By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
A 21-10 run in the third quarter was enough for Crvena Zvezda to beat Cedevita 65-73 and qualify to ABA League’s Finals, where they will face Mega Leks.
For the winners, Vladimir Stimac had 17 points, with Quincy Miller adding 14 and six rebounds. On the other hand, Jacob Pullen scored 17 points for the losing squad.
In the beginning, Crvena Zvezda made a better start to the game and quickly took a seven-point lead (5-12). However, Cedevita responded, went on a 14-4 run and closed the first quarter in front by three (19-16).
Later, the hosts were retaining their advantage (26-20), but the visitors managed to tie the game (27-27), with four minutes to go in the second quarter. The Croatians, though, played better and regained their lead at the end of the first half (39-34).
In the second half, the Serbians took over. Executing perfectly on both ends of the floor, they outscored their opponents 21-10 in the third quarter and were in front by six points, after 30 minutes in the game (49-55).
In the fourth quarter, Cedevita tried to make a come-back and cut the deficit to two points (60-62), but Branko Lazic’s crucial three-pointer, with 44 seconds to go, let Crvena Zvezda secure the victory (62-68), as the hosts ran out of time and couldn’t respond.