvezda took the lead. Not much, just with 1-2 points. At a period it looked like a ping-pong game, one point here, draw, one point there. Then it seemed that Zvezda had it on the long wind. (14:16)
But they didn’t know that we have a Buša, a Pantić and a Veličković.
And the whole team has the biggest heart.
The three youngsters swept off Zvezda in a great teamwork. Partizan switched from 14:16 to 21:20. Zvezda tried to keep the pace, they always equalized, chasing us, being behind us with only one point. They wanted this set to be won, as the starving wants a piece of bread. They still failed. After a great battle we won this part to 26:24.
For the fourth set Partizan probably ran out a bit from fresh air. Zvezda won it to 20:25. We didn’t make the favour for them though to provide them an easy win. We strangled them by the throat, but still they picked themselves together for the end and pressured out the victory. 2:2, tie-break.
That was one unbelievable drama.
We took the lead. Then Zvezda equalized to 6:6. Never mind, we took back the lead, with self-confidence and 10:8.
Zvezda came back, equalized and took the lead again (11:12). Nobody knows what kind of secret power supplements they had, but they wanted to win by all means, because if they could have done so, they would have qualified to the final.
For a while it seemed they would really do it. They were leading to 11:14. The next service was the match ball for them.
BUT PARTIZAN COULD SWITCH BACK EVEN FROM HERE!!!
Unbelievable. U-n-b-e-l-i-e-v-a-b-l-e. I wanted to die a few times while watching the live score page. We came back slowly, step by step. The team had a superhuman performance. We equalized. What is more, we took the lead back to 15:14. Zveza equalized, we took back the lead once again. Average Fan was wet from sweat. 16:16. It’s just impossible. COME ON, BOYS, COME ON, FOR GOD’S SAKE!!!
17:16
Pale face, fingers go white as the hand is clenched. Come on, boys!... Come on!...
18:16!!!!
WE WON!!!!!
My mighty God. We won. We won a marching victory with a wonderful game, by putting our heart and soul out to the court of the sports hall. A totally well-deserved victory.
Next (and last) game comes on Monday 18th from 18:00. One last victory and we qualify to the final.

Dr. Dimitrije Pantić has his consulting hours from 0:1 to 3:2

(photo: mozzartsport.com)

The best receivers: Kostić, Lopar and Veličković (in the background Buša and Pantić are watching)

(photo: zurnal.rs)

OK Partizan: Buša (26 - 1 ace), Pantić (16 - 4 aces), Nedeljković Žugić, Lopar (10 - 1 ace), Kostić (11 - 8 aces), Rajković (libero), Jokanović, Veličković (15), Polomac (7), Popović, Perišić
Head coach: Vladimir Vasović

Crvena Zvezda: Okolić (12), Jevtić (libero), Đurđević, Skrbić, Gmitrović (13), Milutinović (6), Jakovljević (19 - 1 ace), Stojsavljević (16), Munćan (2), Blagojević (7), Veljović, Buculjević (4 - 2 aces)
Head coach: Dragan Kobiljski

OK Partizan - Crvena Zvezda 0:3 (play-off, semifinal, 3rd match)

We got hit right into the face :(
They were leading for quite a while in the first set, sometimes with 2-3 points. We fought, we didn’t give up, at the end we equalized to 23:23. They still won it eventually to 23:25.
For the second set we sped up. We were strangling them by the throat, we even took the lead (12:10, 16:12). They turned the standing to their side, with clenched teeth probably (19:21) and won it to 21:25.
The official match report mentions the third set as the "routine victory" of the reds

I swear I read it like this... 

winning to 20:25. Next game is on Friday, from 18:00.

OK Partizan: Buša (13), Pantić (10), Nedeljković, Žugić, Lopar (6), Kostić (1), Rajković (libero), Jokanović, Veličković (12), Polomac (3), Popović, Perišić
Head coach: Vladimir Vasović

Crvena Zvezda: Okolić (3), Jevtić (libero), Đurđević, Skrbić, Gmitrović (14), Milutinović (5), Jakovljević (12), Stojsavljević (10), Munćan (3), Blagojević, Veljović, Buculjević (4)
Head coach: Dragan Kobiljski

Crvena Zvezda - OK Partizan 1:3 (play-off, semifinal, 2nd match)

So typical that now no channel broadcasted the game.
In the first set we skinned them alive. Really. We were leading for the whole time. Pantić was on top. It was tough only once when they narrowed the standing to 19:20. We had to take quick action. We did, we very quickly won the set to 21:25.
As I could understand from the official match report, we screwed up the 2nd set (red team won it to 25:15) only because we had 9 (!!!) service errors. Never mind, for the third part we picked ourselves together. We had more confidence, though after 12:14 the opponent equalized (17:17). But then came Buša and blocked the hell out of them. Pantić also brought his great form, we swept them off with 21:25.
In the 4th set the two teams vivisected each other. The last part brought a great battle with barely 1-point difference on both sides.
Then Zvezda jumped to 19:16.
Oh, no. There goes the set, the match, the final, the championship title.
No way.
Veličković blocked them to death. We equalized (19:19). Lopar blocked, we took back the lead (21:22). Zvezda was right behind us (22:23), but at this point Partizan was like a nuclear plant moments before explosion. Buša brought the points, Jokanović served, Zvezda could make a little, just a very little trouble at the very end, at the match ball, but they couldn’t rough us up. The victory was ours. We won the set to 23:25 and the match to 1:3. Next round on Tuesday, 12th.

Crvena Zvezda: Okolić (14), Jevtić (libero), Đurđević, Skrbić, Gmitrović (2), Milutinović (8), Jakovljević (20), Stojsavljević (5), Munćan, Blagojević (17), Veljović, Buculjević
Head coach: Dragan Kobiljski

OK Partizan: Buša (14), Pantić (16), Nedeljković, Žugić, Lopar (12), Kostić (1), Rajković (libero), Jokanović, Veličković (18), Polomac (6), Popović (1), Perišić
Head coach: Vladimir Vasović

Photos from the match:

(photos: Facebook/Odbojkaški Klub Partizan)

(photo: zurnal.rs)

Crvena Zvezda - OK Partizan 3:1 (play-off, semifinal, 1st match)

Unbelievable.

It all started so well. The first set was like a dream. Really. Apart from a 2:1 in the beginning we were leading for the whole time. We washed up the floor of the sports hall with them. Boris Buša had an superhuman performance. He blocked, hit an ace, served, crawled on the floor if that was needed, carried the team on his back, meanwhile the other side earned a point only when we had a service foul. The difference was never too big, only 2-3 points, but that was enough. At the end the standing was 20:23, Zvezda asked for time-out. You could hear through the stream Zvezda’s coach screaming slowly and articulate into their faces "Koncentracija!!! Kon-cent-ra-ci-ja!!!" After tha we won the set to 20:25.
Trololololololol.

Pantić serves

Rotation at 5:8

Boris Buša is about to serve

That moment when Partizan smashed the ball so heavily at 20:24 that it rolled behind the pale

The second set wasn’t funny at all. We made all the possible mistakes, Zvezda took advantage of them. As if the roles of the first set would have been switched.

By the way, does anyone know what was going on with Kostić? He was playing so indisposed.

At first we equalized here and there (6:6, 8:8), sometimes we even took the lead for moments, then it was gone after 9:10. Zvezda equalized, then took the lead and didn’t let it out of their hands. The difference wasn’t big this time either, maybe 2 points. It increased only around the end, sometimes to 5 points (24:19) - this part was especially tough. Zvezda was about to get the set ball, when Lopar scored with a troll smash (24:20). We earned one more point (24:21), but it was in vain. Zvezda won the set to 25:21 and equalized.

Celebration after scoring

Time-out, Buša is wiping his forehead

Service by Kostić

In the third set the time has come for the referee. He had his first questionable judgement at 5:3. The ball dropped to the floor, out of Partizan’s area. The referee said someone from us had touched it before it dropped out. I will be honest: RTS 2’s slow motion replay didn’t show anyone from us touching the ball. Okay, if you watch it from a certain angle, twinkling heavily, you may see a fingertip touching the ball.
Maybe.
Well, the referee surely twinkled heavily. 6:3
At 7:5 came another upheaval, but this time Zvezda complained for some similar problem. Instead of 8:5 the standing was 7:6. A home player was disputing with the referee, meanwhile players started a (verbal) fight from the two sides of the net.

Finally Kostić got a yellow card, nobody knows why.
We continued the game. We didn’t let Zvezda go, at a period we took the lead again (13:15). They took it back (17:16), but we were always behind them with only 1 point. They could increase the difference only at the end (23:20), but even here Veličković did his best to reduce it (24:22). Finally Zvezda won to 25:22.

Bojan Rajković, the libero of liberos

The start of the fourth set was fantastic. We made it to 3:6. Zvezda slowly reduced it to 8:9, with the help of the referee. (You know... every time when it was critical, someone from Partizan happened to touch the ball every time when it dropped out of our area. Every time. Every single time.) We still kept ourselves (9:10), but the referee didn’t let it go at that. He continuously judged against us, so Zvezda could take back the lead (12:11). Kostić complained, even though he already had a yellow card, but the referee, didn’t even listen.
We kept ourselves until 15:15, then something happened to us. We made mistake after mistake, Zvezda made a 7-point series (22:15). At this point we could gain one more score (22:16), but that was all. It ended with 25:16, Zvezda won the game to 3:1. Next round comes on Saturday from 18:00 and it won’t stop until 3 victories.

Crvena Zvezda: Okolić (5), Jevtić (libero), Đurđević, Skrbić, Gmitrović, Milutinović (3), Jakovljević (20), Stojsavljević (8), Munćan (7), Blagojević (14), Veljović, Buculjević (7)
Head coach: Dragan Kobiljski

OK Partizan: Buša (16), Pantić (14), Nedeljković, Žugić, Lopar (10), Kostić (2), Rajković (libero), Jokanović, Veličković (7), Polomac (8), Popović (2), Perišić
Head coach: Vladimir Vasović

(photos: screenshot/RTS 2)

OK Partizan - Niš 3:0 (play-off, quarter-final return match)

Quarter-final: check.
There isn’t much info about it, even the official report says less than usual. We were leading for the whole match, the final result wasn’t really a question. (First set: 25:21, second: 25:16, third: 25:19.) It also means that we are expected to clash with Crvena Zvezda in the semifinal.

(photo: zurnal.rs)

OK Partizan: Buša (11), Pantić (8), Nedeljković (2), Žugić, Lopar (8), Kostić (3), Rajković (libero), Jokanović (4), Veličković (9), Polomac (8), Popović, Perišić (1)
Vezetőedző: Vladimir Vasović

Niš: Rakić, Pejčić, Kuburović (4), Perović (9), Jelić (2), Stojković (5), Kostadinović (libero), Mijalković (5), Opačić (8), Ilić (4), Jović (2)
Vezetőedző: Saša Stefanović

Niš - OK Partizan 1:3 (play-off, quarterfinal)

This is the moment when I’m about to explode.
That’s one thing that I got informed belatedly about this game. But the fact that I knew NOTHING about the previous game, which was the last one in the regular season, that’s more than tragic, seriously. Sometimes I think we should demolish the entire volleyball association, then plough up the place where it was built and throw salt onto the soil. Afterwards we would start it over, based on professional principles, privatizing it from A to Z and I fucking don’t care about that vagina-mouthed idiot, who does not allow to enact the rule about the privatization of sport clubs.
As for the last game of the regular season, we got defeated from Spartak Ljig to 3:0, but we could still get into the play-off.

At the first game of the play-off we had a nice sight-seeing tour at Niš, including stepping over the home team easily. Niš played with surprisingly many mistakes, and we took advantage of them, as it has to be done. In the first set they kept themselves though, winning it to 25:23.

The official report says that we could have actually won even this first set, but at 23:23 we had an imprecise service and we paid the price for that.

Then they didn’t anymore.
They could have a significant collapse, because we won the second set to 15:25 (!!!) with Kostić’s brutal services. The third part wasn’t any better for them, but for us. Lopar too the team on his back and we won it to 19:25. The last set was a marching parade for us with a smooth 14:25.
The return match will be on Saturday starting at 17:00. Upon the rules of the play-off we have to win at least twice to be able to qualify to the next round.

(photo: zurnal.rs)

OK Niš: Pejčić, Kubrović, Perović (7), Jelić, Stojković (7), Kostadinović (libero), Pržić (8), Mijalković (7), Opačić (17), Angelovski (libero), Ilić, Jović
Head coach: Saša Stefanović

OK Partizan: Buša (13), Pantić (13), Nedeljković, Žugić, Lopar (10), Kostić (5), Rajković (libero), Jokanović, Veličković (18), Polomac (8), Popović, Perišić
Head coach: Vladimir Vasović

OK Partizan - Klek 3:1 (superliga, round 17)

Less than minimal information available about the game: check.
Cursing and swearing heavily because of this: check.
Still attempting to write a blogpost: check.

That’s how it is.

Most important is that we won, though in the beginning it didn’t look like so. Klek won the first set to 18:25 and they were leading even in the second (7:8). Then we picked ourselves together and took the advantage around the middle of the set (16:11). The last stage of the second part was a parade made by us, we won it to 25:18.
The next set was easy, we won it without many difficulties (25:20), while in the last one we completely swept the guests off the court (25:16), keeping the game not longer than 84 minutes altogether. The Veličković- Popović-Polomac trio made an amazing job.

OK Partizan: Pantić (8), Nedeljković, Žugić, Lopar (11), Kostić (8), Tasić, Rajković (libero), Jokanović, Veličković (20), Polomac (10), Popović (16), Perišić
Head coach: Vladimir Vasović

Klek: Tomić (13), Ateljević (6), Grče, Grbić, Tanović (6), Narančić (9), Roljić (8), Đukanović, Providžalo (6), Petrović, Slavnić (libero), Stašević (libero)
Head coach: Davor Čuk

Current championship standings:
1. CZ 48 points
2. Vojvodina 44 points
3. Novi Pazar 34 points
4. Niš 28 points
5. Partizan 28 points
6. Spartak Ljig 21 points
7. Radnički 18 points
8. Ribnica 18 points
9. Klek 15 points
10. Inđija 1 point

Crvena Zvezda - OK Partizan 3:1 (superliga, round 16)

It wasn’t funny.
I brought a lot of screenshots though.

Teams warm up

OK Partizan’s lineup

Introducing players

Group hug before the start

The first set was awful. We made all the possible mistakes. Zvezda was far ahead of us (15:10, 18:11, 22:12), we were mostly just assisting. It ended with 25:13, the result tells it all.
Some screenshots from the first part:

First timeout at 5:1

Receivers: Buša, Pantić and Lopar

Lopar doesn’t look happy (who would be, when the opponent leads with 8:3?...), Kostić is confused

Service: Lopar...

...Kostić...

...and Veličković

Our nervousness calmed down a bit for the second set. At 8:3 we made a fantastic series, we equalized (8:8). Zvezda tried to run away (12:8), but we worked off the difference and were constantly behind them with a step (12:11). The home team was leading for the entire set, but the difference was only a few points now and our game was more and more confident. Still Zvezda won the second part to 25:20.
Images:

Polomac getting ready for service

Earning a point

Head coach Vladimir Vasović

Battle

Dimitrije Pantić

Receivers before a service

For the third set things started to work suddenly. At the beginning we were behind them with only 1-2 points (5:4, 6:5, 7:6), then we equalized (11:11).
Then we took the lead, for the first time during the match! (12:13)
To celebrate it Popović scored a giant ace, so big that Zvezda-players had to take a few deep breaths before continuing. (12:14)
They couldn’t take back the lead for the rest of the set. Sometimes they equalized, but that didn’t last long. It was close, but we kept ourselves. We won the set to 23:25.
Images:

Polomac is about to serve

Receivers

Rajković, the best libero

Ivan Kostić

Nemanja Jokanović serves

In the last set something blew out. We got too tired or the pressure was too big. Sometimes we equalized, once we took the lead (12:14), but Zvezda equalized (15:15) and from then on they kept all in control. The fourth part ended with 25:19.
Images:

Vladimir Vasović trying to shake up the boys

It’s our turn

 Boris Buša

High five

Cleaning staff

End of the game, handshakes

Crvena Zvezda: Okolić, Jevtić (libero), Skrbić, Gmitrović, Stavlić, Milutinović (9), Jakovljević (12), Stoisavljević (11), Munćan (7), Blagojević (24), Veljović, Buculjević (3)
Head coach: Dragan Kobiljski

OK Partizan: Buša (15), Pantić (15), Nedeljković, Žugić, Lopar (7), Kostić (2), Rajković (libero), Jokanović, Veličković (5), Polomac (7), Popović (3), Perišić
Head coach: Vladimir Vasović

League table will be brought later.