Basketball News, Scores, Stats, Analysis, Standings

Leon Santelj

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

ABA League round 9 most important game was a victory of Slovenian Helios Suns over 8th ranked Serbian Zlatibor 76-69 on Wednesday night. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Zlatibor. They outrebounded Zlatibor 42-29 including 33 on the defensive glass. Helios Suns looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. It was a good game for Leon Santelj (205-95, agency: PEPI SPORT) who led his team to a victory with 18 points and 4 assists. American guard Carlbe Ervin II (190-95, college: Kansas St., agency: Inception Sports) contributed with 9 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. Dusan Kutlesic (200-94) answered with 19 points, 5 assists and 4 steals for Zlatibor. Helios Suns (6-3) moved-up to third place, which they share with 3 other teams. Zlatibor at the other side dropped to the seventh position with four games lost. They share it with Spars. Helios Suns is looking forward to face Mladost ZE (#4) in Zemun in the next round. Zlatibor will play on the road against Spars in Sarajevo and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Eleventh-ranked Montenegrin Podgorica (3-6) was very close to win a game against second ranked North Macedonian MZT Skopje (7-2). MZT Skopje managed to secure only one-point victory 76-75. However their fans expected much easier game. Montenegrin Nemanja Milosevic (204-87, college: WKU, agency: 011 Sports) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 15 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks for the winners and Morris Curry chipped in 9 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. The best for the losing side was Ognjen Carapic (193-98, agency: BeoBasket) with 15 points. Podgorica’s coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn’t help. Defending North Macedonian champion maintains second place with 7-2 record behind leader Borac BL. Podgorica at the other side dropped to the tenth position with six games lost. They share it with Lovcen. MZT Skopje will play against Vojvodina NS (#9) in Novi Sad in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Podgorica will play at home against Pelister and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
One of the most interesting games of round 9 was a derby match between two teams from Bosnia. The game took place in Banja Luka where first ranked Borac BL outleveled visiting Spars (5-4) 83-62. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Spars. Josh Cunningham nailed a double-double by scoring 13 points and 11 rebounds for the winning side. Marko Ramljak came up with 15 points and 8 rebounds for Spars in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Borac BL maintains first place with 8-1 record. Loser Spars dropped to the seventh position with four games lost. They share it with Zlatibor. Borac BL will meet Lovcen (#10) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Spars will play against Zlatibor and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 9: Sutjeska beat Vojvodina NS on the road 76-66. Siroki destroyed Lovcen on its own court 120-95. Bottom-ranked Osijek unfortunately lost to Mladost ZE in Zemun 77-85. Rogaska managed to beat Pelister at home 92-79.
The most impressive performance of 9th round was 25 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists by Igor Kesar of Pelister.

MZT Skopje – Podgorica 76-75

Eleventh-ranked Montenegrin Podgorica (3-6) was very close to win a game against second ranked North Macedonian MZT Skopje (7-2). MZT Skopje managed to secure only one-point victory 76-75. However their fans expected much easier game. Montenegrin Nemanja Milosevic (204-87, college: WKU, agency: 011 Sports) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 15 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks for the winners and American guard Morris Curry (178-87, college: Providence) chipped in 9 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Four MZT Skopje players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was Ognjen Carapic (193-98, agency: BeoBasket) with 15 points and Serbian swingman Marko Kovacevic (195-99) scored 15 points. Podgorica’s coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn’t help. Defending North Macedonian champion maintains second place with 7-2 record behind leader Borac BL. Podgorica at the other side dropped to the tenth position with six games lost. They share it with Lovcen. MZT Skopje will play against Vojvodina NS (#9) in Novi Sad in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Podgorica will play at home against Pelister and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
MZT Skopje: N.Milosevic 15+10reb+1ast, V.Stojanovski 14+3ast, R.Rikic 10+3reb+1ast, A.Mekic 10+4reb+6ast, M.Curry 9+7reb+4ast, B.Krstevski 7+5reb+2ast
Podgorica: O.Carapic 15+3reb+3ast, M.Kovacevic 15+4reb, Z.Paunovic 14+2reb+3ast, A.Vulevic 10+1reb+1ast, I.Sejfic 8+6reb, A.Langovic 6+10reb+1ast

gschID: 920605

Vojvodina NS – Sutjeska 66-76

No shocking result in a game when sixth ranked Montenegrin Sutjeska (6-3) beat 9th ranked Serbian Vojvodina NS (4-5) in Novi Sad 76-66 on Thursday. Sutjeska made 22-of-24 free shots (91.7 percent) during the game. Bosnian point guard Adi Zahiragic (187-95) nailed 22 points and 5 assists (went 9 for 9 at the free throw line !!!) for the winning side and power forward Radosav Spasojevic (204-92, agency: PEPI SPORT) accounted for 16 points and 7 rebounds. Guard Petar Rakicevic (204-95, agency: Alti Sport) came up with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists and Dusan Beslac (205-98) added 13 points and 6 rebounds respectively for Vojvodina NS in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Sutjeska have a solid series of four victories in a row. They moved-up to third place, which they share with 3 other teams. Loser Vojvodina NS keeps the ninth position with five games lost. Sutjeska will meet at home Siroki (#5) in the next round. Vojvodina NS will play against the league’s second-placed MZT Skopje (#2) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Sutjeska: A.Zahiragic 22+4reb+5ast, R.Spasojevic 16+7reb+1ast, V.Tomasevic 13+4reb+1ast, J.Vojinovic 12+4reb+3ast, M.Koprivica 6+6reb+4ast, B.Bojic 5+5reb+1ast
Vojvodina NS: D.Beslac 13+6reb+2ast, P.Rakicevic 12+7reb+4ast, K.Bjelica 10+1reb+2ast, N.Neal 10+3reb+5ast, B.Uros 8+1reb+1ast, V.Vucetic 6+2reb

gschID: 920606

Siroki – Lovcen 120-95

Very expected game when 10th ranked Montenegrin Lovcen (3-6) was smashed by fifth ranked Bosnian Siroki (6-3) in Siroki Brijeg 120-95 on Thursday. Siroki shot the lights out from three sinking 19 long-distance shots on high 52.8 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists. Croatian point guard Luka Bozic (200-96) nailed 21 points and 5 assists for the winning side and Croatian swingman Ivan Kucan (195-96) accounted for 23 points. Siroki’s coach felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American guard Isaiah Washington (185-98, college: LBSU) came up with 26 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists and forward Alen Hadzibegovic (207-99, agency: Stanislav Ryzhov) added 27 points respectively for Lovcen in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Defending Bosnian champion moved-up to third place, which they share with 3 other teams. Lovcen lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the tenth position with six games lost. They share it with Podgorica. Siroki will meet Sutjeska (#6) in the next round. Lovcen will play against the league’s leader Borac BL (#1) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Siroki: I.Kucan 23+1reb, L.Bozic 21+3reb+5ast, I.Ivanov 15+4reb+2ast, J.Bilinovac 13+2reb+1ast, M.Vucic 10+10reb+2ast, D.Caruthers 9+5reb+9ast
Lovcen: A.Hadzibegovic 27+4reb+2ast, I.Washington 26+8reb+7ast, P.Kusovac 13+2reb+4ast, B.Vuk 13+4reb, N.Paraca 8+6reb+1ast, M.Mugosa 7+2reb+2ast

gschID: 920607

Borac BL – Spars 83-62

One of the most interesting games of round 9 was a derby match between two teams from Bosnia. The game took place in Banja Luka where first ranked Borac BL outleveled visiting Spars (5-4) 83-62. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Spars. They outrebounded Spars 43-27 including a 34-18 advantage in defensive rebounds. American forward Josh Cunningham (203-96, college: Dayton) nailed a double-double by scoring 13 points and 11 rebounds for the winning side and his fellow American import point guard Diante Baldwin (180-94, college: UNCG) accounted for 15 points and 7 assists. Five Borac BL players scored in double figures. Croatian swingman Marko Ramljak (201-93, agency: Interperformances) came up with 15 points and 8 rebounds and Croatian guard Jakov Mustapic (192-94, agency: Octagon Europe) added 15 points respectively for Spars in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Borac BL maintains first place with 8-1 record. Loser Spars dropped to the seventh position with four games lost. They share it with Zlatibor. Borac BL will meet Lovcen (#10) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Spars will play against Zlatibor and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Borac BL: S.Kenic 16+7reb+1ast, D.Baldwin 15+2reb+7ast, J.Cunningham 13+11reb+1ast, R.Seslija 11+6reb, K.Kondic 10+3reb+4ast, D.Knezevic 7+1reb
Spars: M.Ramljak 15+8reb+3ast, J.Mustapic 15+2reb+2ast, M.Vrbica 7+2reb+2ast, R.Abell 7+2reb, I.Polutak 5+1reb, G.Aleksa 4+1reb

gschID: 920608

Zlatibor – Helios Suns 69-76

gschID: 920609

Mladost ZE – Osijek 85-77

Very predictable result when fourth ranked Serbian Mladost ZE (6-3) won against bottom-ranked Croatian Osijek (1-9) in Zemun 85-77 on Tuesday. American point guard Otis Livingston II (180-96, college: GMU) nailed 30 points and 5 assists for the winning side and Andrija Bojic (206-93) accounted for 27 points and 10 rebounds. Mladost ZE’s coach used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Australian-South Sudanese guard Kuany Kuany (201-94, college: Chaminade) came up with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists and Australian-South Sudanese guard Jackson Makoi (196-0, college: Daytona St.) added 12 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists respectively for Osijek in the defeat. Four Osijek players scored in double figures. Mladost ZE moved-up to third place, which they share with 3 other teams. Osijek lost seventh consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with nine games lost. Mladost ZE will meet Helios Suns (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Osijek will play against Rogaska (#13) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Mladost ZE: O.Livingston II 30+4reb+5ast, A.Bojic 27+10reb, M.Ljubicic 9+3reb+7ast, S.Gibson 8+5reb+1ast, S.Ousainou 6+4reb, M.Milenkovic 3
Osijek: B.Marko 17+5reb, K.Kuany 17+5reb+5ast, D.Topolovic 15+8reb, J.Makoi 12+5reb+8ast, P.Matej 9+3reb, D.Dzajic 5+5reb+3ast

gschID: 920610

Rogaska – Pelister 92-79

There was a minor upset when their close opponent North Macedonian Pelister (2-7) lost to twelfth ranked Slovenian Rogaska (2-8) in Rogaska Slatina 79-92 on Tuesday. Rogaska forced 19 Pelister turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. Petar Vujacic (196-0) nailed 26 points, 5 assists and 4 steals for the winning side and American guard Daishon Smith (185-95, college: ULM) accounted for 24 points and 4 assists. Four Rogaska players scored in double figures. Serbian forward Nikola Malesevic (202-89, college: URI) came up with a double-double by scoring 24 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists and Serbian center Igor Kesar (210-92, agency: Mansfield and Associates) added 25 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for Pelister in the defeat. Despite that victory Rogaska went down to thirteenth position due to points difference. Loser Pelister keeps the twelfth place with seven games lost. Rogaska will meet bottom-ranked Osijek (#14) on the road in the next round. Pelister will play against Podgorica and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Rogaska: P.Vujacic 26+4reb+5ast, D.Smith 24+4reb+4ast, M.Primorac 15+3reb+3ast, T.Armstrong 11+2reb+5ast, N.Zupan 7+8reb+5ast, R.Jackson Jr. 6+3reb+1ast
Pelister: I.Kesar 25+10reb+4ast, N.Malesevic 24+12reb+6ast, M.Nikolic 14+2reb+7ast, D.Haughton 8+3reb+1ast, D.Karadzovski 6+2reb+4ast, L.Mladenovski 2+3reb