By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Partizan Belgrade entered ABA League Round 22 as the sole leader in the standings, holding one more win than its closest follower, Budućnost Voli.
However, after losing to Barcelona in EuroLeague Round 29, Željko Obradović’s team suffered another defeat, falling to Dubai on the road with a final score of 80-72.
Carlik Jones led Partizan with 16 points but managed just two in the first half and 10 in the final quarter. Brandon Davies followed with 15 points and was the only other Belgrade player to finish in double digits.
With this loss, Partizan dropped to 20-3, tying Budućnost again at the top of the standings, while Dubai improved to 18-5. Awudu Abass scored 15 points for the hosts, while Nate Mason and Danilo Anđušić added 12 apiece. Klemen Prepelič contributed 11 points, six assists, and four rebounds, while Jerry Boutsiele finished with 10 points.
While Partizan stumbled, Crvena Zvezda secured a victory in ABA League Round 23, defeating the league’s youngest team, Mega, by a final score of 81-72.
Filip Petrušev shined as his team improved to 18-5 in the standings, recording a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds. Isaiah Canaan followed with 12 points, while Nemanja Nedović and Yago dos Santos added 11 points apiece.
NBA Draft prospect Bogoljub Marković recorded 13 points and six rebounds for Mega, Andrija Jelavić had a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Stefan Miljenović scored 15 and Mihailo Petrović added 13 points.
ABA League Round 23 Results:
Igokea – Spartak Subotica 87-76
Mornar – SC Derby 74-94
FMP – Krka 98-89
Cedevita Olimpija – Zadar 80-75 (OT)
Budućnost – Borac 86-69
Dubai – Partizan 80-72
Split – Cibona 88-82
Crvena Zvezda – Mega 81-72
Standings: Partizan 20-3, Budućnost 20-3, Dubai 18-5, Crvena Zvezda 18-5…