By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Crvena Zvezda is the 2019 ABA League champion. The Serbian team blew out Montenegrin side and defending champ Buducnost 97 – 54 in Game 5 of the Finals to win the series 3-2.
Apart from claiming the title for the fourth time in the history of the club, Crvena Zvezda also got a position in the 2019-2020 EuroLeague. Red Star is back in the top-tier competition after losing the spot to Buducnost last season.
K.C. Rivers scored a game-high 21 points for the winning side that practically finished the game by halftime. The hosts overpowered their opponents 29 – 8 in the second quarter to reach halftime up 47 – 21. Buducnost was unable to react and lost further ground, despite coach Jasmin Repesa’s pleas to his players to try and finish the game as best as possible.
Their team had received a rude welcome in the arena that led to the game being delayed. Similar incidents had taken place in Game 4 in Podgorica.
Borisa Simanic had a key output since he dropped his 10 points in 10 minutes (on perfect 3/3 f.g., 3/3 f.t. shooting) of the first half. The Serbian forward also had a couple of highlights, two days after officially declaring for the NBA Draft. Dejan Davidovac added 11 points for Red Star that prevailed despite missing Stratos Perperoglou.
Showtime in Belgrade!??
Boriša Simanić blocks, Boriša Simanić dunks! @kkcrvenazvezda #ABALiga #RoadToGlory pic.twitter.com/CDOVbUK6cU
— ABA Liga (@ABA_League) April 22, 2019
No Buducnost player scored in double figures. Norris Cole scored nine while projected lottery pick in the 2019 Draft Goga Bitadze had seven points in 16:36.
After the game, Billy Baron of Crvena Zvezda was named MVP of the ABA Liga playoffs.