Basketball News, Scores, Stats, Analysis, Standings

Aleksandar Sokolovic

The games at this stage are more interesting as they can be crucial for the final standings in Regular Season. Despite we already know who is stronger and who is weaker, there may be still last minute surprises and upsets. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Seventh defeat of league’s leader Zlatibor (19-7) against third ranked Spartak (19-7) 92-91 was the most important game of the last round. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Spartak outrebounded Zlatibor 37-26 including 27 on the defensive glass. Guard Aleksandar Sokolovic (193-1993) saved the victory by scoring 21 points and 6 assists. Andrija Bojic (208-1993) contributed with 18 points and 5 rebounds for the winners. Brano Djukanovic (196-1995) replied with 22 points for Zlatibor. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Spartak have an impressive eight-game winning streak. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Metalac VL and Zlatibor. Zlatibor will play next round against Sloga KR trying to make it back to the top of the standings. Spartak will try to continue on its current victory against eleventh ranked Sloboda U. in Uzice.
Leading Metalac VL (19-7) recorded its seventh loss on the court of seventh ranked Vrsac. Visitors were defeated by Vrsac 86-82. Swingman Stefan Simic (198-1996) scored 15 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals to lead the charge for the winners and Ziga Jurcek chipped in 17 points and 5 rebounds during the contest. Bosnian power forward Ibrahim Durmo (201-1997) responded with a double-double by scoring 24 points and 12 rebounds. Metalac VL’s coach Branislav Ratkovica rotated ten players in this game, but that didn’t help. Vrsac maintains seventh position with 14-12 record. Metalac VL at the other side still keeps top place with seven games lost. They share the position with Spartak and Zlatibor. Vrsac will play against Zdravlje (#14) in Leskovac in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Metalac VL will play at home against Novi Pazar (#13) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Bottom-ranked Kolubara managed to get a seventh victory, breaking the two-game losing streak on Saturday night. This time they edged fifteenth-ranked Dunav SB in Stari Banovci 96-95. Stefan Smith notched 38 points (!!!), 9 rebounds and 8 assists to lead the effort. Even 29 points by Miroslav Pasajlic did not help to save the game for Dunav SB. Kolubara (7-19) moved-up to fifteenth place, which they share with defeated Dunav SB. Dunav SB lost fourth consecutive game. Kolubara will meet at home higher ranked OKK Beograd (#6) in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Dunav SB will play against Tamis PN (#10) in Pancevo and hope to secure a win.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 26: Cacak 94 was smashed by OKK Beograd on the road 102-70. Sloboda U. lost to Vojvodina NS on its own court 83-95. Tamis PN managed to outperform Dynamic VP in Pancevo 88-86. Mladost ZE recorded a loss to Zdravlje at home 68-84. Novi Pazar defeated Sloga KR on the opponent’s court 79-70.

OKK Beograd – Cacak 94 102-70

No shocking result in a game when sixth ranked OKK Beograd (15-10) crushed at home 12th ranked Cacak 94 (9-17) 102-70 on Sunday. OKK Beograd dominated down low during the game scoring 48 of its points in the paint compared to Cacak 94’s 24. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. Naturalized Canadian guard Stefan Miljenovic (190-2001, college: Slippery Rock) notched 17 points and 5 rebounds to lead the effort and forward Asim Djulovic (198-2005) supported him with 18 points. Five OKK Beograd players scored in double figures. Even a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds by American guard Devon Daniels (196-1998, college: NC State) did not help to save the game for Cacak 94. Guard Djordje Curcic-M (194-2005) added 16 points for the guests. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. OKK Beograd have an impressive six-game winning streak. They maintain sixth position with 15-10 record. Newly promoted Cacak 94 keeps the twelfth place with 17 games lost. OKK Beograd will meet Kolubara (#15) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Cacak 94 will play against Mladost ZE and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Cacak 94: C.Djordje 16+2reb, D.Daniels 15+14reb+1ast, D.Tresac 12+2reb+1ast, M.Pantic 8+2reb, D.Majstorovic 7+3reb+1ast, T.Pulliam 6+6ast
OKK Beograd: D.Asim 18+4reb+2ast, S.Miljenovic 17+5reb+3ast, P.Samardziski 14+5reb+4ast, M.Aleksa 13+6reb+2ast, T.Nikola 11+1reb+5ast, J.Andrija 11+8reb+3ast

gschID: 1019496

Vrsac – Metalac VL 86-82

Leading Metalac VL (19-7) recorded its seventh loss on the court of seventh ranked Vrsac. Visitors were defeated by Vrsac 86-82. Strangely Metalac VL outrebounded Vrsac 45-28 including a 31-19 advantage in defensive rebounds. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 21 assists. Swingman Stefan Simic (198-1996) scored 15 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals to lead the charge for the winners and Slovenian Ziga Jurcek (195-1998) chipped in 17 points and 5 rebounds during the contest. Bosnian power forward Ibrahim Durmo (201-1997) responded with a double-double by scoring 24 points and 12 rebounds and center Uros Lukovic (213-1989, agency: BeoBasket) produced a double-double by scoring 13 points and 16 rebounds. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Metalac VL’s coach Branislav Ratkovica rotated ten players in this game, but that didn’t help. Vrsac maintains seventh position with 14-12 record. Metalac VL at the other side still keeps top place with seven games lost. They share the position with Spartak and Zlatibor. Vrsac will play against Zdravlje (#14) in Leskovac in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Metalac VL will play at home against Novi Pazar (#13) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Metalac VL: I.Durmo 24+12reb, J.Randell 13+3reb+4ast, U.Lukovic 13+16reb+3ast, M.Ilic 11+3reb+2ast, A.Stevanovic 7+3reb, R.Seslija 6+1reb+1ast
Vrsac: Z.Jurcek 17+5reb+2ast, S.Simic 15+6reb+4ast, B.Jekovic 13+4reb, J.Slobodan 10+3ast, S.Agoc 10+4reb+3ast, M.Susic 7+3reb+9ast

gschID: 1019517

Sloboda U. – Vojvodina NS 83-95

Very expected game when 11th ranked Sloboda U. (10-16) lost to fourth ranked Vojvodina NS (18-8) in Uzice 83-95 on Saturday. Vojvodina NS made 20-of-22 free shots (90.9 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. International Dusan Beslac (205-1998) notched 29 points and 8 rebounds to lead the effort and guard Marko Ljubicic (195-1987) supported him with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Even 13 points and 8 rebounds by Aleksa Ilic (207-2000) did not help to save the game for Sloboda U.. Bosnian guard Nemanja Nikolic (196-1998) added 11 points and 9 rebounds for the hosts. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Vojvodina NS maintains fourth position with 18-8 record. Loser Sloboda U. keeps the eleventh place with 16 games lost. Vojvodina NS will meet at home Dynamic VP (#5) in the next round. Sloboda U. will play against the league’s second-placed Spartak (#2) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Sloboda U.: A.Cubic 14+4reb, D.Miladinovic 13+4reb+2ast, A.Ilic 13+8reb+3ast, N.Nikolic 11+9reb, B.Petar 8+3ast, D.Bozic 8+3reb+1ast
Vojvodina NS: D.Beslac 29+8reb+2ast, S.Sajin 13+5reb+2ast, N.Pesakovic 13+1reb+4ast, M.Ljubicic 12+7reb+7ast, S.Mitrovic 8+1reb+1ast, L.Campara 6+2reb

gschID: 1019638

Dynamic VP – Tamis PN 86-88

There was a surprise result when tenth ranked Tamis PN (12-14) edged higher ranked Dynamic VP (17-9) in Beograd 88-86 on Saturday. Tamis PN made 24-of-30 free shots (80.0 percent) during the game. Forward Ivan Smiljanic (199-1989) notched a double-double by scoring 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead the effort and guard Marko Sinik (191-1998) supported him with 21 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Four Tamis PN players scored in double figures. Even 18 points and 4 assists by guard Ilija Milijasevic (190-2004) did not help to save the game for Dynamic VP. Forward Nikola Kostic (197-1996, agency: BeoBasket) added 23 points for the hosts. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Tamis PN maintains tenth position with 12-14 record. Loser Dynamic VP keeps the fifth place with nine games lost. Tamis PN will meet at home bottom-ranked Dunav SB (#16) in the next round where they are favorite. Dynamic VP will play against Vojvodina NS (#4) in Novi Sad and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Dynamic VP: N.Kostic 23+1reb+1ast, M.Ilija 18+3reb+4ast, B.Mihailo 16+5reb+1ast, M.Filip 7+6reb, N.Sulovic 6+4reb+2ast, J.Ristic 5+8reb
Tamis PN: M.Sinik 21+5reb+4ast, I.Smiljanic 21+11reb+1ast, B.Stanojevic 15+8reb+2ast, N.Simic 11+1reb+1ast, L.Lazar 8+3reb, D.Djordjevic 6+3reb

gschID: 1019650

Mladost ZE – Zdravlje 68-84

There was an upset when higher ranked Mladost ZE (12-13) lost to fourteenth ranked Zdravlje (8-18) in Zemun 68-84 on Friday. Zdravlje looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. American-Jamaican Duane Morgan (198-1993, college: Adelphi) notched 32 points and 7 rebounds to lead the effort and American guard Noah Blackwell (190-1996, college: Fresno St.) supported him with 19 points and 5 assists. Even 9 points and 8 rebounds by forward Aleksa Markovic (198-2001) did not help to save the game for Mladost ZE. Forward Vuk Dobrasinovic (200-2002) added 13 points and 5 rebounds for the hosts. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Zdravlje maintains fourteenth position with 8-18 record. Mladost ZE lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the eighth place with 13 games lost. They share the position with Sloga KR. Zdravlje will meet at home higher ranked Vrsac (#7) in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Mladost ZE will play against Cacak 94 and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Mladost ZE: D.Vuk 13+5reb+2ast, G.Marko 10+3reb+4ast, P.Zivojinovic 10+4reb, A.Markovic 9+8reb+3ast, L.Pavlovic 7+1ast, R.Dusan 7+3reb+5ast
Zdravlje: D.Morgan 32+7reb+3ast, N.Blackwell 19+3reb+5ast, S.Stamenkovic 11+2reb+1ast, M.Skundric 9+2ast, J.Jordan 8+6reb+9ast, J.Stevan 5+9reb+1ast

gschID: 1069512

Dunav SB – Kolubara 95-96

Bottom-ranked Kolubara managed to get a seventh victory, breaking the two-game losing streak on Saturday night. This time they edged fifteenth-ranked Dunav SB in Stari Banovci 96-95. Kolubara made 23-of-30 free shots (76.7 percent) during the game. Canadian guard Stefan Smith (188-1999, college: St.John’s) notched 38 points (!!!), 9 rebounds and 8 assists to lead the effort and power forward Dusan Stojicic (204-2001) supported him with 19 points and 5 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). Even 29 points by guard Miroslav Pasajlic (190-1995) did not help to save the game for Dunav SB. Guard Milan Vulic (196-1991) added 22 points and 5 assists for the hosts. Four Kolubara and five Dunav SB players scored in double figures. Kolubara (7-19) moved-up to fifteenth place, which they share with defeated Dunav SB. Dunav SB lost fourth consecutive game. Kolubara will meet at home higher ranked OKK Beograd (#6) in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Dunav SB will play against Tamis PN (#10) in Pancevo and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Dunav SB: M.Pasajlic 29+1reb+3ast, M.Vulic 22+4reb+5ast, N.Kovacevic 18+6reb+2ast, V.Malidzan 10+5reb+9ast, S.Krsmanovic 10+5reb, A.Miljkovic 4+1reb+1ast
Kolubara: S.Smith 38+9reb+8ast, S.Dusan 19+5reb+1ast, M.Grusanovic 17+2reb+4ast, V.Sindjelic 13+2reb+2ast, R.Torres 4+4reb, B.Suznjev 3+2reb+3ast

gschID: 1069600

Sloga KR – Novi Pazar 70-79

There was a surprise result when fourteenth ranked Novi Pazar (8-17) defeated higher ranked Sloga KR (12-13) in Kraljevo 79-70 on Saturday. Novi Pazar looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Swingman Bogdan Mikavica (194-1999) notched 22 points and 5 assists to lead the effort and center Asmir Numanovic (208-1991) supported him with 12 points and 8 rebounds. Four Novi Pazar players scored in double figures. Even 16 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists by American swingman Dimitrius Underwood (193-1998, college: Charleston) did not help to save the game for Sloga KR. Swingman Djordje Simeunovic (201-1996) added 14 points and 6 rebounds for the hosts. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Novi Pazar moved-up to thirteenth place. Loser Sloga KR keeps the eighth position with 13 games lost. They share it with Mladost ZE. Novi Pazar will meet league’s leader Metalac VL in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Sloga KR will play against Zlatibor (#3) and will have a slim chance for a victory.
Top scorers:
Sloga KR: D.Underwood 16+7reb+4ast, D.Simeunovic 14+6reb+2ast, M.Stajcic 13+2reb+2ast, Z.Paunovic 8+2reb+2ast, V.Luka 4+2reb+1ast, S.Bogdan 4+3reb+3ast
Novi Pazar: B.Mikavica 22+1reb+5ast, A.Numanovic 12+8reb+2ast, J.Nicholas 12+5reb, T.Bruncevic 11, F.Bakic 6+3ast, V.Radomirovic 6+6reb+1ast