Cibona - Cedevita Olimpija
Cedevita Olimpija’s senior team is preparing for another challenging away game, this time traveling to Zagreb. On Saturday at 7:00 PM, they will take on Cibona, which has recently strengthened its roster with former Ljubljana team player Luka Šamanić, who has also played in the NBA, and Bosnia and Herzegovina national team member Markus Lončar.
After 11 rounds of the EuroCup regular season, Cedevita Olimpija boasts a record of seven wins and four losses—their best start to a Euroleague Basketball-organized competition since the 2010/11 season when they also recorded seven wins in their first 11 games in the elite EuroLeague. In the regional league, they are on a three-game winning streak, which has halted a prior four-game losing run, bringing their current tally to five wins and six losses before the 12th round.
PRE-GAME STATEMENTS:
Head Coach Zvezdan Mitrović:
“We expect a tough game where we need to stay highly focused and aggressive. Cibona has improved recently, especially with the addition of Luka Šamanić, and they’ve also brought in Markus Lončar. Even in losses against Crvena zvezda and Budućnost, they performed well. With focus and aggression, we must do everything to return to Ljubljana with a win.”
Martinas Geben:
“We anticipate a challenging game. While Cibona doesn’t have many wins in the regional league, that doesn’t mean much, especially not for an away game. Every team in this league competes to win, so we face a tough task ahead.”
TV BROADCAST:
The game will be broadcast live from 6:50 PM on Arena Sport Slovenia 1 Premium and Kanal A.
MATCH PREVIEW:
Saturday’s game in Croatia’s capital pits Cedevita Olimpija against Cibona, who have had a weaker start to the new regional season. Cibona has only two wins in 11 games, with victories against SC Derby and Split. Entering this matchup with three consecutive losses, they have lost eight of their last nine games.
Cibona is performing better in the Croatian domestic championship, with seven wins and four losses after 11 games. However, they suffered a defeat in their most recent domestic league match, losing 91:81 to Split in Zagreb.
Cibona’s standout player in the AdmiralBet ABA League this season is Roko Rogić, a 185 cm guard, who averages 9.8 points, 6.8 assists, and 3.8 rebounds, though he has played in only five regular-season games. Following him is Toni Ročak, with 12.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
The Zagreb team has high hopes for their new additions, Luka Šamanić and Markus Lončar. Šamanić debuted in the 11th round against reigning champions Crvena zvezda, showcasing his quality with 20 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. Lončar joined the team this week and is yet to make his debut.
Cedevita Olimpija approaches this game on a high note, riding a six-game winning streak across all competitions. In their last EuroCup match, the Dragons led almost throughout the game in Venice, securing an 80:75 victory. Brynton Lemar was once again the top scorer with 23 points, confirming his excellent form since returning from a foot injury.
Last weekend, Cedevita Olimpija defeated Spartak Subotica 91:82 in Tivoli, with four players scoring double digits, led by Lemar with 22 points.
ADMIRALBET ABA LEAGUE, ROUND 12
Dražen Petrović Basketball Center (Zagreb, Croatia), Saturday, December 14, at 7:00 PM:
CIBONA – CEDEVITA OLIMPIJA (TV broadcast on Arena Sport 1 Premium and Kanal A)
STANDINGS:
| # | Team | Games | Wins | Losses | PF:PA | +/- | Points |
| 1 | Partizan Mozzart Bet | 11 | 11 | 0 | 1044:765 | +279 | 22 |
| 10 | Cedevita Olimpija | 11 | 5 | 6 | 900:916 | -16 | 16 |
| 15 | Cibona | 11 | 2 | 9 | 850:975 | -125 | 13 |
LOOKING AHEAD:
After the Zagreb match, the Dragons return to Stožice for a crucial EuroCup matchup against Turk Telekom on Wednesday at 6:30 PM. This game will feature the traditional Teddy Bear Toss during halftime. Next Saturday, Cedevita Olimpija will host SC Derby in Tivoli. Tickets for both games are available at vstopnice.olimpija.com.
