By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Before the EuroLeague playoff series with Real Madrid, Partizan Mozzart Bet played a crucial game in the ABA League against Buducnost VOLI in Podgorica and won 83-82 thanks to a Kevin Punter’s free throw with two seconds on the clock.
Zeljko Obradovic’s team had a 79-72 advantage with 68 seconds to go, but Erick Green scored six points in a row and brought Buducnost back. Partizan gained a four-point cushion, but Green scored a three-pointer under foul and made a bonus free throw to tie the score with three seconds to go.
Trea Bell Haynes then made an unintentional foul on Kevin Punter, giving Partizan’s captain a chance to win the game from the free throw line, which he took, scoring the second shot from the line for the win, securing his team the first place in the ABA League standings before the playoffs.
Punter was the top scorer of the winning side with 14 points, and Mathias Lessort had 13 with seven rebounds and a team-high PIR of 19. Zach Leday was a rebound shy of a double-double with 12 points, while Ioannis Papapetrou finished the match with 11.
Erick Green put on a show with 31 points and a PIR of 34, but it wasn’t enough for the win since only Bell Haynes followed him with 12 points.
The playoff picture in ABA League is now completed, as Partizan will face SC Derby in the quarterfinals. Crvena Zvezda will finish second, despite a win over Mornar and one game left to play against Cedevita Olimpija. The reigning champs will face Zadar in the first round of the playoffs.
The other quarterfinal pairs are Buducnost VOLI vs. Mega MIS and Cedevita Olimpija vs. FMP Soccernet.
ABA League postponed games results:
Mornar – Crvena Zvezda 65-87
Buducnost – Partizan 82-83
Mornar – Igokea (23/04)
Cedevita Olimpija – Crvena zvezda (24/04)
Standings: 1. Partizan 24-2, 2. Crvena zvezda 22-3, 3. Buducnost 18-8, 4. Cedevita Olimpija 17-8, 5. FMP 14-12, 6. Mega 12-14, 7. Zadar 11-15, 8. SC Derby 11-15…
ABA playoff – quarterfinals (1-1-1)
(1) Partizan – SC Derby (8)
(2) Crvena Zvezda – Zadar (7)
(3) Buducnost – Mega (6)
(4) Cedevita Olimpija – FMP (5)
Photo: ABA League/Buducnost/Filip Roganovic