Basketball News, Scores, Stats, Analysis, Standings

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game between Top Four teams took place in Beograd. 3rd ranked Serbian host Crvena zvezda (16-4) lost to first ranked Montenegrin Buducnost (18-2) 96-89. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Crvena zvezda. Worth to mention a great performance of American point guard McKinley Wright IV (182-1998, college: Colorado) who helped to win the game recording 19 points and 6 assists and Serbian power forward Nikola Tanaskovic (204-1997) who added 16 points and 7 rebounds during the contest. American-Bulgarian point guard Codi Miller-McIntyre (191-1994, college: Wake Forest) responded with 16 points and 4 assists. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Buducnost have an impressive 11-game winning streak. Defending Montenegrin champion maintains first position with 18-2 record, which they share with Partizan. Defending Serbian champion Crvena zvezda keeps the third place with four games lost. Buducnost is looking forward to face Cedevita Ol. (#6) in Ljubljana in the next round where they are favorite. Crvena zvezda will play at home against Zadar and is hoping to prove to their fans that the loss was just an accident.
The game in Subotica was also worth to mention about. Fourth ranked UAE Dubai (15-5) played at the court of 8th ranked Serbian Spartak (10-10). Dubai managed to secure a 6-point victory 90-84. The winners were led by American point guard Isaiah Taylor (190-1994, college: Texas) who scored that evening 22 points and 6 assists and Danilo Andjusic supported him with 17 points (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field). Even a double-double of 12 points and 10 assists by Canadian point guard Kaza Kajami-Keane (185-1994, college: Carleton) did not help to save the game for Spartak. Dubai have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain fourth position with 15-5 record. Spartak at the other side dropped to the seventh place with ten games lost. They share the position with 3 other teams. Dubai will play against Cibona (#15) in Zagreb in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Spartak will play on the road against Mornar (#16) in Bar and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Fifteenth-ranked Croatian Cibona (3-17) gave a tough game to tenth ranked Serbian FMP BG (10-10) in Zagreb on Friday. The visitors from Beograd managed to secure only one-point victory 86-85. However their fans expected much easier game. The best player for the winners was Filip Barna who scored 32 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Filip Bundovic produced 33 points (!!!), 5 rebounds and 6 assists (on 13-of-17 shooting from the field) for the hosts. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. FMP BG moved-up to seventh place, which they share with 3 other teams. Loser Cibona keeps the fifteenth position with 17 games lost. FMP BG will meet at home Derby (#12) in the next round where they are favorite. Cibona will play against Dubai and hope to secure a win.

There were no shocking results in the other games in round 20: Zadar was destroyed by Partizan on the opponent’s court 100-75. Derby managed to outperform Krka in a home game 101-90. Bottom-ranked Mornar was rolled over Borac on the road 90-71. Mega BG defeated Split on its own court 84-82. Igokea beat Cedevita Ol. in Aleksandrovac 90-85.

Partizan – Zadar 100-75

Very expected game in Beograd where 7th ranked Croatian Zadar (10-10) was crushed by second ranked Serbian Partizan (18-2) 100-75 on Monday. Partizan forced 19 Zadar turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The best player for the winners was Danish guard Gabriel Lundberg (193-1994) who scored 17 points and 8 assists. Center Balsa Koprivica (216-2000, college: FSU) chipped in 16 points and 9 rebounds. Partizan’s coach felt very confident that he used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. Lovro Mazalin (204-1997) produced 21 points and Montenegrin point guard Vladimir Mihailovic (193-1990) added 14 points and 4 assists (was perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line !!!) respectively for the guests. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Partizan have an impressive seven-game winning streak. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Buducnost. Defending Croatian champion Zadar keeps the seventh place with ten games lost. They share the position with 3 other teams. Partizan will meet Krka (#14) in the next round which should be another easy win for them. Zadar will play against Crvena zvezda (#3) in Beograd and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Zadar: L.Mazalin 21+3reb+2ast, V.Mihailovic 14+2reb+4ast, T.Wahl 11+4reb+2ast, D.Proleta 11+3reb, K.Zganec 6+5reb+2ast, K.Klarica 6+3reb+2ast
Partizan: G.Lundberg 17+2reb+8ast, B.Koprivica 16+9reb, D.Washington Jr. 11+2ast, A.Lakic 11+1reb+3ast, I.Bonga 9+2reb, T.Jones 8+1reb

gschID: 1179991

Derby – Krka 101-90

The game between closely ranked teams ended with thirteenth ranked Montenegrin Derby‘s (7-13) home victory over 14th ranked Slovenian Krka (4-16) 101-90 on Sunday. Derby made 18-of-21 free shots (85.7 percent) during the game. The best player for the winners was American point guard Erick Neal (178-1995, college: UT Arlington) who scored 20 points and 5 assists. Guard Luka Bogavac (195-2003) chipped in 22 points and 4 steals. Neal is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. American guard Tayler Persons (191-1995, college: Ball St., agency: Players Group) produced 16 points and 9 assists and his fellow American import power forward Brady Skeens (202-1995, college: Washburn, agency: One Motive Sports) added 13 points and 5 rebounds respectively for the guests. Four Derby and five Krka players scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Derby moved-up to twelfth place. Krka lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the fourteenth position with 16 games lost. Derby will meet higher ranked FMP BG (#10) in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Krka will play against the league’s second-placed Partizan (#2) and will have a slim chance for a victory.
Top scorers:
Krka: T.Persons 16+4reb+9ast, J.Klobucar 14+4reb+1ast, T.Mirtic 13+3reb+3ast, B.Skeens 13+5reb+2ast, J.Span 11+2reb+6ast, R.Jurkovic 10+2reb
Derby: L.Bogavac 22+4reb+2ast, E.Neal 20+3reb+5ast, N.Pavlicevic 14+2reb+1ast, I.Drobnjak 11+1reb+1ast, Z.Nikolic 11+3reb+1ast, D.Mirkovic 9+10reb+3ast

gschID: 1179992

Cibona – FMP BG 85-86

Fifteenth-ranked Croatian Cibona (3-17) gave a tough game to tenth ranked Serbian FMP BG (10-10) in Zagreb on Friday. The visitors from Beograd managed to secure only one-point victory 86-85. However their fans expected much easier game. The best player for the winners was swingman Filip Barna (201-1999) who scored 32 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Swingman Stefan Lazarevic (198-1996) chipped in 16 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Power forward Filip Bundovic (206-1994) produced 33 points (!!!), 5 rebounds and 6 assists (on 13-of-17 shooting from the field) and point guard Kresimir Radovcic (195-1997) added 11 points and 10 assists respectively for the hosts. Four Cibona players scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. FMP BG moved-up to seventh place, which they share with 3 other teams. Loser Cibona keeps the fifteenth position with 17 games lost. FMP BG will meet at home Derby (#12) in the next round where they are favorite. Cibona will play against Dubai and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Cibona: F.Bundovic 33+5reb+6ast, K.Radovcic 11+2reb+10ast, S.Smajlagic 10+5reb, D.Vukovic 10+3reb+3ast, I.Perasovic 7+1reb+1ast, V.Bart 6+1reb+2ast
FMP BG: F.Barna 32+5reb+6ast, S.Lazarevic 16+7reb+4ast, O.Kuzmic 7+2reb, J.Scott 6+1reb+2ast, D.Radosavljevic 6+4reb+2ast, N.Gasic 6+1reb

gschID: 1179993

Spartak – Dubai 84-90

The game in Subotica was also worth to mention about. Fourth ranked UAE Dubai (15-5) played at the court of 8th ranked Serbian Spartak (10-10). Dubai managed to secure a 6-point victory 90-84. Dubai made 20-of-22 charity shots (90.9 percent) during the game. The winners were led by American point guard Isaiah Taylor (190-1994, college: Texas) who scored that evening 22 points and 6 assists and Serbian guard Danilo Andjusic (195-1991) supported him with 17 points (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field). Even a double-double of 12 points and 10 assists by Canadian point guard Kaza Kajami-Keane (185-1994, college: Carleton) did not help to save the game for Spartak. Montenegrin power forward Danilo Nikolic (206-1993) added 17 points and 5 rebounds (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line) for the hosts. Four Dubai and five Spartak players scored in double figures. Dubai have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain fourth position with 15-5 record. Spartak at the other side dropped to the seventh place with ten games lost. They share the position with 3 other teams. Dubai will play against Cibona (#15) in Zagreb in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Spartak will play on the road against Mornar (#16) in Bar and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Spartak: D.Nikolic 17+5reb+1ast, D.Miletic 15+4reb, L.Cerovina 14+1reb+5ast, K.Kajami-Keane 12+4reb+10ast, N.Gordic 11+2reb+5ast, V.Medarevic 7+5reb
Dubai: I.Taylor 22+2reb+6ast, D.Andjusic 17+4reb, K.Prepelic 11+4reb+6ast, J.Boutsiele 10+7reb+1ast, A.Abass 9+4reb+1ast, D.Bertans 8+5reb

gschID: 1179994

Borac CA – Mornar 90-71

Not a big story in a game in Cacak where 16th ranked Montenegrin Mornar (1-20) was rolled over by eleventh ranked Serbian Borac (8-12) 90-71 on Saturday. The best player for the winners was American point guard Diante Baldwin (182-1994, college: UNCG) who scored 17 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Lithuanian forward Justas Furmanavicius (199-1994, college: Ole Miss) chipped in 22 points. Five Borac CA players scored in double figures. Croatian power forward Lovro Buljevic (210-1998) produced 15 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks and American power forward Jamari Smith (203-2000, college: Murray St.) added 13 points respectively for the guests. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Borac maintains eleventh position with 8-12 record. Mornar lost fourteenth consecutive game. They stay dead last with 20 lost games. Borac will meet Split (#13) on the road in the next round. Mornar will play against Spartak and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Mornar: L.Buljevic 15+9reb+2ast, J.Smith 13+4reb, L.Runjic 11+4reb, B.Jenkins 9+3reb+1ast, N.Thomasson 9+2reb+5ast, R.Rogic 4+4reb+3ast
Borac CA: J.Furmanavicius 22+4reb+2ast, P.Nikolic 19+6reb+2ast, D.Baldwin 17+5reb+6ast, M.Josilo 11+7reb+4ast, N.Manojlovic 10+4reb+2ast, D.Curcic 5+1reb+1ast

gschID: 1179995

Mega BG – Split 84-82

Everything went according to plan in Beograd where tenth ranked Serbian Mega BG (10-10) edged 12th ranked Croatian Split (6-14) 84-82 on Sunday. Strangely Split outrebounded Mega BG 36-21 including a 16-3 advantage in offensive rebounds. Mega BG looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. The best player for the winners was guard Mihailo Petrovic (190-2003) who had a double-double by scoring 14 points and 10 assists. Bosnian guard Kosta Kondic (193-2001) chipped in 13 points and 5 assists. American Shannon Shorter (193-1989, college: N.Texas) produced 18 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists and forward Boris Tisma (205-2002) added 15 points and 9 rebounds respectively for the guests. Five Mega BG and four Split players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. Mega BG moved-up to seventh place, which they share with 3 other teams. Split lost sixth consecutive game. They dropped to the thirteenth position with 14 games lost. Mega BG will meet higher ranked Igokea (#5) in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Split will play against Borac (#11) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Split: S.Shorter 18+8reb+5ast, B.Tisma 15+9reb+1ast, K.Ljubicic 12+8reb+1ast, A.Jordano 11+1reb+2ast, B.Kapusta 9+1reb+4ast, D.Skara 7+2reb
Mega BG: F.Jovic 15+3reb, M.Petrovic 14+10ast, S.Miljenovic 14+1ast, K.Kondic 13+4reb+5ast, T.Malovec 12+2reb, I.Milijasevic 9+1ast

gschID: 1179996

Cedevita Ol. – Igokea 85-90

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams in Ljubljana where 5th ranked Slovenian Cedevita Ol. (12-8) was defeated by sixth ranked Bosnian Igokea (13-8) 90-85 on Saturday. Igokea made 22-of-26 free shots (84.6 percent) during the game. The best player for the winners was American point guard Bryce Jones (183-1994, college: Murray St.) who scored 21 points and 7 rebounds. Serbian guard Vasilije Pusica (196-1995, college: Northeastern) chipped in 15 points, 6 assists and 5 steals. Jones is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. American DJ Stewart Jr (197-1999, college: MSU) produced 23 points and swingman Jaka Blazic (196-1990) added 15 points and 4 assists respectively for the hosts. Five Igokea and four Cedevita Ol. players scored in double figures. Cedevita Ol.’s coach tried various players’ combinations and tested in total eleven players in this game, but that didn’t help. Defending Bosnian champion moved-up to fifth place. Defending Slovenian champion Cedevita Ol. dropped to the sixth position with eight games lost. Igokea will meet at home Mega BG (#9) in the next round. Cedevita Ol. will play against the league’s leader Buducnost in Podgorica and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Cedevita Ol.: D.Stewart Jr. 23+1reb+1ast, J.Blazic 15+4reb+4ast, D.Tasic 12+4reb+1ast, D.Robinson 12+9reb+2ast, A.Nikolic 9+2reb+7ast, A.Stipanovic 7+1reb+1ast
Igokea: B.Jones 21+7reb+3ast, V.Pusica 15+4reb+6ast, O.Radosic 13+3reb, T.Carter II 10+2reb+1ast, N.Maric 10+3reb+2ast, S.Gavrilovic 9+2reb+2ast