By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Only one undefeated in ABA League after the completion of GameDay 9 and this squad is no other than the reigning champion. Playing an excellent game on both ends, Crvena Zvezda overpowered Cibona 90 – 71 in Zagreb and is currently basking at the sweet solitude of the first place in championship.
Coach Radonjic was probably happy seeing his guys performing with a team spirit that produced 20 assists and allowed five of them to score 10 points or more. Stefan Jovic was the top performer of Red Star with 14 points plus 6 assists, while Milko Bjelica and newcomer Nate Wolters also dropped 14 points. Ognjen Kuzmic had 13 and Charles Jenkins 10.
Boston Celtics stash Ante Zizic stood out for Cibona with 16 points plus 8 rebounds. His team is now third (6-3 record), tied with Partizan plus fellow Croatians Cedevita
Of course, it’s not this win alone that makes Crvena Zvezda (9-0) the sole holders of the top spot in the standings, since previously perfect Buducnost (8-1) was the victim of an upset by Karpos Sokoli (1-8)! Actually, the team from FYROM made history by registering its first ABA victory… ever!
The aftershock of this defeat by Buducnost brought some radical changes in the team, since head coach Vlado Scepanovic filed his resignation which was accepted by the club. Scepanovic took responsibility for the current situation of his squad, which is not at its prettiest, considering that in their last Eurocup game, the Montenegrins lost by recording an all-time low of 44 points (!) in the competition.
ABA League 2016/2017 – Day 9
Igokea – Mega Leks 64 – 67 (Rade Zagorac 18 p. 10 r.)
Karpos Sokoli – Buducnost 77 – 71 (Dragan Labovic 18 p.)
Partizan – Cedevita 87 – 97 (Pierre Jackson 32 p. 9 a.)
KRKA – Mzt Skopje 97 – 87 (Matic Rebec 24 p. 10 a.)
Olimpija Lubjana – FMP 89 – 85
Mornar Bar – Zadar 104 – 110 (Boris Barac 27 p. 9 r. 5 a.)
Cibona – Crvena Zvezda 71 – 90 (Stefan Jovic 14 p. 6 a.)