Facing Zadar in legendary Jazine

Basketball players of Cedevita Olimpija continue with a demanding game schedule. On Saturday at 17.00, they will visit Zadar in the legendary Jazine Hall, aiming to break their losing streak in the eighth round of the regular season of the AdmiralBet ABA League.

The Cedevita Olimpija senior team traveled to Dalmatia on Friday, specifically to Zadar, where they will face the home team in the eighth round of the AdmiralBet ABA League on Saturday at 17.00. After seven games, both teams are ranked 12th and 13th in the standings, respectively, sharing the same record of wins and losses. Both teams have so far recorded two wins and five losses.

Head coach Zvezdan Mitrović did not travel with the team as he is recovering from a routine medical procedure following back issues, nor did Brynton Lemar. Lemar underwent a medical examination on Wednesday, which showed that his recovery from a foot injury sustained in the second round of the BKT EuroCup against Venezia is progressing according to plan. This week, Lemar will continue with individual training under maximum load as a precaution, and it is expected that he will rejoin team practices during the competition break. Next Tuesday will mark six weeks since his injury on October 1.

STATEMENTS BEFORE THE GAME:

“Zadar has been playing very well recently, although they have suffered two losses at home, against Crvena zvezda and Partizan. They defeated Krka in Novo mesto and Split in the Croatian National Championship, which certainly demonstrates their quality. The team is composed of players capable of covering multiple positions, which is a significant advantage for Zadar, especially in their offense. We need to react as best as possible after a series of losses and respond to the atmosphere that awaits us on Saturday without letting it be a hindrance. At the same time, we need to be reliable in attack and as strong and aggressive as possible in defense,” said Đorđe Adžić ahead of Saturday’s match.

“We have unfortunately failed to secure a win in our last four matches, and Saturday’s game will be a tough away challenge. Zadar has the same win-loss record as we do, so we will need to play aggressively as a fierce battle awaits us on the court. We believe in ourselves and in our ability to return to Ljubljana with two points,” said Bine Prepelič before the trip to Zadar.

TV BROADCAST:

The game broadcast will be available from 4:50 PM on Arena Sport Slovenia 1 and on Kanal A, while the online stream will be accessible on VOYO Slovenia.

GAME PREVIEW:

Cedevita Olimpija has recently found itself in a results crisis. The Dragons have suffered four consecutive defeats – two in the regional league and two in the European Cup, the most recent one at home against JL Bourg, where they were in the fight for victory until the last moments of the match. After a strong start in the EuroCup, winning four out of their first five games, the Ljubljana team now has a record of 4-3. Their performance in the regional league is less favorable, with a 2-5 record after seven games. Their last two losses were against Budućnost and Crvena zvezda, who currently top the standings. The upcoming test in Jazine on Saturday will be an excellent opportunity for the Dragons to return to winning ways, though the path to success in Zadar will not be easy.

Trips to Zadar are traditionally challenging, made even more special by the fact that the teams will play in the legendary Jazine Hall, which was built between 1967 and 1968, with basketball being played on outdoor courts at the site even earlier.

Zadar started the regional season with a victory over Cibona, followed by five consecutive losses. However, in the last round, they defeated Krka away in Novo mesto. Zadar is performing much better in the Croatian National Championship, where they lead the standings with seven wins in seven games. During this period, Zadar has already defeated both ABA League rivals, Cibona and Split, and in their latest game, they triumphed over Dubrovnik in the Dalmatian showdown.

Following Luka Božić’s departure in the summer, a two-time MVP of the regional league, Marko Ramljak has been Zadar’s most effective player in the 2024/25 season in the regional league, averaging 11.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. Zadar’s top scorer in the ABA League is Amar Gegić, who averages 14.0 points per game after seven matches, along with 3.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists. Gegić was also named the MVP of the first round, scoring 30 points, grabbing five rebounds, and dishing out four assists in just under 37 minutes against Cibona.

ADMIRALBET ABA LEAGUE, ROUND 8 OF THE REGULAR SEASON

Basketball Hall Jazine (Zadar, Croatia), Saturday, November 9, at 17.00:
ZADAR – CEDEVITA OLIMPIJA (TV broadcast on Arena Sport Slovenia 1 and Kanal A)

STANDINGS:

LOOKING AHEAD:

After the game in Zadar, Cedevita Olimpija will play two more matches before the competition break due to national team activities. First, they will face the undefeated team of Group B in the EuroCup, Valencia, on Tuesday at 8:30 PM. This will be followed by a match against Mega at Tivoli Hall on Saturday, November 16. Tickets for the game are already available at vstopnice.olimpija.com.