Step closer to the Championship title

Cedevita Olimpija has beaten Krka 75:64 in the second game of the Nova KBM League Finals and is just a step away from winning the national championship trophy. The third game of the Finals is coming up on Sunday, 17.30 in Stožice Arena.

Cedevita Olimpija is only a win away from the 18th national championship trophy. The squad, led from the bench by Jurica Golemac has beaten Krka in the second game of the Nova KBM League Finals and took the 2:0 lead in victories. The Dragons will have a chance to clinch the trophy already on Sunday, 17.30 in Stožice Arena.

Cedevita Olimpija is keeping up its winning streak in the national championship Playoffs. The Ljubljana squad has ended Quarter-finals and Finals after 2 games played and with Friday’s win in Novo mesto they have extended their streak of games without defeat to six.

The game in Novo mesto has been more tied than the one in Stožice. The hosts have been determined to fight the Dragons back and had chances of winning the game all until the end. How intense the game was is probably best described by the fact that Krka head coach Dalibor Damjanović has been expelled a bit more than a minute before the end of the first half.

The Ljubljana side has been in front almost throughout entire game, but the hosts would not give up. But despite that, the quality and relentlessness of the squad led by Head Coach Jurica Golemac have prevailed and Cedevita Olimpija celebrated the 11-point win.

Mikael Hopkins has had the most points for the Ljubljana team, 18, while Kendrick Perry followed him with 14.

The third game of the Finals is coming up on Sunday, 17.30 in Stožice Arena.

STATEMENTS AFTER THE GAME:

Jurica Golemac, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana Head Coach:
“We’ve been talking about how we had expected better game by Krka, that has played this time with a huge amount of energy. The Novo mesto team did not have lots to lose and they played that way. We haven’t had the right rhythm on the offensive end and we played well on defense in the first half. We failed to score as many shots as on Wednesday in Stožice so it is normal that the entire game has been tense. Congratulations to the players for the win and the new game is coming up on Sunday. Nothing is decided yet.”

Mikael Hopkins, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana player:
“We have known that a tough game was ahead of us in Novo mesto. On Wednesday’s Game 1 we have celebrated a big win, but we have known that the entire Finals would not look that way. We have faced the Novo mesto team many times, so we know each other well and all of the games have been tough. We have played strongly. We did not have our best offensive night, but the determined game on defense was crucial. It’s a huge achievement to limit a team such as Krka to 64 points. On Sunday, new test is coming up for us.”

NOVA KBM LEAGUE, FINALS

GAME 2

Leon Štukelj Hall (Novo mesto, Slovenia), Friday, May 28:
KRKA – CEDEVITA OLIMPIJA 64:75 (14:16, 13:20, 18:17, 19:22) [0:2]*
Cedevita Olimpija: Radović, Perry 15, Hopkins 18, Duščak, Murić 4 (7 rebounds), Blažič 6 (6 rebounds), Brown 3, Hodžić 6, Jones 7, Dimec 3, Marinković 4, Rupnik 7.

STATISTICS
PHOTO GALLERY

GAME 3

Stožice Arena (Ljubljana, Slovenia), Sunday, May 30, at 17.30:
CEDEVITA OLIMPIJA – KRKA

Already played:

GAME 1

Stožice Arena (Ljubljana, Slovenia), Wednesday, May 26:
CEDEVITA OLIMPIJA – KRKA 97:45 (21:12, 33:14, 21:15, 22:4)
Cedevita Olimpija: Radović 3, Perry 20 (4 assists), Hopkins 8, Duščak 4, Murić 9 (6 rebounds), Blažič 14, Brown 6, Hodžić 3, Jones 17 (4 rebounds), Dimec 8 (6 rebounds), Marinković (4 rebounds), Rupnik 5 (6 rebounds and 6 assists).

STATISTICS
PHOTO GALLERY

*Final series is played until first team reaches three victories. Possible Game 4 will be on June 1 at 20.30 in Novo mesto, and possible Game 5 will be on June 3 at 20.30 in Stožice Arena.