Win against Mega for ending of the ABA League

The Cedevita Olimpija basketball players concluded the regular part of the ABA League with a 85:79 victory over Mego Soccerbet on Tuesday. Given the fact that Igokea failed to beat Mornar in Laktasi, the Dragons finished the competition in fifth place.

Cedevita Olimpija ended on Tuesday in their home town of Stožice with matches in international competitions in the 2020/21 season. In the match of the 26th round of the ABA League, the team of head coach Jurica Golemec defeated Mego Soccerbet with 85:79, but because Igokea failed to beat Mornar from Bar on the home floor, the Dragons finished the competition in fifth place. The goal set before the start of the season, to qualify for the finals of the competition, therefore, unfortunately, was not achieved.

For the first time since the 2014/15 season, the Ljubljana team finished the season in fifth place in the regular season of the ABA League. At the same time, the fact that Zagreb’s Cedevita managed to make it to the semifinals in the 2018/19 season cannot be ignored, and the 2019/20 season was prematurely interrupted due to the coronavirus pandemic and later ended, without a final ranking.

The Cedevita Olimpija basketball players turned the match with Mega in their favor in the second half. After the introductory 20 minutes of the match, the Belgrade team led with 50:39, then the Dragons played better in defense and after the main break allowed the guests to score ‘only’ 29 points. They only scored 46, and in the end were looking forward to a reliable but hard-earned victory with 85:79.

Jaka Blažič showed an excellent performance, adding 30 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. He was followed by Mikael Hopkins with 11 points and Kendrick Perry with 10.

A new test awaits Cedevita Olimpija on Thursday, when the Ljubljana team will face Rogaška in Rogaška Slatina in the remaining match of the seventh round of the Nova KBM League.

STATEMENTS AFTER THE MATCH:

Jurica Golemac, head coach of BC Cedevita Olimpija:
“Congratulations to the boys for a hard-earned victory. In the second half, the energy was real, just like we were looking for in the first 20 minutes. We were not real at the beginning of the match, we were too soft, it was known that we did not do any real training in three weeks. After the main break, the boys showed what they know and proved that with a good game in defense we can beat everyone. “

Jaka Blažič, captain of BC Cedevita Olimpija:
“It’s a shame because at the end of the season we lost our position among the top four teams in the ABA League. The trip to Montenegro and Serbia simply exhausted us and we did not come to the match with Cibona fresh and ready. I also take much of the blame for the defeat in Zagreb. We need to look ahead. I believe that we have delighted quite a few fans this season, and we will continue in this style. “

ABA LEAGUE, ROUND 25

Stožice Arena (Ljubljana, Slovenia), Tuesday, April 27:
CEDEVITA OLIMPIJA – MEGA SOCCERBET 85:79 (19:30, 20:20, 26:15, 20:14)
Cedevita Olimpija: Radović, Perry 10, Hopkins 11 (5 rebounds), Duščak, Murić 3, Blažič 30 (7 rebounds, 7 asissts), Brown 8 (8 skokov), Hodžić, Jones 9, Dimec 6, Marinković, Rupnik 8.

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