#1. This week’s number one is an experienced former international center Ante Tomic (217-1987, agency: Octagon Europe, currently plays in Spain). He led Joventut to a victory over the sixth-ranked Baskonia (20-14) 89-81 in the Spanish Liga Endesa in Saturday night’s game.
Tomic was MVP of the game. He scored 24 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and dished 5 assists in 28 minutes on the court.
Club Joventut Badalona (3-0) is placed first in the Liga Endesa.
So far his team won all three games in the Regular Season.
They will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And that game will be critical.
Tomic has relatively good stats this year: 13.8ppg, 6.3rpg, 2.8apg, 2FGP: 56.6%(180-318), 3FGP: 12.5% and FT: 75.4% in 34 games he played so far.
He played for the Croatian senior national team year ago.
#2. Second place goes to former international center Miro Bilan (213-1989, agency: BeoBasket, currently plays in Italy). Bilan could not help Sassari (4-0) in their last game on Monday. Despite his very good performance the league leader Sassari was defeated 104-97 on the road by the lower-ranked Brescia (#3).
Bilan recorded a double-double by scoring 22 points and getting 11 rebounds.
Bilan has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 16.1ppg, 7.7rpg, 2.0apg, 2FGP: 68.3%(71-104) and FT: 75.0%.
Bilan played for the Croatian national team in 21.
#3. The Croatian player who performed third best last week abroad was former international center Leon Radosevic (208-1990, also represented by BeoBasket, currently plays in Germany). He was not able to help Bayern Muenchen in their last game. Despite Radosevic’s good performance Bayern Muenchen lost 78-83 in Berlin to the leading ALBA.
He was the second best scorer with 14 points. Radosevic also added 4 rebounds in 22 minutes.
This year Radosevic’s overall stats are: 6.5ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.4apg, 2FGP: 46.2%, 3FGP: 47.7%(21-44) and FT: 82.6% in 20 games.
He has a dual citizenship: Croatian and German.
Radosevic played for the Croatian national team year ago.
#4. Small forward Mario Hezonja (202-1995, currently plays in VTB United League) was not able to secure a victory for Unics (17-4) in their last game on Friday. Despite his very good performance the second-placed Unics (17-4) was defeated 75-69 at home by the lower-ranked Zenit (#3) in the group A of VTB United League.
Hezonja recorded a double-double by scoring 15 points and getting 11 rebounds. He also added 4 assists and 4 steals.
This season Hezonja has very high stats. He averages: 18.4ppg, 7.5rpg, 3.0apg and 1.9spg.
Hezonja used to play for the Croatian national team
back in 22.
#5. Former international power forward Ivan Buva (207-1991, currently plays in Lithuania) contributed to an easy victory against the fifth-ranked Siauliai (15-15) crushing them 97-75 in the Lithuanian LKL on Friday night.
Buva recorded 9 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.
BC Rytas Vilnius (26-4) is placed first in the LKL.
It was his team’s 11th consecutive victory in a row.
This season Buva has very high stats. He averages: 17.3ppg and 6.0rpg.
Buva used to play for the Croatian national team
years ago.
#6. Center Marin Maric (211-1994, college: DePaul, currently plays in Greece) was the major contributor in a Larissa BC‘s victory against the closely-ranked Promitheas (12-12) 84-77 in the Greek A1 in Wednesday night’s game.
He scored 13 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and dished 3 assists in 20 minutes.
Larissa BC (12-12) is placed sixth in the A1.
Maric’s team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And now that game is very crucial.
Maric has very impressive stats this year: 15.1ppg, 6.9rpg and 1.8apg in 13 games.
He is a former international player as he played for the Croatian senior team year ago.
#7. Former international power forward Mario Delas (207-1990, currently plays in Spain) contributed to an Acunsa GBC‘s victory against the 16th-ranked Prat (11-22) 70-63 in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division) on Friday night.
Delas scored 17 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 30 minutes.
Acunsa Gipuzkoa BC San Sebastian (16-17) is placed 11th in the LEB Gold.
His team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And now that game is quite important.
This year Delas’ total stats are: 8.8ppg, 6.0rpg and 1.1apg in 33 games.
He used to play for the Croatian national team
years ago.
#8. Point guard Rok Stipcevic (186-1986, agency: PEPI SPORT, currently plays in Slovenia) couldn’t help Krka (8-6) in their last game on Monday. Despite Stipcevic’s good performance Krka (#2) was crushed 102-80 in Ljubljana by the lower-ranked KK Cedevita Olimpija (#6) in the Places 1-6 group.
He was the second best scorer with 12 points. Stipcevic also added 4 passes.
This season Stipcevic has very high stats. He averages: 16.9ppg, 3.1rpg and 4.6apg.
Stipcevic used to play for the Croatian national team
back in 20.
#9. Former U20 international forward Henrik Sirko (199-1993, currently plays in Kosovo) was the main contributor in Ylli‘s victory against the closely-ranked Prishtina (14-13) 79-70 in the Kosovan Superliga last Wednesday.
He was the best player in that game. Sirko scored 31 points (!!!), grabbed 4 rebounds and dished 3 assists in 38 minutes.
Golden Eagle Ylli (17-6) is placed second in the Superliga.
It was his team’s fourth consecutive victory in a row.
Sirko has very impressive stats this year: 16.2ppg, 7.2rpg and 6.4apg in 13 games.
He used to play for the Croatian U20 national team
years ago.
#10. Center Ante Zizic (209-1997, another player represented by BeoBasket, currently plays in Israel) couldn’t help Maccabi Tel-Aviv (18-9) in their game against Hapoel Haifa (13-14) in the Israeli Winner League.
Zizic scored only 4 points and grabbed 4 rebounds.
Maccabi Tel-Aviv (#2) was defeated 123-114 in Haifa by the lower-ranked Hapoel (#6) in the Places 1-6 group.
They ended the series of three consecutive victories.
His team will play only one more game in the Second Stage.
This season Zizic has relatively solid stats: 10.4ppg and 5.8rpg.
He is a former international player as years ago he still played for the Croatian senior national team.
#11. Former international forward Ivan Siriscevic (197-1987, another player represented by PEPI SPORT, currently plays in Austria) contributed to a BC Vienna‘s victory against the fourth-ranked UBSC Graz 108-102 in the Austrian BSL in Saturday night’s game.
Siriscevic scored 17 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 38 minutes.
Siriscevic has reliable stats this year: 11.6ppg, 3.1rpg and 1.4apg in 33 games.
He used to play for the Croatian national team
years ago.
#12. Former U18 international forward Jure Skific (202-1988, agency: 011 Sports, currently plays in Poland) helped Legia win their game against the second-ranked Anwil 87-77 in the Polish EBL on Monday night.
He scored 6 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 22 minutes.
Skific has averaged so far 7.7ppg, 4.8rpg and 1.9apg in 35 games.
He used to play for the Croatian U18 national team
back in 6.
#13. Former international center Marjan Cakarun (204-1990, currently plays in Hungary) couldn’t help Szolnok (21-13) in their last game on Wednesday. Despite Cakarun’s good performance Szolnok (#2) was defeated 89-74 on the opponent’s court by the leading Szombathely in the Places 1-5 group.
He was the second best scorer with 13 points. Cakarun also added 7 rebounds.
Cakarun’s stats this season are: 14.0ppg, 7.0rpg and 2.5apg.
He used to play for the Croatian national team
years ago.
#14. Former U20 international shooting guard Luka Kotrulja (196-1998, currently plays in Belgium) couldn’t help Kangoeroes in their game against Leuven Bears in the Belgian BNXT League.
Kotrulja recorded 7 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 23 minutes.
His team lost 86-95.
Kotrulja has averaged so far 3.0ppg and 3.3rpg in four games.
He used to play for the Croatian U20 national team
back in 17.
#15. Former University international forward David Skara (203-1995, college: Clemson, currently plays in France) helped Sluc Nancy win their game against the seventh-ranked Chalon/Saor crushing them 76-56 in the French ProB (second division) on Friday night.
Skara recorded 9 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists.
Skara has averaged so far 8.9ppg, 4.1rpg and 2.0apg.
He used to play for the Croatian university national team
years ago.
The list of other players, who all have Croatian passport but never been selected to any of Croatian national teams:
#1. Dominic Gilbert (201-G/F-1996, agency: BIG, college: UBC, currently plays in Spain) led Valladolid to a victory over the eighth-ranked Caceres (18-16) 92-75 in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division) last Friday.
He was the best player in that game. Gilbert scored 27 points (!!!) and grabbed 7 rebounds in 32 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it’s only his first season in pro basketball. Real Valladolid Baloncesto (2-1) is placed second in the LEB Gold.
Gilbert’s team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And that game will be critical.
This year Gilbert’s total stats are: 9.3ppg, 5.3rpg and 1.1apg in 12 games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: Australian and Croatian.
#2. Experienced Marko Jagodic-Kuridza (205-PF-1987, agency: BeoBasket, currently plays in ABA League). Jagodic-Kuridza could not help one of league’s weakest teams Buducnost (19-7) to beat Partizan NiS (22-4).
He recorded 7 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Buducnost was badly defeated 82-66 on the road by the second-ranked Partizan NiS.
Jagodic-Kuridza’s total stats this season are: 8.7ppg, 5.4rpg and 2.1apg.
He is another player who holds two passports: Croatian and Serbian.
#3. Mladen Primorac (210-C-1990, agency: PEPI SPORT, currently plays in Slovenia) was not able to help Rogaska in their last game on Saturday. Despite Primorac’s good performance his team was defeated 93-80 in Ljubljana by the lower-ranked KK Cedevita Olimpija (#6) in the Places 7-11 group.
He recorded 12 points and added 4 assists.
Primorac has averaged so far 8.2ppg, 3.9rpg and 2.3apg.
#4. Marijan Obad (201-F-1998, currently plays in BNXT-League) contributed to a 1-point BAL Weert‘s victory against the closely-ranked Feyenoord (0-10) 69-68 in the BNXT League on Wednesday night.
Obad scored 11 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 22 minutes.
Basketball Academie Limburg (5-5) is placed seventh in the BNXT League.
Obad has averaged so far 4.5ppg and 3.1rpg in 24 games.
#5. Mateo Seric (204-PF-1999, currently plays in Germany) contributed to Tigers‘ victory against the sixth-ranked Leverkusen (19-13) 74-62 in the German ProA (second division) in Tuesday night’s game.
He scored 13 points.
Tigers Tuebingen (25-9) is placed first in the ProA.
It was his team’s sixth consecutive victory in a row.
Seric has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 15.8ppg, 6.1rpg, 1.5apg and 1.2spg.
Seric has both Croatian and German nationalities.
Despite his Croatian passport, Seric previously played for the German U20 national team and is probably not eligible to play for the Croatian team.
#6. Aleksandar Marcius (208-C-1990, college: DePaul, currently plays in Italy) was not able to secure a victory for RO SAzzurra in their game against Piacentina in the Italian Serie A2 (second division).
He recorded 6 points and grabbed 15 rebounds.
His team was crushed by 21 points 80-59.
Marcius averaged so far 11.5ppg, 8.8rpg and 1.1apg.
#7. Leo Menalo (208-F-2002, also represented by BeoBasket, currently plays in Italy) is a teammate of previously mentioned Aleksandar Marcius. But that was another game of his team in Italian Serie A2 which we would like to mention.
Menalo couldn’t help RO SAzzurra in their game against Piacentina. He cannot count Tuesday’s game as one of the best ones.
Menalo scored only 2 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 23 minutes.
His team was badly defeated by 19 points 79-60.
Menalo has averaged so far 4.7ppg and 3.3rpg in 26 games.
#8. Djordje Malbasa (195-SF-1995, agency: SLN, currently plays in Italy) managed to help Basket Club SECIS Jesolo to win against the leader Crema 62-58 in the Italian Serie B (third division) last Sunday.
He recorded only one point.
Malbasa averaged so far 10.3ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.3apg and 1.2spg.
He also holds two passports: Croatian and Italian.
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