Away game in Split is up ahead

The senior team of Cedevita Olimpija, which secured a spot in the BKT EuroCup playoffs on Wednesday after the outcomes of the remaining Group B games, is heading to Split on Friday. There, they will face Split on Saturday at 17:00 as part of Round 19 of the AdmiralBet ABA League regular season, aiming for their fifth consecutive victory in the competition.

Cedevita Olimpija is traveling to face the always-challenging Split, with whom the Dragons will clash in Round 19 of the AdmiralBet ABA League regular season. On Saturday at 17:00, they will attempt to secure their fifth consecutive regional league win of 2025 in the legendary Gripe Arena, while also striving to get back on the winning track after Tuesday’s home loss to Valencia.

Ahead of Round 19, the Ljubljana squad has closed in on the top four teams in the standings, which grant home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. With 11 wins and seven losses, the Dragons are tied with Igokea m:tel, who will visit Tivoli next weekend. They trail Dubai, currently in fourth place, by two victories. Split entered this round in 13th place with six wins and 12 losses, but with a confidence boost from their midweek Croatian national championship game.

STATEMENTS BEFORE THE GAME:

“A very tough game awaits us. Split is in a results crisis following their coaching change, and we must also consider that their schedule has been very demanding since the transition. I am sure they will step onto the court on Saturday highly motivated. We are somewhat emotionally drained and have a long journey ahead to Split. This game is crucial for us in the fight for the top of the standings and the playoffs in the regional league. Our first encounter with Split was tough; we won with a buzzer-beater. I truly expect a very difficult game,” said Cedevita Olimpija’s head coach, Zvezdan Mitrović, ahead of Saturday’s challenge.

“The game against Split will be tough. In our first matchup, they came out strong against us, and we had to gradually fight our way back into the game to secure the win with the final shot. Split will definitely want revenge for that loss and will put pressure on us. A physical battle awaits us, as our opponents will be looking to pay us back for the defeat in Tivoli. It will be a fight, it will be fun, as both teams will give their all, and we will see how it turns out,” said Devin Robinson, who decided the first game in Tivoli with a buzzer-beater.

“A tough road game awaits us in this series of matches in the regional league and the EuroCup. We must remain very focused on our tasks and do everything we can to extend our winning streak in the regional league,” said Danilo Tasić before departing for Split.

TV BROADCAST:

The match will be broadcast on Arena Sport Slovenia 1 Premium and Kanal A.

MATCH PREVIEW:

Cedevita Olimpija faces a traditionally difficult away game against Split, where the Ljubljana team suffered a loss last season. Their first encounter this season, held at Hala Tivoli on October 12, was decided by Devin Robinson’s buzzer-beater, sealing a 76:74 victory for the Dragons.

Split enters this clash with four consecutive losses, the last two coming against top-tier teams Crvena Zvezda and Budućnost. In Round 16, Igokea emerged victorious against them, and the round before, Zadar secured a win. Split’s last victory came on December 27, when they defeated Mornar-Barsko zlato (87:73) at home.

Their performances in the Croatian national championship have been significantly better. After 18 games, they have 14 wins, and most recently, they defeated Dubrovnik 82:64 in a Dalmatian derby on Wednesday. The top scorers for Split in that game were David Skara (14), Boris Tisma, and Vito Kučić (both with 11 points).

Among Split’s ranks, two players are currently among the top ten in the AdmiralBet ABA League in performance index rating. The most efficient player for Split this season is Shannon Shorter, averaging 15.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, making him the third most efficient player in the league. David Skara ranks ninth, averaging 13.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.

Unlike Split, Cedevita Olimpija enters Saturday’s game with four consecutive wins in the ABA League, remaining unbeaten in the regional league in the new calendar year. Head coach Zvezdan Mitrović’s squad will also look to bounce back after Tuesday’s home defeat to Valencia. They carry positive momentum from their last ABA League outing, a dominant 114:72 victory over Mornar-Barsko zlato in Stožice last weekend.

ADMIRALBET ABA LEAGUE, ROUND 19 REGULAR SEASON

KK Split Small Hall (Split, Croatia), Saturday, February 1, at 17:00:
SPLIT – CEDEVITA OLIMPIJA (Live broadcast on Arena Sport Slovenia 1 Premium and Kanal A)

LOOKING AHEAD:

After the game in Split, the Dragons will face another away game, but this time on the opposite side of Europe. They are traveling to Hamburg, where a victory against the home team would secure third place in the EuroCup standings after the group stage and guarantee home-court advantage in the Round of 16. After that, they return to their home court, hosting Igokea m:tel at Hala Tivoli next Saturday at 17:00. Tickets for the game are already available at vstopnice.olimpija.com.