The games are now more important than at the beginning of the Regular Season. We may still expect few shocking results in upcoming 4 rounds. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.
The most interesting game of round 26 was a derby match between two teams from Montenegro. The game took place in Podgorica where first ranked Buducnost won against host Derby (10-16) 105-99. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Derby. They outrebounded Derby 36-25 including 22 on the defensive glass. 24 personal fouls committed by Derby helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. American point guard McKinley Wright IV (182-1998, college: Colorado) scored 18 points and 9 assists to lead the charge for the winners and Djordjije Jovanovic (199-2003) chipped in 18 points and 5 rebounds during the contest. American point guard Erick Neal (178-1995, college: UT Arlington) responded with 28 points and 4 assists. Derby’s coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn’t help. Buducnost have a solid four-game winning streak. Defending Montenegrin champion maintains first position with 23-3 record, which they share with Partizan. Derby at the other side keeps the eleventh place with 16 games lost. Buducnost is looking forward to face league’s second-placed Partizan in Beograd in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Derby will play on the road against Crvena zvezda (#4) in Beograd and is hoping to prove to their fans that the loss was just an accident.
One of the most interesting games of round 26 was a derby match between two teams from Serbia. The game took place in Cacak where ninth ranked Mega BG won against host Borac CA (8-18) 80-76. Guard Mihailo Petrovic (190-2003) notched a double-double by scoring 11 points, 7 rebounds and 12 assists to lead the effort and Bogoljub Markovic supported him with 15 points and 6 rebounds. Even 15 points, 6 assists and 4 steals by American point guard Diante Baldwin (182-1994, college: UNCG) did not help to save the game for Borac. Mega BG (13-13) moved-up to eighth place, which they share with FMP BG. Borac lost sixth consecutive game. They dropped to the twelfth position with 18 games lost. They share it with Split. Mega BG will play against higher ranked Spartak (#7) in Subotica in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Borac will play at home against Zadar (#10) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
The game in Subotica was also quite interesting. 6th ranked Slovenian Cedevita Ol. (16-10) played at the court of seventh ranked Serbian Spartak (14-12). Spartak managed to secure a 9-point victory 99-90 on Sunday. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Cedevita Ol.. The best player for the winners was Luka Cerovina who scored 18 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Devin Robinson produced 15 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists for the guests. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Spartak maintains seventh position with 14-12 record. Defending Slovenian champion Cedevita Ol. keeps the sixth place with ten games lost. Spartak will meet Mega BG (#8) in the next round. Cedevita Ol. will play against Cibona and hope to secure a win.
There were no shocking results in the other games in round 26: Dubai destroyed Zadar on the opponent’s court 92-68. FMP BG managed to outperform Mornar in a home game 87-72. Split recorded a loss to Krka on the road 82-73. Partizan defeated Igokea on its own court 100-94. Crvena zvezda smashed Cibona in Beograd 107-81.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 20 points by Paulius Valinskas of Borac CA.
Zadar – Dubai 68-92
Very expected game when 10th ranked Croatian Zadar (12-14) was crushed at home by third ranked UAE Dubai (21-5) 92-68 on Sunday. Strangely Zadar outrebounded Dubai 39-25 including 28 on the defensive glass. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The best player for the winners was Italian Awudu Abass (198-1993) who scored 14 points. Slovenian Klemen Prepelic (191-1992) chipped in 11 points and 6 assists. Four Dubai players scored in double figures. Montenegrin point guard Vladimir Mihailovic (193-1990) produced 21 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists and Lovro Mazalin (204-1997) added 12 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for the hosts. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Dubai have an impressive five-game winning streak. They maintain third position with 21-5 record having just two points less than leader Buducnost. Defending Croatian champion Zadar keeps the tenth place with 14 games lost. Dubai will meet bottom-ranked Mornar (#16) in the next round which should be another easy win for them. Zadar will play against Borac (#13) in Cacak and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Dubai: A.Abass 14+3reb+2ast, K.Prepelic 11+1reb+6ast, D.Andjusic 11+3reb+3ast, N.Mason 10+1reb+4ast, N.Dangubic 9+2reb, I.Taylor 9+2reb+3ast
Zadar: V.Mihailovic 21+6reb+6ast, L.Mazalin 12+6reb+4ast, D.Gilbert 10+2reb, M.Bakovic 9+5reb, T.Wahl 7+5reb+3ast, M.Ramljak 6+1reb+2ast
gschID: 1180039
FMP BG – Mornar 87-72
Very predictable result in Beograd where tenth ranked Serbian FMP BG (13-13) defeated bottom-ranked Montenegrin Mornar (2-25) 87-72 on Friday. FMP BG dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to Mornar‘s 34 and made 23-of-30 free shots (76.7 percent) during the game. FMP BG forced 20 Mornar turnovers. The best player for the winners was swingman Filip Barna (201-1999) who scored 21 points and 5 rebounds. Forward Dusan Radosavljevic (201-2001) chipped in 14 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. FMP BG’s coach used an eleven-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Croatian power forward Lovro Buljevic (210-1998) produced 21 points and 6 rebounds and Croatian point guard Roko Rogic (187-1992) added 14 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for the guests. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. FMP BG moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Mega BG. Loser Mornar stay dead last with 25 lost games. FMP BG will meet Split (#12) on the road in the next round. Mornar will play against Dubai (#3) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
FMP BG: F.Barna 21+5reb+2ast, D.Radosavljevic 14+6reb+4ast, N.Gasic 13+11reb, J.Scott 12+3reb+3ast, P.Popovic 11+1reb+1ast, J.Stephens 9+4reb
Mornar: L.Buljevic 21+6reb, R.Rogic 14+6reb+4ast, L.Runjic 13+7reb+1ast, D.Pember 11+7reb+1ast, N.Thomasson 6+2reb+5ast, C.Carter Jr. 5
gschID: 1180040
Krka – Split 82-73
There was a minor upset in Novo Mesto where 12th ranked Croatian Split (8-18) was defeated by fourteenth ranked Slovenian Krka (5-21) 82-73 on Sunday. Krka looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists comparing to just 7 passes made by Split‘s players. The best player for the winners was American guard Tayler Persons (191-1995, college: Ball St., agency: Players Group) who scored 9 points and 12 assists. The other American import guard Kendall Robinson (198-1998, college: W.Connecticut) chipped in 17 points and 5 rebounds (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field). Krka’s coach used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American Shannon Shorter (193-1989, college: N.Texas) produced 15 points and 5 rebounds and point guard Borna Kapusta (182-1996) added 15 points respectively for the guests. Four Split players scored in double figures. Krka maintains fourteenth position with 5-21 record. Split lost third consecutive game. They keep the twelfth place with 18 games lost. They share the position with Borac. Krka will meet higher ranked Igokea (#5) in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Split will play against FMP BG (#9) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Krka: K.Robinson 17+5reb, J.Span 16, R.Jurkovic 14+4reb, T.Persons 9+2reb+12ast, A.Bursac 8+4reb+4ast, J.Cebasek 7+2reb+3ast
Split: B.Kapusta 15+3reb+3ast, S.Shorter 15+5reb+1ast, A.Jordano 12+1reb, D.Skara 11+7reb, B.Tisma 9+4reb, A.Sikiric 7+2reb
gschID: 1180041
Partizan – Igokea 100-94
Everything went according to plan in Beograd where second ranked Serbian Partizan (23-3) beat 5th ranked Bosnian Igokea (17-10) 100-94 on Sunday. Partizan made 32-of-37 free shots (86.5 percent) during the game. Partizan had a 15-4 advantage in offensive rebounds. The best player for the winners was German Isaac Bonga (204-1999) who had a double-double by scoring 16 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists. Vanja Marinkovic (198-1997, agency: Octagon Europe) chipped in 22 points. Four Partizan players scored in double figures. Serbian Dragan Milosavljevic (198-1989) produced 21 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and American point guard Bryce Jones (183-1994, college: Murray St.) added 21 points and 7 assists respectively for the guests. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Partizan have a solid three-game winning streak. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Buducnost. Defending Bosnian champion Igokea keeps the fifth place with ten games lost. Partizan will meet league’s leader Buducnost in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Igokea will play against Krka (#14) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Partizan: V.Marinkovic 22+3reb+2ast, I.Bonga 16+12reb+7ast, C.Jones 15+1reb+4ast, B.Davies 13+4reb+1ast, F.Ntilikina 9+1reb, S.Brown 8+1reb
Igokea: B.Jones 21+2reb+7ast, D.Milosavljevic 21+5reb+4ast, N.Maric 14+4reb+1ast, B.Simanic 9+5reb+1ast, M.Jeremic 8+3reb, T.Carter II 8+1reb
gschID: 1180042
Derby – Buducnost 99-105
The most interesting game of round 26 was a derby match between two teams from Montenegro. The game took place in Podgorica where first ranked Buducnost won against host Derby (10-16) 105-99. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Derby. They outrebounded Derby 36-25 including 22 on the defensive glass. 24 personal fouls committed by Derby helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. American point guard McKinley Wright IV (182-1998, college: Colorado) scored 18 points and 9 assists to lead the charge for the winners and Djordjije Jovanovic (199-2003) chipped in 18 points and 5 rebounds during the contest. American point guard Erick Neal (178-1995, college: UT Arlington) responded with 28 points and 4 assists and point guard Igor Drobnjak (188-2000) scored 25 points and 4 assists (on 10-of-12 shooting from the field). Five Buducnost and four Derby players scored in double figures. Derby’s coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn’t help. Buducnost have a solid four-game winning streak. Defending Montenegrin champion maintains first position with 23-3 record, which they share with Partizan. Derby at the other side keeps the eleventh place with 16 games lost. Buducnost is looking forward to face league’s second-placed Partizan in Beograd in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Derby will play on the road against Crvena zvezda (#4) in Beograd and is hoping to prove to their fans that the loss was just an accident.
Top scorers:
Buducnost: D.Jovanovic 18+5reb+1ast, M.Wright IV 18+1reb+9ast, K.Kamenjas 15+6reb+1ast, M.Dreznjak 13+4reb+4ast, Y.Ferrell 13+2reb+2ast, J.Morgan 9+4reb+2ast
Derby: E.Neal 28+4reb+4ast, I.Drobnjak 25+2reb+4ast, A.Grbovic 18+3reb+3ast, L.Bogavac 12+2reb+1ast, Z.Nikolic 4+2reb+1ast, Z.Vuceljic 4+2reb+1ast
gschID: 1180043
Cibona – Crvena zvezda 81-107
There was no surprise in Zagreb where 15th ranked Croatian Cibona (4-22) was outplayed by fourth ranked Serbian Crvena zvezda (20-6) 107-81 on Monday. Crvena zvezda dominated down low during the game scoring 60 of its points in the paint compared to Cibona‘s 38. Crvena zvezda looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. The best player for the winners was center Filip Petrusev (211-2000, college: Gonzaga) who scored 19 points and 6 rebounds (perfect from the field making all seven shots !!!). Brazilian point guard Yago Dos Santos (175-1999) chipped in a double-double by scoring 12 points and 10 assists. Crvena zvezda’s coach felt very confident that he used 11 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Serbian-Croatian guard Petar Aranitovic (194-1994, agency: Interperformances) produced 11 points and 8 assists and guard Sven Smajlagic (196-1990) added 17 points respectively for the hosts. Four Crvena zvezda and five Cibona players scored in double figures. Defending Serbian champion maintains fourth position with 20-6 record. Cibona lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the fifteenth place with 22 games lost. Crvena zvezda will meet at home Derby (#11) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Cibona will play against Cedevita Ol. (#6) in Ljubljana and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Crvena zvezda: F.Petrusev 19+6reb+2ast, N.Nedovic 16+1ast, I.Canaan 16+2reb+4ast, O.Dobric 14+1reb+1ast, Y.Dos Santos 12+3reb+10ast, J.Brown III 10+5reb
Cibona: S.Smajlagic 17+3reb+1ast, D.Vukovic 12+1reb+4ast, L.Skoric 11+1reb+1ast, I.Perasovic 11+6reb+2ast, P.Aranitovic 11+2reb+8ast, I.Majcunic 10+3reb+2ast
gschID: 1180044
Spartak – Cedevita Ol. 99-90
The game in Subotica was also quite interesting. 6th ranked Slovenian Cedevita Ol. (16-10) played at the court of seventh ranked Serbian Spartak (14-12). Spartak managed to secure a 9-point victory 99-90 on Sunday. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Cedevita Ol.. Spartak looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. The best player for the winners was forward Luka Cerovina (201-2000) who scored 18 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Center Vojin Medarevic (208-2002) chipped in 18 points and 7 rebounds (perfect from the field making all six shots). Five Spartak players scored in double figures. American forward Devin Robinson (203-1995, college: Florida) produced 15 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists and American-Jamaican Brynton Lemar (193-1995, college: UC Davis) added 19 points and 5 steals (was perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line) respectively for the guests. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Spartak maintains seventh position with 14-12 record. Defending Slovenian champion Cedevita Ol. keeps the sixth place with ten games lost. Spartak will meet Mega BG (#8) in the next round. Cedevita Ol. will play against Cibona and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Spartak: V.Medarevic 18+7reb, L.Cerovina 18+6reb+4ast, U.Gibson 13+1reb+1ast, N.Gordic 13+1reb+6ast, D.Ilic 11+3reb+2ast, D.Nikolic 10+6reb+3ast
Cedevita Ol.: B.Lemar 19+4reb+1ast, G.Glas 16+3reb, D.Robinson 15+7reb+4ast, J.Beringer 10+5reb+1ast, D.Stewart Jr. 9+8reb+2ast, A.Nikolic 9+2reb+5ast
gschID: 1180045
Borac CA – Mega BG 76-80
One of the most interesting games of round 26 was a derby match between two teams from Serbia. The game took place in Cacak where ninth ranked Mega BG won against host Borac CA (8-18) 80-76. Mega BG players were unselfish on offense dishing 21 assists. Guard Mihailo Petrovic (190-2003) notched a double-double by scoring 11 points, 7 rebounds and 12 assists to lead the effort and forward Bogoljub Markovic (210-2005) supported him with 15 points and 6 rebounds. Four Mega BG players scored in double figures. Even 15 points, 6 assists and 4 steals by American point guard Diante Baldwin (182-1994, college: UNCG) did not help to save the game for Borac. Lithuanian guard Paulius Valinskas (191-1995) added 20 points for the hosts. Mega BG (13-13) moved-up to eighth place, which they share with FMP BG. Borac lost sixth consecutive game. They dropped to the twelfth position with 18 games lost. They share it with Split. Mega BG will play against higher ranked Spartak (#7) in Subotica in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Borac will play at home against Zadar (#10) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Mega BG: B.Markovic 15+6reb+2ast, F.Jovic 14+2reb, T.Malovec 11+1reb+2ast, M.Petrovic 11+7reb+12ast, S.Miljenovic 10+4reb+2ast, A.Jelavic 9+6reb
Borac CA: P.Valinskas 20+3reb+2ast, D.Baldwin 15+4reb+6ast, S.Fundic 14+5reb+1ast, M.Josilo 9+6reb+1ast, J.Furmanavicius 7+2reb, N.Manojlovic 5+3reb+1ast
gschID: 1180046
