Crvena Zvezda comfortably defeated Split 89:67 at home in the 13th round of the ABA League.
Milos Teodosic and Joel Bolomboy did not play for the red and whites. The guests were without the injured Kresimir Ljubicic.
With the information that Teodosic and Bolomboy, two record holders from the game against Maccabi Tel Aviv, would not be available, it was clear that someone else would have to step up. That someone was Mike Tobey, who played exceptionally well, contributing 15 points and three three-pointers in the first half, leading to a double-digit lead for the home team.
Rokas Giedraitis was accurate from beyond the arc twice in a row, bringing a 13-point lead to the red and whites, who then significantly extended their advantage with aggressive defense. Crvena Zvezda had a more relaxed approach to the game afterward, but due to a substantial lead, it didn’t cost them, avoiding any drama and continuing their excellent performances in the Adriatic region.
Top scorers for the winners were Tobey with 24 points and Luka Mitrovic with 14 points. Shannon Shorter led the guests with 17 points.
In the next round, Crvena Zvezda will host Igokea, while Split will play away against Studentski centar.
Crvena Zvezda on the wings of Mike Tobey
Right from the start, it was evident that the guests had difficulties arriving in Zeleznik, as they had just traveled this morning. This was due to last night’s national Cup game and traffic at border crossings. However, the Split team quickly recovered and caught up with Crvena Zvezda’s lead, with Mike Tobey shining from beyond the arc. The newest home center, Freddie Gillespie, entered the game and contributed to the vice-champion’s lead after the first quarter.
Despite the initial impression that it was just a matter of time before Ioannis Sfairopoulos’s team would pull away to a more comfortable lead, it didn’t happen. The guests played quite solidly and often read the defense of the team from Mali Kalemegdan exceptionally well. The Greek coach was not satisfied with his team’s defense, allowing the opponent to come within two points after Derek Funderburk’s score. That’s when the home team woke up and, with a strong surge, took a 13-point lead after two consecutive three-pointers from Rokas Giedraitis.
No drama in the end
Becoming evident in the third quarter, Crvena Zvezda raised the level of aggression, and their lead continued to grow. Benefiting from solid defense, the Belgrade team found better shooting positions, utilizing them to extend their lead to a maximum of plus 22 after a three-pointer from Branko Lazic. The game took on a somewhat recreational tone afterward, with the home team maintaining precision from beyond the arc, maintaining a comfortable margin.
There were no major changes in the fourth quarter, and Crvena Zvezda secured another routine win in the regional championship.