Villaznia romp to Albanian title

After a blockbuster Regular Season, Villaznia Shkodra claimed the Albanian Superliga crown after an 84-73 win over SK Tirana. Villaznia had already masterminded a 95-79 win at home in Game 1 of the two tie series and travelled to Tirana knowing one more win or maintaining a superior aggregate score would deliver the title.

Gjecaj Bledar’s team duly delivered by overcoming Tirana on the road to lift a first Superliga title in fifteen years, ending a long wait for the club. It was no more than the team deserved after standing out during the Regular Season and topping the league with a near perfect 19-1 record. The Villaznia players had to work hard for success though, as Tirana had clear designs on cutting the aggregate score.

The hosts started quickly and piled on the pressure in a bid to get back into the series. At the end of 10 minutes Tirana held a 26-19 lead and the fans inside the arena were starting to believe. Villaznia improved during the second frame, and cut the seven point deficit to just one by halftime. The game was tight during the first half, but it was torn open by a stunning third quarter from Villaznia, with the visitors piling on 22 unanswered points to secure the win and allow the players to coast to victory. Nikola Djokovic set the tone for the champs with 21 points, while Mirza Sarajlija hit 20 points in the winning effort.