By Eurohoops Team / info@eurohoops.net
With 10 first-team players, two youngsters, and coach Dusko Ivanovic back on the bench, Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz ended the losing streak in a crazy finish against Partizan Mozzart Bet.
James Nunnally gave the Belgrade team a minimal advantage with 13 seconds to go, but Chima Moneke grabbed the offensive rebound on the other end, and after getting fouled hit two free throws with a second on the clock, to seal an 84-83 victory for the Vitoria team.
Hero Moneke finished the match with 16 points, six rebounds, and four steals for a PIR of 20.
“I’m built different, I make the ones that count, miss the ones that don’t matter,” Moneke said jokingly, smiling from ear to ear. “It feels good to help us win this game. It’s the start of something good. I’m happy with this win; we needed it after a tough couple of weeks.”
Tadas Sedekerskis had another great game with 14 points, eight rebounds, and three assists for a PIR of 22, while Codi Miller-McIntyre flirted with a triple-double, scoring nine points, and adding eight rebounds and assists for a PIR of 21. He also had a special and personal motive for this game.
“Our ability to just keep fighting was key. We did a great job defensively, fighting for 40 minutes. Personally, it was a big win. My grandma is dealing with cancer right now. So if she can call me smiling, she can fight and beat cancer, damn sure we can do the same thing,” Miller-McIntyre said.
Marcus Howard added 14 points, with eight just in the final period, and Vanja Marinkovic also finished in double-digits against his former team with 12, as well as Maik Kotsar who finished with 11 points.
For Partizan, James Nunnally was the top scorer with 16 points, three of them coming in the last seconds. Tristan Vukcevic gave his team an offensive spark with 13 points off the bench, while Zach Leday and Ognjen Jaramaz added 11 points each.
Moneke and Howard stepping up
Baskonia had a good first half. The hosts played especially well in the second quarter when they gained control with a 15-0 run, taking a 48-42 lead at halftime. However, troubles started in the third period. Ivanovic’s team looked like they were losing steam, turning the ball over and giving their rivals many chances to take over. Partizan did just that with a 16-2 run, but Baskonia bounced back and the teams entered the final 10 minutes with the score at 63-66.
Marcus Howard started hitting shots in the decisive moments, giving the hosts hope they could secure their first win of the season. With a 10-2 run, they turned the score around. Partizan responded and got close to a win in the final moments after Nunnally’s layup under foul and successful bonus free throw, but Moneke stepped up and decided the match in Baskonia’s favor.
Ivanovic’s triumphant return
Dusko Ivanovic certainly couldn’t have hoped for a better way to start his new chapter at the helm of Baskonia.
“I’m happy for my players. They played with 100 percent. We had some moments in the game when we lost some balls, but the team believed until the end and I think this is a big thing for us,” Ivanovic said after his triumphant return.
Zeljko Obradovic gave a short and clear message.
“We played much better in the second half, but because of our bad decisions, we lost the game,” Obradovic said.
Baskonia will go to Piraeus for Round 7 to face Olympiacos (09/11), while Partizan will meet Fenerbahce at Stark Arena (09/11).
A special night in Fernando Buesa Arena
Before the match, Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz honored one of its best players of all time on Friday night, as Luis Scola saw his jersey raised into the rafters at Buesa Arena.
LEGEND!!!
Luis Scola's jersey retired by @Baskonia pic.twitter.com/gq7neD5FHR
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) November 3, 2023
Scola played a total of 144 EuroLeague games across seven seasons with Baskonia, the fourth most of all time, during which the team reached the Final Four on four occasions, losing in the championship game in 2001 and 2005.
The Argentine was also the captain of the Baskonia team that won the ACB League, three Copas del Rey, and three Super Cups. He proudly wore the Vitoria club jersey in a total of 447 games, with 303 in the domestic competition.