By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
A sensational night in the ABA league as Partizan lost against KK SC Derby in Belgrade. The team from Podgorica won in a crazy finish 84-83. Kevin Punter had a chance to win in for the Belgrade team but missed at the buzzer.
The series now moves to Podgorica where Partizan is in a must-win situation if they want to stay alive in the series.
Zvonimir Ivicic with 22 points was the star of the night for the winning side, while Zach LeDay scored 20 for Partizan with Punter adding 14. Ivicic made the score 84-83 with a goal foul and 56 seconds left on the clock, however neither team could score after that.
As coach Zeljko Obradovic said: “Here it is, it happened. They are leading 1-0, there is a game waiting for us there, it is up to us to bring the series back to Belgrade”.
Derby had as many as 20 rebounds more than Partizan and Obradovic added: “There is no other explanation than a huge desire, I should go and ask some players individually, that’s the essence. Did we prepare the game, did we take care, did we provide data, that in a situation where you don’t have a bonus, that you watch a player who shoots a three-pointer or that you watch a player who goes for a jump. So, it’s obvious… We’ll do an analysis, and we’ll see”.
Partizan was missing due to knee pains Alen Smajlagic and Tristan Vukcevic is in the US preparing for the upcoming NBA draft.