By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
In a packed Aleksandar Nikolic Hall, Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet was far from ready to let go of a winning streak, despite being eliminated from the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs.
Securing an eighth win in a row across all competitions, the Belgrade giant beat Fenerbahce Beko, 91-89, in overtime Thursday.
Facundo Campazzo went from a clutch play to force five extra minutes to eight overtime points. Matching his best scoring showing of the 2022-23 season, the 32-year-old Argentine guard ended up with 24 points in the Regular Season Round 34 contest. “We were playing for nothing at all, but we were playing for the fans,” he explained the constant hustle, “We were playing for us and I think we did a great job.”
Complementing the Argentina backcourt, Luca Vildoza chipped in 17 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Ognjen Dobric threw in 22 more points, a new personal best in Europe’s premier club continental competition. Luka Mitrovic logged 12 points and four assists.
Unsure Fenerbahce in spectator mode
The team coached by Dimitris Itoudis dropped. to 19-14. Finishing in the fifth seed would be the case with a win in Belgrade, but unfavorable outcomes elsewhere in the last week of the double-legged round-robin schedule can lead down to the eighth place and a best-of-five series matchup opposite top-seeded Olympiacos. “We gave our effort and did not stop fighting. Unfortunately, we did not get the result we wanted,” noted the Greek head coach.
Johnathan Motley put up a game-high 27 points but missed a free throw with 3.9 seconds left in regulation as the Istanbul outfit was looking to seal the deal with a three-point lead. His side previously squandered nine-point and eight-point leads in the first half.
Nigel Hayes-Davis had 19 points and eight rebounds in the losing effort. EuroLeague’s all-time assist leader Nick Calathes posted an 11-point, 12-assist double-double but missed a three-pointer at the end of overtime, as did former Zvezda player Marko Guduric as time ran out in the fourth period.
Nemanja Bjelica stayed on the injury list alongside Devin Booker (left knee), Scottie Wilbekin (left knee), and Metecan Birsen (left shoulder). Ismet Akpinar and Samet Geyik were sidelined as well. Back to the domestic level and defending the BSL title, Fener will visit Turk Telekom on Sunday with the opportunity to move past the Ankara outfit and top the standings with five games left on the double-legged round-robin schedule leading to the Playoffs.
Focus on ABA League
Branko Lazic, Miroslav Raduljica, Ognjen Kuzmic, and Ben Bentil did not suit up in Zvezda’s last game of the EuroLeague campaign. However, Dusko Ivanovic guided the hosts to a fifth straight win and an even 17-17 at the end of the season. “Once more, we are sorry we can’t play in the top eight because we had a chance to win the series,” the Montenegrin tactician apologized for his side failing to make the Playoffs, “Maybe next time.”
“It still hurts that we did not make it to the Playoffs. I think we are a good team,” added Vildoza, “We played as a team and we won as a team. I am proud of these guys. I am proud of the coaches. And now we have the ABA League to win.”
Coming out of the EuroLeague Regular Season, the Red-Whites will turn to complete the Regular Season of AdmiralBet ABA League. Improving the 20-3 record and overtaking league-leading Partizan Mozzart Bet emerge as short-term goals. The remaining games are Split at home Monday, Mornar-Barsko zlato in Montenegro Thursday, and Cedevita Olimpija in Slovenia next Monday.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net