MZT Skopje wins 6th consecutive Macedonian league

MZT Skopje has retained the Prva Liga crown after defending the title against Karpos Sokoli in Game 5 of the championship series. Victory handed the club a 3-2 series win and its sixth title overall. Indeed, it also enhanced MZT Skopje as the dominant team in Macedonian Basketball, with this the club’s sixth consecutive league title.

In the deciding game of the series, MZT had one important advantage aside from the experience of those five previous wins. That advantage was the home floor, which proved to be important as Sokoli pushed the defending champions all the way.

The hosts managed to stay one step ahead for much of the contest, but the challengers were always a danger and never went away.

The first quarter opened with some high-octane hoops, resulting in a 22-20 lead for Skopje through the first buzzer. The consistency continued from both teams in the second frame, a 23-21 run making it 45-41 through the long break. It was close, but the champs were extending through each period. However, the guests won the third act to make it 64-62 after thirty minutes. It was all to play for until the final minutes, but MZT held on for the win.

Charlon Kloof paced the win with 29 points, while Djordje Drenovac drained 23 points.

Kendrick Perry and Dragan Labovic scored 17 apiece in the losing effort.