By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Don’t let the fact about Real Madrid being tormented by a possibly unprecedented plague of injuries distract you from the undeniable truth behind Crvena Zvezda’s victory: This was one of the biggest moments in the history of the franchise and maybe its “gutsiest” win ever in EuroLeague.
They have beaten mighty powerhouses before, sure. Last season, playing in Belgrade felt like a trip to the ninth circle of Hell for almost every single team that clashed with Red Star. Real Madrid, CSKA Moscow, Barcelona, Panathinaikos, Maccabi Tel Aviv and even EuroLeague champions-to-be Fenerbahce. They all suffered.
Yet that was with 20.000 thousand lunatics on the seats having your back and lashing out the opponent by screaming their souls out. Nope, fans don’t actually play basketball but one can’t underestimate how they can affect a game by switching the heat on in favor of their team while flummoxing the visiting squad. So many players, even EuroLeague stars, former or current NBAers, that have faced Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade, can testify as witnesses.
Now, going to Spain and beating a club like Real Madrid, a title contender that arrived at this match eager to bounce back from a last-minute defeat to Panathinaikos in the previous week, was something else. Truly an absolute triumph.
Even when they are shorthanded, the “Blancos” are famous for recovering after losses by devouring their opponents with the wrath of a wounded beast. They did it against Unicaja Malaga this season and wanted to repeat it last night (1/12) with Red Star as their victims.
Coach Dusan Alimpijevic (at 31 years of age the youngest coach in EuroLeague and, after last night, experiencing the most glorious moment of his career so far) and his players had a different opinion. After falling behind 24 – 19 at the end of the first quarter they fought fire with fire, beating Real at its own game by dropping 27 in the second to grab a 46 – 39 lead at halftime.
Red Star continued bashing Real’s defenses, marching all guns blazing from beyond the arc, and even went up by 13, 47 – 60, six minutes into the second half. It was impressive but only a prelude to the most fascinating aspect of their last night’s feats.
When the Madridistas picked up their own pace in offense, they reacted by evaporating the above deficit and making it a one-point game, 69 – 70 early in the fourth. They had gained their lost drive and seemed determined to not look back.
Once more the Serbian team struck to gain an advantage of seven, 72 – 79 and yet again they saw Real returning, this time to tie it with two minutes remaining and appearing eager to finish the job.
Naturally, other squads would crumble like a tower of cards after surrendering a precious lead and momentum against a team like Real Madrid on the road, not once but twice. Yet Crvena Zvezda didn’t want to be a part of this tradition but write its own piece of history.
The ABA League champions managed to repel their opponents’ comeback attacks enough to disallow them the psychological advantage of taking a lead. This required large amounts of resilience and mental clarity that aren’t easily found in such a young and mostly inexperienced group of players that can be easily overwhelmed in a rollercoaster kind of a battle.
Perhaps that’s why veteran Pero Antic decided to take over during crunch time, assuming the role of “on-court coach” and bringing his game-winning know-how on the stage.
With the score 83 – 84, the three-time EuroLeague champion first forced Luka Doncic (probably “the best player in Europe”, as Antic also said after the match) to commit a traveling violation and then sank the 3-point dagger that sealed the victory for his team.
After the game, Antic told Eurohoops that this result shows the hard work that he and his teammates are doing. Ultimately, this huge success also took place because the Serbs courageously held their ground down the stretch and stood bravely against the intimidating challenge of defeating such an illustrious team away from home. It happened because Crvena Zvezda became unafraid not only of Real Madrid but mainly of the win itself.