“We’ve reclaimed some of our past defeats; the journey isn’t finished yet.”
Andrej Žakelj during tonight’s game, Photo: KK Budućnost Voli
A thrilling conclusion at “Morača” saw the Budućnost Voli basketball team triumph over Hapoel Tel Aviv with a close score of 84:83 in the 15th round of the Eurocup, securing their spot in the playoff zone.
Trailed by 13 points at one point (73:60), Budućnost made a remarkable comeback, largely thanks to Fletcher Magee, who received a foul on a three-point attempt with just 4.4 seconds to go. Magee sank all three of his free throws, setting off celebrations in “Morača”.
“I extend my congratulations to the team—tonight they demonstrated outstanding character and, in the end, luck was on our side. We faced some tough breaks in previous games this season, but tonight, despite being down 13 with five minutes remaining, we maintained our belief, fought hard, and, with our fans’ support, rightfully secured the win,” commented Budućnost coach Andrej Žakelj post-match.
With three rounds left in the Eurocup group stage, Budućnost will next travel to Ulm, followed by a home game against Juventud, and then they’ll take on Wolves, who will first face Gran Canaria and Trento before the matchup. Both Wolves and Budućnost share the same record of 7-8, and the “blues” previously dominated the Vilnius team with a score of 104:77 in their first encounter.
“This victory will be significant for us if we can capitalize on it. We need to build on this performance in the upcoming games. There’s still a long way to go, but it boosts our confidence. We narrowly missed a win in Istanbul last week, performed well in the ABA League recently, and repeated that again tonight, making this win crucial for our motivation and future. Hapoel boasts a Euroleague-level roster, but starting tomorrow, we need to move on and keep improving,” explained Žakelj.
The coach expressed gratitude to the crowd for their unwavering support.
“Our team has character, and the fans truly recognize that. Tonight, their presence elevated us and we celebrated this victory together,” concluded Andrej Žakelj.
News