By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
After both sides squandered nine-point leads, Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet secured a narrow win, 85-82, over Partizan Mozzart Bet to go up 1-0 in a best-of-five series in the Finals of the AdmiralBet ABA League Playoffs on Monday.
Four players went into double-digits for the team coached by Giannis Sfairopoulos against the defending ABA champions, including Yago Dos Santos combining a team-high 18 points with six assists and four steals. Behind the passionate support of the crowd, the 25-year-old Brazilian guard scored seven points in the fourth period.
Luka Mitrovic and Milos Teodosic added 14 points each. Dejan Davidovac followed with 12 points. Serbia’s reigning league and cup champions ruled out Javonte Smart, Adam Hanga, Mike Tobey, and Dalibor Ilic for Game 1, before sidelining Nikola Topic late in the third quarter. Freddie Gillespie suited up but did not play.
Kevin Punter and James Nunnally combined for 14 points as Partizan won the first quarter, 20-17. From jumping to a nine-point lead in the second quarter, the team coached by Zeljko Obradovic settled for a tie at the break, 39-39. In the third period, Zvezda failed to hold on to a nine-point cushion.
On the wrong end of the Eternal Derby in Aleksandar Nikolic Hall, Nunnally tallied 27 points, a new season-high for the 33-year-old forward. Besides Balsa Koprivica and Ognjen Jaramaz sitting out, Uros Trifunovic and Danilo Andjusic stayed on the bench.
Miami Heat’s Nikola Jovic was among numerous Serbian superstars in attendance.
Photo Credit: ABA-Liga.com