Basketball News, Scores, Stats, Analysis, Standings

Round 3 means everything may happen in ABA League as the season just started. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of UAE Dubai (2-1) at the home court on Saturday night. Hosts were edged by Serbian Mega BG (3-0) 83-80. Mega BG looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. The best player for the winners was Bosnian guard Kosta Kondic (193-2001) who scored 16 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Guard Mihailo Petrovic (190-2003) chipped in 13 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was Slovenian Klemen Prepelic (191-1992) who recorded 13 points and 7 rebounds (went 13 for 13 at the free throw line !!!). Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Mega BG is looking forward to face Mornar (#16) in Bar in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Dubai will play on the road against Borac (#10) in Cacak and is hoping to win this game.
Another exciting game was played in Aleksandrovac between Montenegrin Buducnost and Bosnian Igokea where Buducnost (3-0) beat Igokea (2-1) on the road 76-71. It was a good game for Bosnian center Kenan Kamenjas (207-2000) who led his team to a victory with 12 points and 8 rebounds. Rasheed Sulaimon contributed with 9 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. American center Terrell Carter II (208-1996, college: Fresno St.) answered with 19 points and 5 rebounds (perfect from the field making all seven shots !!!) for Igokea. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Buducnost will play against Zadar (#8) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Igokea will play against Crvena zvezda (#13) in Beograd and hopes to get back on the winning track.
One of the most interesting games of round 3 was a derby match between two teams from Serbia. The game took place in Beograd where FMP BG won against visiting Borac CA (1-2) 74-67. It was a great evening for Matic Rebec who led his team to a victory scoring 21 points and 6 rebounds. FMP BG’s coach used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The best for the losing side was Paulius Valinskas with 18 points and 4 assists. FMP BG will meet Spartak (#12) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Borac will play against Dubai (#5) and hope to win that game.

Other games of round 3 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Zadar was crushed by Derby in Podgorica 86-62. Partizan smashed Cibona at home 113-78. Spartak won against Krka on the opponent’s court 89-87. Mornar lost to Slovenian defending champion Cedevita Ol. in a home game 82-92. Crvena zvezda recorded a loss to Split on the road 78-85.

Derby – Zadar 86-62

Derby used a home court advantage and crushed the opponent from Zadar 86-62 on Monday night. It was a great evening for point guard Igor Drobnjak (188-2000) who led his team to a victory scoring 17 points. Center Zoran Nikolic (212-1996) helped adding 12 points and 6 rebounds. Four Derby players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was Lovro Mazalin (204-1997) with 14 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists and Montenegrin point guard Vladimir Mihailovic (193-1990) scored 19 points. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Derby will meet at home Partizan (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Zadar will play against Buducnost (#1) and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Derby: I.Drobnjak 17+4reb+2ast, Z.Nikolic 12+6reb+2ast, L.Bogavac 11+3reb+2ast, E.Hadzibegovic 10+1reb+1ast, F.Andjusic 10+4reb, Z.Vuceljic 7
Zadar: V.Mihailovic 19+2reb+2ast, L.Mazalin 14+6reb+4ast, A.Gegic 13+4reb+1ast, T.Wahl 7+4reb, M.Ramljak 5+6reb+2ast, K.Zganec 2+2reb+1ast

gschID: 1179855

Partizan – Cibona 113-78

No shocking result in a game in Beograd where Serbian Partizan (3-0) smashed Croatian Cibona (1-2) 113-78 on Sunday. Partizan shot the lights out from three sinking 19 long-distance shots on high 55.9 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. It was a great evening for Mario Nakic (199-2001) who led his team to a victory scoring 18 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Forward Aleksej Pokusevski (213-2001) helped adding 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Five Partizan players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was American point guard Anthony Barber (188-1994, college: NC State) with 20 points and South Sudanese guard Peter Jok (198-1994, college: Iowa) scored 13 points. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Partizan will meet Derby (#4) in the next round. Cibona will play against Krka (#15) and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Partizan: M.Nakic 18+5reb+4ast, A.Pokusevski 15+5reb+4ast, T.Jones 14+4reb, S.Brown 12+3reb+2ast, G.Lundberg 12+4ast, C.Jones 10+2reb+2ast
Cibona: A.Barber 20+1reb+2ast, P.Jok 13+4reb, I.Perasovic 10+6reb, I.Majcunic 8+3reb+3ast, D.Vukovic 6+2ast, T.Rocak 6+2reb+5ast

gschID: 1179856

Krka – Spartak 87-89

But Krka was not able to use a home court advantage and was edged by the opponent from Subotica 89-87 on Saturday night. Spartak outrebounded Krka 37-26 including a 29-16 advantage in defensive rebounds. It was a great evening for American guard Rasir Bolton (190-1999, college: Gonzaga, agency: Octagon Europe) who led his team to a victory scoring 28 points. Center Vojin Medarevic (208-2002) helped adding 9 points and 9 rebounds. The best for the losing side was American guard Tayler Persons (191-1995, college: Ball St., agency: Players Group) with 16 points and 9 assists and Tibor Mirtic (202-2003) scored 14 points and 7 rebounds. Four Krka players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. Spartak will meet at home FMP BG (#6) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Krka will play against Cibona (#14) in Zagreb and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Spartak: R.Bolton 28+3reb+2ast, V.Medarevic 9+9reb+1ast, S.Momirov 9+1reb+2ast, N.Gordic 8+2reb+3ast, D.Daniels 7+3reb+1ast, D.Miletic 7+2reb
Krka: T.Persons 16+3reb+9ast, T.Mirtic 14+7reb, J.Cebasek 11+4reb, M.Garcia 10+3reb, J.Span 9+4ast, Z.Smrekar 7+4reb

gschID: 1179857

FMP BG – Borac CA 74-67

One of the most interesting games of round 3 was a derby match between two teams from Serbia. The game took place in Beograd where FMP BG won against visiting Borac CA (1-2) 74-67. FMP BG outrebounded Borac 37-23 including 28 on the defensive glass. It was a great evening for Slovenian point guard Matic Rebec (183-1995, agency: SLN) who led his team to a victory scoring 21 points and 6 rebounds. Bosnian-Serbian center Ognjen Kuzmic (213-1990) helped adding 12 points and 9 rebounds. FMP BG’s coach used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The best for the losing side was Lithuanian guard Paulius Valinskas (191-1995) with 18 points and 4 assists and American point guard Diante Baldwin (182-1994, college: UNCG) scored 12 points and 5 assists. FMP BG will meet Spartak (#12) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Borac will play against Dubai (#5) and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
FMP BG: M.Rebec 21+6reb+3ast, O.Kuzmic 12+9reb+1ast, V.Stojanovic 9+2reb, R.Simovic 8+3reb, D.Tasic 8+8reb+2ast, J.Novak 4+4reb+5ast
Borac CA: P.Valinskas 18+4reb+4ast, D.Baldwin 12+4reb+5ast, D.Gagic 10+5reb+3ast, M.Josilo 8+4reb+1ast, J.Furmanavicius 7+3reb, M.Smith 5+1reb

gschID: 1179858

Dubai – Mega BG 80-83

gschID: 1179859

Mornar – Cedevita Ol. 82-92

But Mornar was not able to use a home court advantage and lost to the opponent from Ljubljana 92-82 on Saturday night. Cedevita Ol. looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists. It was a great evening for American point guard DeVante Jones (182-1998, college: Michigan) who led his team to a victory scoring 7 points and 14 assists. Swingman Jaka Blazic (196-1990) helped adding 16 points. Cedevita Ol.’s coach allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. The best for the losing side was American swingman Branden Jenkins (196-1994, college: TxWes, agency: AltusBasket) with 25 points and 4 steals and Serbian point guard Ilija Djokovic (189-1996) scored 15 points and 6 assists. Four Mornar players scored in double figures. Cedevita Ol. will meet at home Split (#9) in the next round. Mornar will play against Mega BG (#2) where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.
Top scorers:
Cedevita Ol.: D.Ogbeide 17+3reb, J.Blazic 16+4reb+2ast, D.Robinson 14+3reb+2ast, D.Stewart Jr. 12+3reb+4ast, M.Geben 9+1reb+1ast, A.Nikolic 8+6reb+6ast
Mornar: B.Jenkins 25+4reb+3ast, J.Smith 15+5reb, I.Djokovic 15+3reb+6ast, L.Runjic 10+4reb+5ast, S.Allen 6+1ast, L.Radetic 6+2reb+2ast

gschID: 1179860

Split – Crvena zvezda 85-78

There was a minor upset when Serbian Crvena zvezda (1-2) was defeated on the road by Croatian Split (1-2) 85-78 on Sunday. Split looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. It was a great evening for American Shannon Shorter (193-1989, college: N.Texas) who led his team to a victory scoring 17 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Forward David Skara (203-1995, college: Clemson) helped adding 16 points and 7 rebounds. Five Split players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was Brazilian point guard Yago Dos Santos (175-1999) with 14 points and 5 assists and Ognjen Dobric (200-1994) scored 14 points. Crvena zvezda’s coach rotated twelve players in this game, but that didn’t help. Split will meet Cedevita Ol. (#11) in the next round. Crvena zvezda will play against Igokea and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Split: S.Shorter 17+5reb+5ast, D.Skara 16+7reb+3ast, K.Ljubicic 14+4reb+1ast, A.Jordano 14+2reb+5ast, B.Kapusta 12+2reb+7ast, T.Vuko 5+2reb+2ast
Crvena zvezda: N.Nedovic 16, O.Dobric 14+3reb+1ast, Y.Dos Santos 14+5ast, M.Daum 9+5reb+2ast, I.Canaan 9+1reb+2ast, D.Davidovac 6+3reb+3ast

gschID: 1179861

Igokea – Buducnost 71-76

Another exciting game was played in Aleksandrovac between Montenegrin Buducnost and Bosnian Igokea where Buducnost (3-0) beat Igokea (2-1) on the road 76-71. It was a good game for Bosnian center Kenan Kamenjas (207-2000) who led his team to a victory with 12 points and 8 rebounds. Nigerian-American Rasheed Sulaimon (194-1994, college: Maryland) contributed with 9 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. American center Terrell Carter II (208-1996, college: Fresno St.) answered with 19 points and 5 rebounds (perfect from the field making all seven shots !!!) and the other American import point guard Bryce Jones (183-1994, college: Murray St.) added 7 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists in the effort for Igokea. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Buducnost will play against Zadar (#8) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Igokea will play against Crvena zvezda (#13) in Beograd and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Buducnost: M.Wright IV 14+2ast, K.Kamenjas 12+8reb+2ast, F.Magee 10, N.Tanaskovic 9+9reb, R.Sulaimon 9+6reb+6ast, Y.Ferrell 9+2reb+3ast
Igokea: T.Carter II 19+5reb, D.Milosavljevic 14+1ast, S.Gavrilovic 11+2reb+1ast, B.Jones 7+6reb+7ast, M.Jeremic 6+1ast, O.Stankovic 5+2ast