Three-game road stretch begins in Široki Brijeg

Cedevita Olimpija will visit Široki TT Kabeli at GSD Pecara on Saturday at 21:00. The Round 3 clash in the first phase of the AdmiralBet ABA League will be the Dragons’ first regional away game of the 2026/27 season, as they look to build on their winning start to the competition against Cibona at Tivoli. The game will be broadcast live on Arena Sport Slovenija 1.

Following the postponement of their opening game against Krka, the Ljubljana side began the new regional season in front of their home fans. Last Saturday, they defeated Cibona 89–76 at Tivoli Hall to record their first competitive win of the season. At Pecara, they will now face a team returning to the region’s top division that has already shown in its opening appearance that it will be a tough opponent. The Dragons will look to return to winning ways after Tuesday’s EuroCup defeat to a strong Hapoel Jerusalem side.

Urban Kroflič, who missed the Hapoel game, and Jordan Gainey, who has been sidelined for a month through injury, also travelled with the team to Široki Brijeg. Anthony Cowan Jr. and Noah Kirkwood have also been dealing with health issues in recent days, but both joined the team for the road stretch. Cameron Houindo remained in Ljubljana after taking a heavy knock in Tuesday’s BKT EuroCup game.

TV COVERAGE:

The game will be broadcast live on Arena Sport Slovenija 1 from 21:00.

PREGAME QUOTES:

“We have three consecutive away games ahead of us, starting with a tough test at Široki. They played an excellent game against Borac on their return to the ABA League and have also strengthened their roster at point guard. They are a quality opponent that we must take very seriously. Our team’s health situation is still far from ideal. We trained without Anthony Cowan on Thursday, and we have yet to hold a single practice with a full squad this season,” Cedevita Olimpija head coach Zvezdan Mitrović said before the team’s departure.

“Our task is to come together and improve our game. After the defeat to Hapoel, we need to keep our heads up, learn from the game and put those lessons into practice on the court. We have a demanding trip to Široki ahead of us, and we know it will be a tough game. We want to start this road stretch with a win,” David Škara said ahead of Saturday’s game.

GAME PREVIEW:

Široki TT Kabeli are competing in the region’s top division for the first time since the 2013/14 season. They secured their return by winning the ABA League 2 title last season and are continuing their successful run under head coach Marijan Bagarić.

The club retained a significant part of the roster that earned promotion. Captain Josip Bilinovac, Matej Bošnjak, Dominik Vujanović and Josip Čović are among the players continuing at Pecara. Over the summer, the core was reinforced with experienced players familiar with regional basketball. Karlo Žganec arrived from Zadar, Jure Zubac joined from Bosna BH Telecom, and Ivan Karačić returned to the club after six years. Tayler Persons, whom Slovenian basketball fans will also remember from his time at Krka in Novo mesto, strengthened the point guard position. Chavaughn Lewis and Joshua Ola-Joseph are the other new arrivals.

Široki showed last Friday in Čačak that they can also be a threat at a higher level. They defeated Borac Mozzart 87–81 on the road to mark their return to the region’s top division with a win. They built their biggest advantage in the second quarter, which they won 31–18, and went into halftime leading 48–31. The hosts closed the gap on several occasions after the break, but the visitors held on to their lead down the stretch.

Lewis led Široki with 19 points, while Persons added 18 points, six rebounds and four assists. Bilinovac contributed 13 points, and Zubac finished with nine points and eight rebounds. Široki shot an impressive 69.7% on two-point attempts (23/33) and 92% from the free-throw line (23/25), while also winning the rebounding battle 31–25.

The Dragons made the decisive push towards their first win of the season after halftime against Zagreb’s Cibona at Tivoli Hall last Saturday. Following an evenly matched first half that ended 43–43, they trailed 51–56 in the third quarter before taking control with a 15–2 run. They led 66–58 heading into the final ten minutes and extended their advantage down the stretch. Matthew Hurt scored 21 points, Anthony Cowan Jr. added 18, and Urban Kroflič finished with 14.

Ahead of the trip to Pecara, Cedevita Olimpija lost 64–75 to Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem at Stožice on Tuesday in Round 2 of the BKT EuroCup regular season. After a tied opening quarter (18–18), the visitors took advantage of the Dragons’ shooting struggles in the second period to establish a ten-point halftime lead (37–27). Despite a determined effort after the break, the Ljubljana side could not erase the deficit. Noah Kirkwood scored 17 points, while Anthony Cowan Jr. added 14 points and five assists. Zvezdan Mitrović’s team remain without a win after two European games, but will be chasing their second consecutive AdmiralBet ABA League victory at Pecara on Saturday.

ADMIRALBET ABA LEAGUE – GROUP A, FIRST PHASE, ROUND 3

GSD Pecara (Široki Brijeg, Bosnia and Herzegovina), Saturday, October 10, at 21:00:
ŠIROKI TT KABELI – CEDEVITA OLIMPIJA (Live on Arena Sport Slovenija 1)

GROUP A STANDINGS:

LOOKING AHEAD:

The game in Široki Brijeg will be the first of three consecutive away fixtures in a week for Cedevita Olimpija. The Dragons will then travel via Belgrade to Riga, where they face Riga Zelli on Wednesday in Round 3 of the BKT EuroCup regular season. They will briefly return to Ljubljana on Thursday before leaving for Laktaši on Friday, ahead of next Saturday’s game against Igokea m. Their next home appearance will be on Wednesday, October 21, when Le Mans visit Stožice.