Buducnost defeated Igokea from Aleksandrovac in the match for third place at this year’s ABA Super Cup with a score of 79-68.
The first quarter was not characterized by particularly high-quality basketball. Both teams struggled on offense. The battle heated up in the second quarter. Throughout the quarter, it was a back-and-forth game, with Buducnost being led by the in-form Vladimir Mihailovic, who hit a buzzer-beater for two points. Buducnost went into halftime with a three-point lead, and the score was 39-36 in favor of Podgorica.
The second half belonged entirely to Podgorica. They made several three-point shots, with Fletcher Magee leading the way in that department. They managed to break Igokea’s resistance, who struggled offensively in the second half. Only Nikola Tanaskovic found his offensive rhythm. “Igokeans” tried to make the game interesting, but the players from the capital city of Montenegro remained focused until the end and triumphed with a score of 79:68.
The standout performers for Coach Petar Mijovic’s team were Vladimir Mihailovic, Colby Ross, and McKinley Wright, each contributing 14 points. On the other hand, in Vladimir Jovanovic’s team, Nikola Tanaskovis stood out with an impressive 27 points.
First half
The first points were scored by Vladimir Mihailovic, who was accurate from beyond the 6.75-meter line, followed by Edin Atić responding with a layup on the other end. Igokea entered the bonus in the first three minutes of the game, but the Buducnost players failed to capitalize on it. Both teams also missed several shots at the basket. Zoran Nikolic finally broke the scoring drought after a nice play by “Igokea.” The first quarter ended in a tie with a score of 13-13.
The second quarter began with a three-pointer from Dragan Milosavljevic, followed by an alley-oop to Nikola Tanaskovic after a fast break. Igokea then committed two turnovers, and the Budućnost players capitalized on them for easy points. Colbey Ross picked up his third foul, and the teams continued to trade baskets for the next few minutes. Fletcher Magee then got into a groove, hitting a three-pointer and a mid-range shot.
The second quarter featured much higher-quality basketball, with nearly basket-for-basket play and few interruptions. The Podgorica team went on a 5-0 run, thanks to Cameron Reynolds hitting a three-pointer as soon as he entered the game and Mihailovic making free throws. Igokea quickly responded with a 4-0 run, but the in-form Mihailovic hit a shot at the buzzer to give his team a three-point lead at halftime. The score on the scoreboard was 39-36 in favor of Buducnost.
Second half
McKinley Wright opened the second half with a floater, and then Aleksa Ilic dunked after an offensive rebound. Mario Nakic followed with a three-pointer, and Mihailovic and Wright found their rhythm, extending Buducnost’s lead further. On the other hand, Igokea struggled at the beginning of the third quarter, but Tanaskovic kept them in the game. The former Partizan player didn’t miss a shot from the field. In the end, the blue and white team managed to maintain a seven-point lead going into the final quarter.
Fletcher Magee continued at the same pace, and Jacorey Williams was accurate with a half-hook shot from the paint to extend the lead to 11 points. Then, after a period of stagnation, Vladimir Mihailovic hit a three-pointer to make it a 14-point lead with five minutes left in the game. “Igokea” managed to cut that lead in half a few minutes before the end, but Ross and Wright ultimately sealed the victory with points in transition, securing the third place for the blue and white team in the ABA Super Cup on their home court.