Cedevita Olimpija - Krka
After an intense first game of the national championship final series on Tuesday in Novo mesto, where Cedevita Olimpija’s basketball players secured a narrow victory with a score of 75:73, the Ljubljana Dragons will, on Thursday at 8:00 PM in their home environment of Arena Stožice, aim for another win that would bring them closer to their 22nd national championship title. Entry to Stožice will be free for all fans, so you’re invited to support the green-orange squad in their fight for a second victory in the final series! The third game in the series will be on Saturday at 6:00 PM at the Leona Štuklja Sports Hall in Novo mesto. Potential fourth and fifth games will take place on Monday or the following Thursday, in Ljubljana or Novo Mesto, respectively.
The final showdown between Cedevita Olimpija and Krka is the eleventh in the history of the Slovenian basketball championship. The Ljubljana team has so far won four titles in finals against Krka (2000/01, 2001/02, 2017/18, and 2020/21), while Krka has triumphed six times, most recently in the 2013/14 season. This time, Novo Mesto is chasing their eighth title, while Cedevita Olimpija aims for a fifth consecutive crown and their 22nd national championship trophy overall. The historic rivalry promises an exciting showdown, as both teams bring experience and high motivation to the series.
FAN ZONE:
Before the game begins, the fan zone will be filled with exciting activities for all visitors. Fans can enjoy basketball games, get creative with coloring activities, and receive a special diploma for their first game. A book about the history of Cedevita Olimpija will also be available, delighting club enthusiasts. Entertainment will be provided with the Woop! Cornhole game, bringing a relaxed competitive atmosphere.
During the game, the atmosphere will heat up even more with engaging activities. Fans can participate in Heka Supplements shooting contests for a grand prize worth 1000 EUR, test their accuracy in the Triglav 3-in-a-row game for exciting prizes, or compete for a season ticket with a daring shot from half-court. The fan zone will ensure an unforgettable experience before and during the game!
TV BROADCAST:
The game will be broadcast on Šport TV 1, and links to online streams of individual games can be found below.
PRE-GAME QUOTES:
“The first game was, as expected, very competitive, with many ups and downs in the play on both sides. There were a lot of adjustments to the events on the court from both teams, which is typical in the first games of a series when everyone is testing certain things. Both sides will surely conduct a thorough analysis of the first game, so we can expect different performances from both teams in the second game. The match and its tense finish showed that the two best teams in Slovenia are deservedly fighting for the national championship title. In the second game, we can play better, especially in offense, so I hope we can recover in one day and show our quality. We need to recognize certain things happening on the court. We had quite a few problems with their defensive play, which we need to adjust to, and we’ll see what the situation is with Brynton Lemar and his ankle,” said Đorđe Adžić, who will also lead the Dragons from the bench in the second final game in place of Zvezdan Mitrović.
“We expected a tough first game in Novo mesto, and we started nervously and made too many mistakes. Krka played at a good pace, and our opponents also hit the shots that were available to them. We had quite a few issues that we cannot afford in the second game in Ljubljana. From the very start, we need to play with energy and aggression. We cannot allow games to be close until the final seconds. By Thursday, we need to fix our mistakes in the game and be consistently strong in defense and more relaxed in offense,” said Gregor Glas ahead of the Stožice showdown.
GAME PREVIEW:
The second game brings a special charm, as entry to Arena Stožice will be free for all fans. Cedevita Olimpija invites all basketball lovers to join and create a vibrant atmosphere that will push the Dragons toward another victory. On Tuesday in Novo Mesto, the Dragons defeated Krka for the fifth time this season. They celebrated two wins in the regional league, one in the Slovenian Super Cup, one in the Spar Cup final, and now in the national championship final.
The first clash on Tuesday at the Leona Štuklja Sports Hall was closely contested, with neither team managing to build a lead of more than seven points. In a tense finish, Cedevita Olimpija secured a narrow victory, but not without drama. In the middle of the penultimate minute, Miha Cerkvenik hit a three-pointer to reduce Krka’s deficit to 69:73, and the Novo Mesto team tried to turn the game in their favor with a fouling tactic in the closing moments. Two seconds before the end, Robert Jurković intended to miss his second free throw, which could have opened a path to victory for the hosts, but the former Cedevita Olimpija player made the shot, ending Krka’s hopes.
Aleksej Nikolić and Gregor Glas were Cedevita Olimpija’s top scorers with 13 points each. The highest statistical index (15) was recorded by young Frenchman Joan Beringer (10 points, 5 rebounds). For Krka, Robert Jurković scored 13 points without missing a shot, while Jan Špan and Miha Cerkvenik each added 11 points. After an ankle injury, Brynton Lemar ended the game in Novo Mesto early, and on Wednesday, the club’s medical staff will conduct an additional examination to assess the injury’s status.
OTP BANK LEAGUE, FINAL SERIES
GAME 2
Arena Stožice (Ljubljana, Slovenia), Thursday, June 5, at 8:00 PM:
CEDEVITA OLIMPIJA – KRKA (free entry; TV broadcast on Šport TV) [1:0]*
GAME 3
Leona Štuklja Sports Hall (Novo mesto, Slovenia), Saturday, June 7, at 6:00 PM:
KRKA – CEDEVITA OLIMPIJA (TV broadcast on Šport TV)
GAME 4**
Arena Stožice (Ljubljana, Slovenia), Monday, June 9, at 6:00 PM:
CEDEVITA OLIMPIJA – KRKA (free entry)
GAME 5**
Leona Štuklja Sports Hall (Novo mesto, Slovenia), Thursday, June 12, at 6:00 PM:
KRKA – CEDEVITA OLIMPIJA
*Score in wins. The series is played to three wins.
**Potential fourth and fifth games.
ALREADY PLAYED:
GAME 1
Leona Štuklja Sports Hall (Novo mesto, Slovenia), Tuesday, June 3:
KRKA – CEDEVITA OLIMPIJA 73:75 (23:26, 15:19, 19:12, 16:18)
Cedevita Olimpija: Radović 7 (6 rebounds), Nikolić 13, Glas 13, Blažič 11 (5 rebounds), Beringer 10 (5 rebounds), Jones, Lemar 9, Morano Mahmutovič, Lazarevski, Tasić 8 (6 rebounds), Prepelič, Daneu 4.
STATISTICS
PHOTO GALLERY
MORE ABOUT THE GAME
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
