By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Dejan Davidovac scored a season-high 23 points and Luka Mitrovic connected clutch free throws for Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet in an 89-88 victory against archrival Partizan Mozzart Bet in Aleksandar Nikolic Hall on Monday.
Despite surrendering a ten-point advantage in the first half and also mishandling an eight-point cushion in the fourth period, the recently-crowned AdmiralBet ABA League champions went up 1-0 in a best-of-three championship series of the AdmiralBet Basketball League of Serbia Playoffs. Zach LeDay missing a free throw sealed the narrow win.
Lithuanian import Rokas Giedraitis chipped in 12 points for Zvezda. Connecting three late free throws, Mitrovic ended up with 12 points.
Vasilije Micic, a point guard of the Charlotte Hornets, was in attendance for the exciting Game 1 of the Finals.
Yago Dos Santos was injured early in the fourth quarter, after putting up 18 points and seven assists. Nemanja Nedovic was hurt midway through the third quarter but returned in the fourth period for the reigning league and cup champion in Serbia. Besides unregistered Javonte Smart, Mike Tobey, and Freddie Gillespie, the injury list for the team coached by Giannis Sfairopoulos featured Adam Hanga, Joel Bolomboy, and Nikola Topic.
For the team guided by Zeljko Obradovic, Aleksa Avramovic packing 20 points behing 5/9 makes was not enough to break the homecourt advantage. Dealing with a minor injury, Kevin Punter followed with 12 points. Balsa Koprivica, James Nunnally, P.J. Dozier, Frank Kaminsky, and Bruno Caboclo were out.
The series resumes with Game 2 in Belgrade Arena on Wednesday. Game 3, if necessary, will be played in Aleksandar Nikolic Hall on Saturday.
BLS Playoffs
First Round (best-of-three)
Borac Mozzart – Spartak Office Shoes 2-0 (95-92, 95-70)
FMP Soccerbet – Vojvodina MTS 2-0 (77-68, 93-65)
Second Round (best-of-three)
Boraz Mozzart – FMP Soccerbet 0-2 (87-90, 90-111)
Semifinals (best-of-three)
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet – FMP Soccerbet 2-0 (97-87, 98-75)
Partizan Mozzart Bet – Mega MIS 2-1 (82-72, 88-92, 96-68)
Final (best-of-three)
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet – Partizan Mozzart Bet 1-0 (89-88)
Sanctions for Nunnally and Lazarevic
Besides collisions in the domestic league, the Eternal rivals meet at the regional level through the AdmiralBet ABA League. On Monday, ABA announced sanctions for Stefan Lazarevic and Nunnally, including respective three-game suspensions. The players of Zvezda and Partizan were involved in a fight before Game 3 of the championship series.
Per the press release: “Partizan Mozzart Bet, as well as Partizan Mozzart Bet player James Nunnally and Crvena zvezda Meridianbet player Stefan Lazarević have received sanctions from the ABA League Disciplinary Hrvoje Vidan for the Finals Round 3 game of the AdmiralBet ABA League Finals between Partizan Mozzart Bet and Crvena zvezda Meridianbet in Belgrade Arena, Belgrade.
Due to insufficient organization of the Finals Round 3 game against Crvena zvezda Meridianbet, the ABA League Disciplinary Judge Hrvoje Vidan made a decision to sanction Partizan Mozzart Bet.
Based on the articles 28.2 g), and 28.1 e) of the ABA League Disciplinary Code, Partizan Mozzart Bet is sanctioned by:
-Fine in amount of 21,500 €
Based on the article 26.1. a), of the ABA League Disciplinary Code, Partizan Mozzart Bet player James Nunnally is sanctioned by:
-Fine in amount of 20,000 €
-Temporary disqualification from the competition for the next three games
Based on the article 26.1. a), of the ABA League Disciplinary Code, Crvena zvezda Meridianbet player Stefan Lazarević is sanctioned by:
-Fine in amount of 20,000 €
-Temporary disqualification from the competition for the next three games”
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net