Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.
The most interesting game was a derby match between two local teams from Zagreb: Cibona (#4) and Dinamo (#5). Cibona (16-10) smashed visiting Dinamo (13-13) by 16 points 98-82. Cibona made 21-of-26 free shots (80.8 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. The best player for the winners was naturalized Serbian guard Petar Aranitovic (194-1994, agency: Interperformances) who scored 17 points and 6 assists. The former international power forward Filip Bundovic (206-1994) chipped in 14 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. The former international forward Ivan Novacic (201-1985) produced 25 points and 5 rebounds for the guests. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Cibona maintains fourth position with 16-10 record. Dinamo at the other side dropped to the sixth place with 13 games lost. Cibona are looking forward to face bottom-ranked Dubrovnik (#12) at home in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Dinamo’s supporters also look forward to another derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Zagreb Cedevita Jr..
Very important is a home loss of third ranked Cedevita Jr. (18-8) against fifth ranked Kvarner (14-12) on Friday night. Host Cedevita Jr. was defeated by Kvarner in Zagreb 98-88. Guard Paolo Marinelli (191-1995) orchestrated the victory by scoring 28 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. Leon Santelj contributed with 18 points for the winners. International forward Tomislav Buljan (205-2002, agency: Octagon Europe) replied with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 11 rebounds for Cedevita Jr.Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Kvarner have an impressive five-game winning streak. Newly promoted Kvarner maintains fifth position with 14-12 record. Cedevita Jr. at the other side keeps the third place with eight games lost. Kvarner will play against league’s second-placed Split at home in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Cedevita Jr.’s supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Zagreb to the arena Dinamo.
Bottom-ranked Dubrovnik managed to get a sixth victory on Friday night. This time they outleveled tenth-ranked Sibenka 92-66. It’s especially surprising that the victory came too easily and 26-point difference suggests that Dubrovnik is in a good shape to leave the bottom place. Eyassu Worku scored 22 points, 8 assists and 4 steals to lead the charge for the winners. Filip Vujicic responded with 12 points and 6 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Dubrovnik maintains twelfth position with 6-20 record. Loser Sibenka keeps the tenth place with 18 games lost. Dubrovnik will meet higher ranked Cibona (#4) in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Sibenka will play against Alkar (#9) in Sinj and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Rest of the games of round 26 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Alkar defeated Osijek in Sinj 73-60. Split smashed Dubrava at home 107-72. Zabok was destroyed by Zadar on the opponent’s court 94-62.
Cedevita Jr. – Kvarner 88-98
Very important is a home loss of third ranked Cedevita Jr. (18-8) against fifth ranked Kvarner (14-12) on Friday night. Host Cedevita Jr. was defeated by Kvarner in Zagreb 98-88. Kvarner shot 62.1 percent from the field. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 24 assists. Guard Paolo Marinelli (191-1995) orchestrated the victory by scoring 28 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. Slovenian Leon Santelj (205-1995) contributed with 18 points for the winners. International forward Tomislav Buljan (205-2002, agency: Octagon Europe) replied with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 11 rebounds and Mislav Brzoja (198-1994, college: Evansville, agency: PEPI SPORT) added 10 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists in the effort for Cedevita Jr.Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Kvarner have an impressive five-game winning streak. Newly promoted Kvarner maintains fifth position with 14-12 record. Cedevita Jr. at the other side keeps the third place with eight games lost. Kvarner will play against league’s second-placed Split at home in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Cedevita Jr.’s supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Zagreb to the arena Dinamo.
Top scorers:
Kvarner: P.Marinelli 28+5reb+7ast, L.Santelj 18+3reb+3ast, I.Milicevic 15+4reb+1ast, M.Cakarun 14+5reb+2ast, C.Bile 7+7reb+1ast, P.Jambrovic 7+2reb+2ast
Cedevita Jr.: T.Buljan 23+11reb+2ast, I.Karacic 13+1reb, N.Sare 11+4reb+2ast, J.Sobin 10+10reb+1ast, M.Brzoja 10+6reb+5ast, B.Sly 9+1reb+5ast
gschID: 1256781
Dubrovnik – Sibenka 92-66
Bottom-ranked Dubrovnik managed to get a sixth victory on Friday night. This time they outleveled tenth-ranked Sibenka 92-66. It’s especially surprising that the victory came too easily and 26-point difference suggests that Dubrovnik is in a good shape to leave the bottom place. Ethiopian-American guard Eyassu Worku (188-1998, college: UC Irvine) scored 22 points, 8 assists and 4 steals to lead the charge for the winners and the former international center Luksa Andric (208-1985) chipped in 20 points and 10 rebounds (on 7-of-8 shooting from the field) during the contest. Four Dubrovnik players scored in double figures. Filip Vujicic (195-2000, agency: PEPI SPORT) responded with 12 points and 6 rebounds and center Josip Jukic (205-1996) 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. Dubrovnik maintains twelfth position with 6-20 record. Loser Sibenka keeps the tenth place with 18 games lost. Dubrovnik will meet higher ranked Cibona (#4) in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Sibenka will play against Alkar (#9) in Sinj and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Dubrovnik: E.Worku 22+4reb+8ast, L.Andric 20+10reb+1ast, B.Jenkins 16+2reb+2ast, R.Gizdavcic 10+2reb+1ast, P.Dubelj 9+1reb+3ast, I.Gulin 8+9reb+4ast
Sibenka: J.Jukic 13+3reb+1ast, J.Harris 12+2ast, F.Vujicic 12+6reb+3ast, R.Serdarusic 8+1reb, J.Pleadin 6+8reb, P.Paic 6+1reb+1ast
gschID: 1256782
Osijek – Alkar 60-73
There was no surprise when 11th ranked Osijek (7-19) was defeated at home by ninth ranked Alkar (10-16) 73-60 on Saturday. Guard Noa Svoboda (190-2003) scored 25 points and 5 assists to lead the charge for the winners and American swingman Jeramy Shaw (198-2000, college: Pitt St.) chipped in 14 points and 9 rebounds during the contest. Alkar’s coach Damir Milacic used a ten-player rotation and allowed the starting five to get some rest. Guard Bruno Rebic (192-1999, agency: Octagon Europe) responded with 13 points and 5 rebounds and American guard Jaylin Andrews (193-2000, college: Loyola, MD) scored 10 points and 6 rebounds. Four Osijek players scored in double figures. Alkar moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Dubrava. Osijek lost eighth consecutive game. They keep the eleventh position with 19 games lost. Alkar will meet at home Sibenka (#10) in the next round. Osijek will play against Zabok and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Alkar: N.Svoboda 25+3reb+5ast, N.Gurley 17+3reb+4ast, J.Shaw 14+9reb+2ast, P.Marcinkovic 9+2reb+1ast, V.Porobic 4+2reb+2ast, E.Hunter Jr. 2+5reb+2ast
Osijek: B.Rebic 13+5reb+1ast, R.Kujundzic 13+1reb+1ast, M.Mikovic 12+4reb+1ast, J.Andrews 10+6reb+2ast, K.Uljarevic 5+4reb+3ast, F.Sisko 5+2reb+1ast
gschID: 1256783
Split – Dubrava 107-72
No shocking result in a game when second ranked Split (20-6) smashed at home 8th ranked Dubrava (10-16) 107-72 on Thursday. Split outrebounded Dubrava 40-23 including 26 on the defensive glass. Split looked well-organized offensively handing out 33 assists comparing to just 20 passes made by Dubrava‘s players. The former international center Kresimir Ljubicic (210-1998) scored 14 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists to lead the charge for the winners and American Shannon Shorter (193-1989, college: N.Texas) chipped in 25 points during the contest. American forward Emmanuel Little (197-1999, college: Nicholls) responded with 20 points and his fellow American import point guard Jordon Talley (185-1995, college: UNCW) scored 7 points and 13 assists. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players and allowed the starting five to get some rest. Split maintains second position with 20-6 record having just three points less than leader Zadar. Loser Dubrava keeps the eighth place with 16 games lost. They share the position with Alkar. Split will meet Kvarner (#5) in the next round. Dubrava will play against the league’s leader Zadar and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Split: S.Shorter 25+3reb+1ast, K.Ljubicic 14+9reb+7ast, A.Sikiric 12+3reb+1ast, V.Kucic 11+1reb+2ast, A.Smith 8+1reb+5ast, D.Skara 8+7reb+2ast
Dubrava: E.Little 20+4reb+1ast, J.Skific 11+4reb+2ast, V.Saric 9+3reb, K.Vragovic 8+1ast, J.Talley 7+4reb+13ast, D.Zelanto 6+1reb
gschID: 1256784
Zadar – Zabok 94-62
Very expected game when 7th ranked Zabok (11-15) was rolled over on the road by first ranked Zadar (23-3) 94-62 on Thursday. Zadar dominated down low during the game scoring 62 of its points in the paint compared to Zabok‘s 26. Zadar forced 19 Zabok turnovers and outrebounded them 51-27 including a 34-20 advantage in defensive rebounds. Naturalized Bosnian power forward Marko Bakovic (205-1993) had a double-double by scoring 11 points and 13 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and forward Krsevan Klarica (196-2003) chipped in 16 points and 9 rebounds during the contest. Senegalese center Sidy Djitte (208-1994, college: Clemson, agency: Helping Ballers) responded with 15 points and 8 rebounds and Canadian point guard Ali Sow (185-1998, college: Laurier, agency: Players Group) scored 12 points. Five Zadar and four Zabok players scored in double figures. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players and allowed the starting five to get some rest. Zadar have a solid four-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 23-3 record. Loser Zabok keeps the seventh place with 15 games lost. Zadar will meet Dubrava (#8) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Zabok will play against Osijek and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Zadar: K.Klarica 16+9reb+1ast, M.Ramljak 14+4reb+1ast, V.Mihailovic 13+4reb+1ast, M.Bakovic 11+13reb+2ast, L.Mazalin 11+7reb+4ast, D.Proleta 9+3reb+1ast
Zabok: S.Djitte 15+8reb+1ast, A.Sow 12+3reb+1ast, L.Basic 11+1reb+2ast, M.Luzaic 10+2reb, L.Tomas 5+1reb, L.Cvitanovic 4+1reb+3ast
gschID: 1256785
Cibona – Dinamo 98-82
The most interesting game was a derby match between two local teams from Zagreb: Cibona (#4) and Dinamo (#5). Cibona (16-10) smashed visiting Dinamo (13-13) by 16 points 98-82. Cibona made 21-of-26 free shots (80.8 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. The best player for the winners was naturalized Serbian guard Petar Aranitovic (194-1994, agency: Interperformances) who scored 17 points and 6 assists. The former international power forward Filip Bundovic (206-1994) chipped in 14 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. The former international forward Ivan Novacic (201-1985) produced 25 points and 5 rebounds and swingman Ivan Vucic (195-1996) added 12 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists respectively for the guests. Five Cibona and four Dinamo players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Cibona maintains fourth position with 16-10 record. Dinamo at the other side dropped to the sixth place with 13 games lost. Cibona are looking forward to face bottom-ranked Dubrovnik (#12) at home in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Dinamo’s supporters also look forward to another derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Zagreb Cedevita Jr..
Top scorers:
Cibona: S.Smajlagic 21+4reb, P.Aranitovic 17+2reb+6ast, F.Bundovic 14+7reb+4ast, D.Vukovic 11+2reb, P.Jok 11+4reb+5ast, I.Perasovic 10+8reb+2ast
Dinamo: I.Novacic 25+5reb, M.Rudan 15+6reb, I.Vucic 12+5reb+6ast, H.Garafolic 10+4reb+4ast, M.Juric 8+3ast, I.Nakic-Vojnovic 7+1reb
gschID: 1260009
