After clinching a victory against Spartak in their last game, the SC Derby basketball team ended a seven-match losing streak in the AdmiralBet ABA League and secured their first away win of the season.

Tomorrow (17), coach Petar Mijović’s squad has the chance to achieve back-to-back wins in regional competitions for the first time this season. They will host Cibona, a team that has recorded only two victories, one of which was against SC Derbi in Zagreb during the second round, for the 17th round match at “Morač.”

“This is a crucial game for us. Cibona is a team that poses challenges. Despite having personnel issues, they play good basketball. Coach Sesar has instilled his coaching philosophy; their roles are well-defined, and they frequently change their defensive strategies, which demands our complete focus and execution. We understand the importance of this match, and I expect us to perform at the required level in terms of energy and focus,” stated SC Derbi’s coach, Petar Mijović.

Andrija Grbović expressed his belief that they are facing one of the most significant games of the season.

“We could be on the verge of one of our most vital matches this season, which could lead us into the play-offs. We have a real opportunity to achieve two consecutive wins for the first time this season, and I think we can do it on our home court,” Grbović mentioned in the pre-match remarks.

According to him, strength and concentration are paramount.

“We must demonstrate toughness and remain focused on defense for the entire 40 minutes, particularly in one-on-one scenarios, as Cibona often creates opportunities from individual plays. If we approach both ends of the court as we did in our last match, I believe we have a strong chance against Cibona. It’s crucial to minimize fluctuations throughout the game, as we cannot allow Cibona to establish their rhythm. We’ve prepared adequately for this matchup, and if we meet the required standards, I am confident the result will favor us,” Grbović asserted.

Cibona has recently undergone a coaching change with the arrival of Josip Sesar, but the team is still facing challenges.

“SC Derbi consists of many young athletes, and they are well-coached. They undoubtedly play with significant energy, and I feel that their current standings do not truly reflect their quality and level of play. After the match in Sinj, where we had to stretch our core five players, we need to recover effectively and aim to dictate the pace of the game. The key will be to prevent the hosts from taking control while we seek our chances through intelligent offense and solid defense,” Sesar remarked.

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