The SC Derby basketball team triumphed over Cibona (101:86) in “Morača” tonight, achieving their sixth win in the regional league and their second consecutive victory.

The “students” maintained the lead from the outset, enjoying a 17-point advantage in the first half. However, Cibona managed to narrow the gap to just two points (63:61) by the end of the third quarter. It was at this point that Nikola Pavlićević made his entrance, helping the “students” extend their lead to 80:63 and effectively sealing the match.

“This victory is significant as it reaffirms our win in Subotica last round. We defeated Cibona by a greater margin than they did against us in Zagreb during the first encounter, which allows us to approach the remaining championship matches with more confidence. We faced numerous challenges this week—on Tuesday, we played against Podgorica in a Montenegrin league match where three of our players sustained injuries. Since then, we’ve had to practice daily without three or four key players. That definitely complicated our preparations, and it may have caused some fluctuations in our performance. We went from having total control to allowing Cibona to come within a possession. However, we responded well and maintained control of the score until the end. A well-earned and crucial win,” stated SC Derbi head coach Petar Mijović post-game.

Mijović then praised Nikola Pavlićević.

“Pavlićević is the most seasoned player on this team, and I find it hard to assess his work ethic. His approach to training and games, even when playing fewer minutes, is consistently impressive. Tonight, he came in at the end of the third quarter and turned the game around not just with his shooting but also with his energy. For years, Pavlićević has been a crucial asset for the team, frequently acting as an x-factor, capable of making significant contributions in a short period,” commented Mijović.

Cibona’s coach, Josip Sesar, also acknowledged Pavlićević’s impact, noting that his presence injected new energy into SC Derbi.

“SC Derbi controlled the game effectively. We managed to close the gap to two points, but then Pavlićević entered the game. His experience in high-pressure situations was evident, as he utilized his individual skills to change the course of the match. The season is lengthy, and we aim to improve our standings while also focusing on the Croatian championship. I hope our injured players recover soon, and we can bring in two new players. We’re actively looking to strengthen our squad, but finding suitable additions is proving challenging at the moment. I remain optimistic that we can bolster our team in the near future,” Sesar remarked.

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