By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
After squandering a 16-point lead, Partizan Mozzart Bet restored a double-digit advantage down the stretch to defeat Mega MIS, 89-78, in Podgorica’s Moraca Sports Hall on Monday.
Behind six double-digit scorers, the team coached by Zeljko Obradovic progressed to the Semifinals of the ABA Super Cup. James Nunnally dropped 13 points, including three three-pointers. Dominating inside the paint, Frank Kaminsky added 12 points. P.J. Dozier had 11 points. Zach LeDay, Uros Trifunovic, and Kevin Punter chipped in ten points each.
Mateusz Ponitka did not make the trip to the capital and largest city of Montenegro due to injury. Coming off a silver medal in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Aleksa Avramovic followed the team but is not expected to play.
The fourth edition of the preseason tournament follows a two-year break and precedes the tipoff of the 2023-24 edition of the AdmiralBet ABA League. Previous winners were Partizan NIS in Zagreb, Crvena Zvezda mts in Laktasi, and Cedevita in Bar.
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet opted against participating this season, allowing Igokea m:tel to enter the field. The representative of Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Basketball Champions League went on to upset Cedevita Olimpija, 75-65, in the opener of the tournament and qualify for the Semifinals.
In the other two games, Buducnost VOLI beat Zadar 70-58 and SC Derby prevailed with ease over FMP Soccerbet with the final score being 93-75.
The Semifinals and classification games will follow tomorrow. The Final and remaining classification games wrap up the schedule on Wednesday.
Photo Credit: ABA-Liga.com