By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
After defeating Valencia and losing to Barcelona in yet another EuroLeague double week, Crvena Zvezda had one of the toughest tasks in the ABA League.
Ioannis Sfairopoulos’s side was visiting Buducnost in one of the Adriatic classics and suffered the biggest ABA League defeat of the season with the final score in Moraca being 84-62.
Yogi Ferrel led the winning side with 18 points, while Fletcher Magee added 13 and Kenan Kamenjas 12 points, as 14-5 Buducnost gets within two victories of leading Crvena Zvezda, with a better head-to-head score.
Luka Mitrovic led the Red and Whites with 16 points and six rebounds, while Nemanja Nedovic was the only other player in double digits, scoring 10 points.
Partizan losses at home
After Crvena Zvezda fell to Buducnost in Podgorica, reigning ABA League champions Partizan Mozzart Bet also got defeated, as Split surprisingly won 67-74 in Belgrade’s Stark Arena.
Zeljko Obradovic decided to rest Kevin Punter and P.J. Dozier, a decision that proved to be costly for Partizan. Only James Nunnally managed to reach double figures with 10 points, and the team experienced one of its worst offensive performances this season, despite 11 players contributing to the scoring sheet.
Shannon Shorter led the Croatian team to a significant road win with 18 points and eight rebounds, while Lewis Sullivan added 15 points for the victorious side.
After 19 rounds, the ABA League standings show Crvena Zvezda at the top with a 16-3 record, followed by Buducnost with 14-5. Partizan shares the third spot with Cedevita Olimpija, both boasting a 13-6 record.
ABA League Round 19:
Borac – Cedevita Olimpija 65-74
FMP – Igokea 78-64
Buducnost – Crvena zvezda 84-62
Partizan – Split 67-74
Mornar – Cibona (TBP)
Krka – SC Derby (06/02)
Zadar – Mega (06/02)
Standings: Crvena Zvezda 16-3, Buducnost 14-5, Partizan 13-6, Cedevita Olimpija 13-6…
Photo: ABA League/Buducnost VOLI/Filip Roganovic