FMP from Zeleznik defeated Cedevita Olimpija in the match for seventh place at the ABA League Super Cup with a score of 85-81.
The team from Ljubljana entered this match with several injured players. Justin Cobbs, Nikola Radicevic and Karlo Matkovic missed the match. In the FMP team, Jordan Walker was absent.
During most of the first half, there was a back-and-forth battle on the scoreboard. Despite being a match for seventh place, both teams displayed great determination and competitiveness. Whenever one team took the lead, the other side would respond with a run of their own. This was the case in the second quarter when the team from Ljubljana went up by +14, but the “Panthers” reduced the deficit to just 38-34 before halftime.
In the second half, FMP played better, but Cedevita Olimpija did not give up. It was this fighting spirit that gave Simone Pianigiani’s team a chance to even win this game. However, a defensive lapse by the Ljubljana team and a foul on a three-point attempt allowed the team from Zeleznik to force overtime, where they ultimately emerged victorious.
The top scorer for the winning team was Bojan Subotic with 22 points, followed by Nate Watson with 17. For the “Dragons,” Sean Armand and Gregor Glas stood out with 22 and 21 points, respectively.
First Half
From the start of the game, exciting offensive basketball was played. Neither team could pull ahead significantly, with a +3 lead for the “Panthers” being the largest advantage in the first quarter, which ended with a score of 24-22 in favor of the team from Ljubljana.
Simone Pianigiani’s team entered the second 10 minutes of play much more motivated and created a substantial lead with a 15-2 run. However, Nenad Stefanovic’s team also had an answer on the other side in the form of the in-form Balsa Zivanovic, who, with his mini-run, brought the “Panthers” back into the game before halftime.
Second Half
The team from Zeleznik won the third quarter with a score of 19-16, primarily due to solid defense. The scoreboard read 54-53 at the end of the first 30 minutes.
Stefanovic’s team was the better side for most of the fourth quarter. With four minutes remaining, after a three-pointer by Ognjen Matovic, the Serbian representative took an 8-point lead. However, the “Dragons” had an answer for this as well.
In the final minute and a half, after an 11-0 run by Cedevita Olimpija, the score was tied at 67-67. Gregor Glas then took matters into his own hands and hit a three-pointer to make it 70-67. It seemed like this three-pointer would lead the “Dragons” to their first win of the tournament, but Rok Radovic committed a careless foul on Bojan Subotic, and the experienced power forward sent the game into overtime with free throws (70-70).
Stefanovic’s players were determined to capitalize on the “second chance” given to them by Cedevita Olimpija in the closing moments. They played better in overtime and secured a +7 lead. The team from Ljubljana didn’t give up again, but this time they ran out of steam for another comeback. In the end, it was FMP’s first victory at the ABA League Super Cup.
FMP – CEDEVITA OLIMPIJA 75:93 (15:24, 18:22, 18:23, 22:24)
Venue: Moraca, Podgorica; Referees: Koljensic, Savovic, Popovic
FMP: Watson 17, Zivanovic 13, Turner 9, Subotic 22, Pavicevic 3, Stepanovic 6, Saranovic 3, Simovic 5, Matovic 3, Vukovic, Asceric 4.
Cedevita Olimpija: Armand 22, Sow 9, Radovic 3, Glas 21, Blazic 10, Jones 8, Scuka, Klobucar 2, Shashkov 6.