ABA League is at the halfway of the Regular Season and there are still another 13 rounds left. The round was exceptionally exciting as three games ended with a tiny margin. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.
The most interesting game of round 13 was a derby match between two teams from Montenegro. The game took place in Podgorica where seventh ranked S.Centar won against host Buducnost (8-5) 94-82. S.Centar made 19-of-23 free shots (82.6 percent) during the game. Bosnian center Kenan Kamenjas (207-2000) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 26 points and 10 rebounds for the winners and David Mirkovic (200-2006) chipped in 17 points and 9 rebounds. At the losing side swingman Andrija Slavkovic (201-1999) responded with 20 points (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field). Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. S.Centar (7-6) moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Zadar. Defending Montenegrin champion Buducnost keeps the fifth position with five games lost. S.Centar is looking forward to face Split (#12) at home in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Buducnost will play against Zadar (#7) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Very important is a road loss of third ranked Bosnian Igokea (9-4) against ninth ranked Serbian Mega BG (6-7) on Monday night. Visiting Igokea was defeated by Mega BG in Beograd 92-76. Point guard Nikola Topic (198-2005) nailed 18 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists for the winning side and Stefan Miljenovic accounted for 24 points and 6 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). Forward Nikola Maric (207-1998, college: UALR) came up with 14 points and 5 rebounds for Igokea in the defeat. Igokea’s coach rotated eleven players seeing no chance for a win. Mega BG moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Borac. Defending Bosnian champion Igokea keeps the third position with four games lost. They share it with Partizan. Mega BG will play against league’s second-placed Cedevita Ol. in Ljubljana in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Igokea will play on the road against the league’s leader Crvena Zvezda having rather not much hope for a victory.
Serbian Partizan (#4) was upset in Zadar by eighth ranked Croatian Zadar 84-68. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Partizan. Luka Bozic fired 26 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists for the winners. Zach LeDay produced 11 points and 6 rebounds for lost side. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Defending Croatian champion (7-6) moved-up to sixth place, which they share with S.Centar. Partizan at the other side dropped to the third position with four games lost. They share it with Igokea. Zadar will meet at home higher ranked Buducnost (#5) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Partizan will play against Mornar in Bar and hope to secure a win.
There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 13: Cedevita Ol. won against Cibona on the opponent’s court 93-91. Crvena Zvezda outscored Split in a home game 89-67. Borac recorded a loss to Krka on the road 89-80. Bottom-ranked Mornar was defeated by FMP BG on its own court 75-77.
Buducnost – S.Centar 82-94
The most interesting game of round 13 was a derby match between two teams from Montenegro. The game took place in Podgorica where seventh ranked S.Centar won against host Buducnost (8-5) 94-82. S.Centar made 19-of-23 free shots (82.6 percent) during the game. Bosnian center Kenan Kamenjas (207-2000) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 26 points and 10 rebounds for the winners and David Mirkovic (200-2006) chipped in 17 points and 9 rebounds. At the losing side swingman Andrija Slavkovic (201-1999) responded with 20 points (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field) and American center JaCorey Williams (203-1994, college: MTSU) produced a double-double by scoring 12 points and 11 rebounds. Five S.Centar and four Buducnost players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. S.Centar (7-6) moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Zadar. Defending Montenegrin champion Buducnost keeps the fifth position with five games lost. S.Centar is looking forward to face Split (#12) at home in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Buducnost will play against Zadar (#7) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
S.Centar: K.Kamenjas 26+10reb+2ast, M.David 17+9reb+1ast, I.Drobnjak 13+4reb+2ast, M.Dreznjak 10+4reb+2ast, B.Kapusta 10+2reb+6ast, A.Dawkins 9+3reb+3ast
Buducnost: A.Slavkovic 20+4reb, M.Wright IV 12+1reb+5ast, Y.Ferrell 12+1reb+4ast, J.Williams 12+11reb, Y.Makoundou 8+6reb, B.Paul 8+5reb+1ast
gschID: 1132679
Cibona – Cedevita Ol. 91-93
Very expected game in Zagreb where 10th ranked Croatian Cibona (5-8) was edged by fourth ranked Slovenian Cedevita Ol. (10-3) 93-91 on Friday. Cedevita Ol. looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Cedevita Ol. made 7 blocks. Swingman Jaka Blazic (196-1990) fired 25 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists for the winners. American-Montenegrin guard Justin Cobbs (191-1991, college: California, agency: Pensack Sports) chipped in 20 points and 8 assists. Domagoj Vukovic (208-1993) produced 19 points (on 8-of-9 shooting from the field) and Serbian Aleksandar Aranitovic (195-1998) added 19 points respectively for lost side. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Cibona’s coach tested ten players in this game, but that didn’t help. Cedevita Ol. have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending Slovenian champion moved-up to second place. Cibona at the other side keeps the tenth position with eight games lost. Cedevita Ol. will meet Mega BG (#9) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Cibona will play against Borac and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Cedevita Ol.: J.Blazic 25+5reb+7ast, J.Cobbs 20+8ast, D.Stewart Jr. 14+4reb+4ast, K.Matkovic 12+9reb, R.Radovic 7+3reb+3ast, N.Radicevic 6+1reb+1ast
Cibona: A.Aranitovic 19+3reb+2ast, D.Vukovic 19+4reb+2ast, J.Mustapic 11+3reb+5ast, B.Tomislav 10+11reb+1ast, D.Proleta 8+1reb, A.Stein 6+1reb+1ast
gschID: 1132680
Crvena Zvezda – Split 89-67
Very predictable result in Beograd where first ranked Serbian Crvena Zvezda (12-1) smashed 11th ranked Croatian Split (4-9) 89-67 on Sunday. Crvena Zvezda had a 24-13 advantage in offensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. American-Slovenian power forward Mike Tobey (213-1994, college: Virginia) fired 24 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. Center Luka Mitrovic (204-1993, agency: Octagon Europe) chipped in 14 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Four Crvena Zvezda players scored in double figures. Crvena Zvezda’s coach felt very confident that he used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. American Shannon Shorter (193-1989, college: N.Texas) produced 17 points and guard Toni Perkovic (191-1998, agency: AltusBasket) added 11 points and 4 assists respectively for lost side. Crvena Zvezda have an impressive series of eight victories in a row. Defending Serbian champion maintains first place with 12-1 record. Split at the other side keeps the eleventh position with nine games lost. They share it with FMP BG. Crvena Zvezda will meet at home Igokea (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Split will play against S.Centar (#6) in Podgorica and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Crvena Zvezda: M.Tobey 24+6reb, L.Mitrovic 14+6reb+4ast, N.Nedovic 11+1reb+6ast, M.Simonovic 10+4reb, R.Giedraitis 8+1reb+3ast, A.Hanga 8+2reb+3ast
Split: S.Shorter 17+2reb+2ast, T.Perkovic 11+3reb+4ast, T.Vuko 10+4reb+1ast, L.Sullivan 9+3reb, D.Funderburk 8+5reb+1ast, L.Gnjidic 5+3ast
gschID: 1132681
Krka – Borac CA 89-80
There was an upset in Novo Mesto where higher ranked Serbian Borac (6-7) was defeated by thirteenth ranked Slovenian Krka (3-10) 89-80 on Sunday. Krka made 16-of-17 free shots (94.1 percent) during the game. Krka had a 34-18 advantage in offensive rebounds. Point guard Jan Span (189-1992) fired 23 points and 4 assists for the winners. Serbian power forward Marko Radovanovic (209-1996, agency: Octagon Europe) chipped in 12 points and 9 rebounds. American point guard Ronaldo Segu (183-1999, college: Buffalo) produced 18 points and 5 assists and the other American import forward Tylan Birts (197-1996, college: Barry) added 17 points and 8 rebounds respectively for lost side. Five Krka and four Borac players scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Krka maintains thirteenth place with 3-10 record. Borac at the other side dropped to the eighth position with seven games lost. They share it with Mega BG. Krka will meet at home higher ranked FMP BG (#11) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Borac will play against Cibona in Zagreb and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Krka: J.Span 23+2reb+4ast, D.Planinic 15+5reb, M.Radovanovic 12+9reb+2ast, I.Cousins 10+2reb+3ast, L.Stergar 10+3reb+3ast, C.Miha 8+4reb
Borac CA: R.Segu 18+3reb+5ast, T.Birts 17+8reb, D.Tasic 15+4reb+1ast, A.Uskokovic 10+3reb+5ast, B.Tomasevic 8+6reb+1ast, J.Franklin 6+1reb
gschID: 1132682
Mega BG – Igokea 92-76
Very important is a road loss of third ranked Bosnian Igokea (9-4) against ninth ranked Serbian Mega BG (6-7) on Monday night. Visiting Igokea was defeated by Mega BG in Beograd 92-76. Mega BG made 20-of-26 charity shots (76.9 percent) during the game. Mega BG outrebounded Igokea 39-24 including a 29-15 advantage in defensive rebounds. Mega BG players were unselfish on offense dishing 25 assists. Point guard Nikola Topic (198-2005) nailed 18 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists for the winning side and Canadian-Serbian guard Stefan Miljenovic (190-2001, college: Slippery Rock) accounted for 24 points and 6 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). Forward Nikola Maric (207-1998, college: UALR) came up with 14 points and 5 rebounds and Serbian-Bosnian forward Marko Josilo (200-1992) added 11 points respectively for Igokea in the defeat. Four Mega BG and five Igokea players scored in double figures. Igokea’s coach rotated eleven players seeing no chance for a win. Mega BG moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Borac. Defending Bosnian champion Igokea keeps the third position with four games lost. They share it with Partizan. Mega BG will play against league’s second-placed Cedevita Ol. in Ljubljana in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Igokea will play on the road against the league’s leader Crvena Zvezda having rather not much hope for a victory.
Top scorers:
Mega BG: S.Miljenovic 24+6reb+2ast, T.Nikola 18+6reb+9ast, U.Plavsic 15+5reb+2ast, D.Nikola 10+5reb, J.Andrija 9+9reb+1ast, M.Timotej 8+1reb+1ast
Igokea: N.Maric 14+5reb+1ast, S.Moody 13+2ast, D.Milosavljevic 13+2reb+1ast, M.Nakic 11+2reb+2ast, M.Josilo 11+4reb+1ast, S.Ognjen 7+4reb+4ast
gschID: 1132683
Mornar – FMP BG 75-77
Everything went according to plan in Bar where twelfth ranked Serbian FMP BG (4-9) edged bottom-ranked Montenegrin Mornar (1-12) 77-75 on Saturday. Swingman Vojislav Stojanovic (199-1997) fired 22 points and 5 rebounds for the winners. French guard Hugo Besson (191-2001) chipped in 14 points and 7 rebounds. American forward Marcus Weathers (196-1997, college: SMU) produced a double-double by scoring 18 points and 13 rebounds and the other American import point guard Dwight Murray Jr (183-2000, college: Rider) added 14 points and 4 assists respectively for lost side. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. FMP BG moved-up to eleventh place, which they share with Split. Mornar lost eighth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with 12 games lost. FMP BG will meet Krka (#13) in the next round. Mornar will play against Partizan having rather not much hope for a victory.
Top scorers:
FMP BG: V.Stojanovic 22+5reb+2ast, N.Watson 15+6reb, H.Besson 14+7reb+1ast, A.Stepanovic 7+8reb+1ast, D.Roberts 6+1ast, K.Foster 6
Mornar: M.Weathers 18+13reb, D.Murray Jr. 14+3reb+4ast, M.Starovlah 12+3reb+2ast, U.Lukovic 8+6reb+1ast, T.Dunn-Martin 7+4ast, A.Gavrilovic 6+3reb+2ast
gschID: 1132684
Zadar – Partizan 84-68
Serbian Partizan (#4) was upset in Zadar by eighth ranked Croatian Zadar 84-68. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Partizan. Luka Bozic (200-1996) fired 26 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists for the winners. Bosnian forward Dario Dreznjak (204-1998) chipped in 25 points and 6 rebounds. American power forward Zach LeDay (202-1994, college: Virginia Tech) produced 11 points and 6 rebounds and power forward Tristan Vukcevic (209-2003) added 16 points respectively for lost side. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Defending Croatian champion (7-6) moved-up to sixth place, which they share with S.Centar. Partizan at the other side dropped to the third position with four games lost. They share it with Igokea. Zadar will meet at home higher ranked Buducnost (#5) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Partizan will play against Mornar in Bar and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Zadar: L.Bozic 26+9reb+9ast, D.Dreznjak 25+6reb+1ast, M.Ramljak 15+5reb+2ast, A.Lakic 9+4reb+3ast, L.Mazalin 4+3reb+1ast, P.Vujacic 3+1reb
Partizan: V.Tristan 16+1reb, Z.LeDay 11+6reb+1ast, P.Dozier 10+2reb+1ast, D.Andjusic 8+2reb, K.Punter 6+3reb+2ast, A.Smailagic 5+2reb+2ast
gschID: 1132685
