Partizan NIS falls in Stožice

The Ljubljana team made up for the defeat in the Round 4 of the ABA League with a 78:65 victory on the floor of the Arena Stožice. Jurica Golemec’s protégés improved their competitive output to 12 wins and three defeats and took first place in the regional championship standings.

The favorites of the Ljubljana fans registered their fifth consecutive win. Cedevita Olimpija achieved its 12th victory in the ABA League after overcoming challenges by Partizan NIS and finishing the game with a score of 78:65. With the victory over the Serbian basketball players, the Dragons climbed to the top of the league table.

The Ljubljana team opened the match against Serbian opponents in accordance with their wishes and gained a double-digit lead after only three and a half minutes. The visiting team, which this season records the most offensive rebounds among all teams in the ABA League, were finding their way to keep close with the points from the paint. The home team kept them at a close distance and lead by three points at halftime.

The third quarter, as so many times in the 2020/21 season, was marked by an incredible shooting performance by Jaka Blažič. The Dragons captain scored 14 points in ten minutes, players in green and orange won the quarter with 22:18. In the last quarter of the game, Dragons concealed the Belgrade team to only ten points and maturely led the game to the final result, which amounted to 78:65.

Jaka Blažič scored the most points for Cedevita Olimpija, collecting 28 points in five rebounds. Kendrick Perry finished the game with 14 points. Mikael Hopkins registered 10 points and added nine rebounds, and Edo Murić added his share to the victory of Jurica Golemec’s team with seven points and seven rebounds.

The basketball players from the Dragon’s Nest will step on the floor twice in the next few days. On Wednesday, they will face JL Burg in Round 4 of the Top 16 stage of the 7DAYS EuroCup in the Ekinox Sports Hall. Dragons will end the series of matches in a strenuous rhythm in Podgorica, where they will cross swords with the home team Budućnost VOLI.

STATEMENTS AFTER THE GAME

Jurica Golemac, Head Coach of Cedevita Olimpija:

“Congratulations to the boys for a hard-won victory. It was a physically difficult match. We knew the opponents were strong and were going after offensive rebounds. We played smart and protected the defensive rebounds. Winning the rebounds against Partizan NIS is a big deal. In the attack, we rushed at times, especially in the first half, when we should have taken the game. In the end, the victory was deserved. Congratulations guys and let’s move on. Our hard workouts have to pay off for us. In the rest of the season, we have to take a game by game. We must not get too excited, the heads must be directed forward and not upwards. Without euphoria or depression, we need to stay firmly on the ground. The players found their roles in the team. They work for each other. Even those who don’t get a lots of shots help the team.”

Jaka Blažič, Captain of Cedevita Olimpija:

“Defense was our key to the victory. I think we could have played more focused in defense in the first half as well. But in the end, we conceded only 65 points, some of which were in the garbage time. I am happy with this performance and the win. It is certainly not easy to play against Partizan NIS. They have a big name, and although they are not in the best rhythm this season, they are struggling. It was a tough match for us. An important victory took us to the top of the ABA League. We have two more games until the break. We have to forget about this victory as soon as possible, regenerate ourselves, and go to the match against JL Bourg 100% ready.”

ABA LEAGUE, ROUND 17

Arena Stožice (Ljubljana, Slovenia), Saturday, January 30:
CEDEVITA OLIMPIJA – PARTIZAN NIS 78:65 (22:18, 18:19, 22:18, 16:10)
Cedevita Olimpija: Radović, Perry 14, Hopkins 10 (9 rebounds), Murić 7 (7 rebounds), Blažič 28 (5 rebounds), Hodžić, Jones 6, Dimec 2, Brown 2 (8 rebounds), Marinković, Duščak, Rupnik 9.

STATS
GALLERY

STANDINGS