Cibona back to winning ways in Adriatic League
Reigning champions Cibona Zagreb made it two consecutive victories in the Adriatic League as the club builds on poor early season form. With the league now into its 11th round, Cibona has found the right time to regain some touch and will be looking to improve as the campaign progresses. Also claiming victory at the start of week 11 were form teams Buducnost Podgorica and Union Olimpija Ljubljana.
Igokea Aleksandrovac vs. Cibona Zagreb, 61-71
Cibona’s title defence has not gone to plan so far but there are signs that the club is getting back on track in recent weeks. This road win over Igokea pushed the Croatian club to 5-6 in seventh place, while the Aleksandrovac outfit continues to struggle in 13th with a 3-8 showing.
The hosts made the early moves during a close fought first quarter, and after 10 minutes Igokea possessed an 18-16 advantage. In the second stanza Cibona mixed solid play in defence and attack to pace to a 12-16 run through the ten minutes, making it 30-32 at the long break. It was still anybody’s game as the team emerged for the second half, but in a higher scoring third period the visitors extended their lead with a 20-23 streak that made it 50-56 through thirty minutes. In the final act Cibona made their advantage count by outlasting Igokea 11-16 down the stretch to ease to the win.
Dominik Mavra scored the most in the winning team, compiling 17 points through the game. He was followed by Damir Markota with 16 points and 8 rebounds. While Jure Lalic offered 14 points.
Dusko Bunic topped Igokea with 15 points, while Branko Jorovic took 11 points to the board.
Krka Novo Mesto vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica, 81-90
Buducnost’s amazing early season form in the Adriatic League continued on Saturday as the team took out Krka on the road. The victory ensured the Podgorica team kept sole hold of second place with a 10-1 record, while Krka dropped to ninth place with a 5-6 record.
The home team managed to take the initiative in the first period and carved out a slender 19-16 deficit as the first interval buzzer sounded. In the second stint Buducnost found its scoring touch and drained in 23 points to make it 36-39 at the midway point. The visitors continued to bag consistent buckets and a 17-22 run in the third quarter gave them control of the game after half hour, the scoreboard reading 53-61. The game opened up in the fourth as more space was available on the hardwood, but Buducnost edged a resurgent Krka 28-29 to romp to victory.
Union Olimpija Ljubljana vs. Szolnoki Olaj, 79-61
Union Olimpija continued to trouble the top of the Adriatic League with a big home win over Szolnoki in Slovenia. The win pushed the home team into fourth place on 7-4, while the Olaj contingent slips to eighth with a 5-6 record.
Both teams struggled to get going in a low scoring and tense first quarter, but eventually Union Olimpija edged the period 13-11. In the second frame the visitors upped their offensive play and found 21 points, while the Ljubljana hosts could only muster 16. It was 29-32 at the halftime buzzer, but the hosts went hot in the third period with a 26-15 run that gave them back the lead, with the score at 55-47 at the final split. A big 24-14 finale gave the home team plenty of breathing space as they strolled to the end of regulation.