Fatal last quarter in Belgrade

Cedevita Olimpija squad has visited Crvena zvezda mts in the fourth round of the ABA League season. The Sunday’s clash went the hosts’ way, as they have celebrated the win with the score of 79:64.

The Ljubljana players have faced the reigning ABA League champions. Throughout 30 minutes of the game, the two squads have been exchanging their lead and in the end the final quarter was decisive. The Belgrade team won this part of the game by 14 points and celebrated the win in the end with the score of 79:64.

Zach Auguste opened the game against the EuroLeague side with a pair of points. After a couple of errors on both ends, the first quarter went Dragons’ way (17:24). Later in the first half, Cedevita Olimpija continued to shine and led by 16 points already, but a comeback by the hosts followed. The Belgrade squad even won the first half in the end thanks to their great run (40:39). Similar game followed in the third quarter and Crvena zvezda mts led 56:55 after 30 minutes.

The final quarter was unfortunately fatal for Jurica Golemac’s squad. In the final moments, his players lacked focus and the opponents took advantage of that. Belgrade team won the game by 15 points, with the final score of 79:64.

Melvin Ejim was the most efficient player of the Green & orange, as he scored 13 points, Luka Rupnik added 11, while adding 5 assists. Jaka Blažič was the top scorer of the Dragons with 16 points.

QUOTES AFTER THE GAME:

Jurica Golemac, Cedevita Olimpija Head Coach:
»Congratulations to Crvena zvezda mts players for a deserved win. We haven’t managed to hold on fort he entire 40 minutes, since we do not have enough energy and focuse. This is happening to us for a while now. In the last ten minutes we have lost our game organization and that’s where we need to make additional progress. We have played three quarters in accordance with our agreement. Now we need to get on and be even better in the remainder of the season.«

Luka Rupnik, Cedevita Olimpija player:
»It’s a shame that, just like against FMP, we have been in control of the game for its major part, while afterwards a blackout followed. The home side played very aggressively and they took advantage of that and we did not do a good jo bunder both rims. At the same time we have allowed our opponents too many offensive rebounds. This is sports and a good thing is that in two days we will have a chance to bounce back against Gran Canaria, where we wish to start our 7DAYS EuroCup season well.«

ABA LEAGUE, ROUND 4

Dvorana Aleksandar Nikolić (Belgrade, Serbia), Sunday, October 17, at 21.00:
CRVENA ZVEZDA MTS – CEDEVITA OLIMPIJA 79:64 (17:24, 23:15, 16:16, 23:9)
Cedevita Olimpija: Pullen 3, Ejim 13, Keene 6, Murić 6 (7 rebounds), Auguste 6 (5 rebounds), Blažič 16 (5 skokov), Hodžić, Ščuka 2, Dimec, Radovanović, Carmichael 1 (5 rebounds), Rupnik 11 (5 assists).

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