Two months have passed since SC Derby’s last victory in the AdmiralBet ABA league, and their basketball team is set to compete in their debut match of the regional competition.

This Saturday at 18:15, Petr Mijović’s squad will visit Spartak with the aim of breaking their seven-game losing streak that has persisted since November of last year.

During this slump, the team faced defeats against Buducnost Voli, Crvena zvezda, Cedevita Olimpija, and Igokea, and narrowly missed out on victories in thrilling matches against Split, Mega, and Borce.

“We are up against a very strong team that is exceptionally well-coached. Spartak has depth, boasting two or more players in each position. With the addition of Gibson and Ilić, they have enhanced both their aggressiveness and playmaking abilities,” said Derby’s coach, Petar Mijović.

What strategies must SC Derby implement to secure a win in Subotica?

“Our defense must focus on managing the opponent’s transition and ‘pick and roll,’ which are key components of their offense. Offensively, we aim to exploit any vulnerabilities—though as a whole, Spartak has very few weaknesses,” Mijović added.

SC Derby previously triumphed over Spartak with a score of 84:76 in their season opener held in Morača.

“That day, we played remarkably well and earned the win. Spartak has made various changes since then and is currently in much better shape, but we know what lies ahead and where the challenges are. We’ll aim to surprise the favorites, which can only be achieved if we give our absolute best,” stated young David Mirković, who recorded a double-double in the last round against Čačak (14 points and 10 assists).

Spartak stands fifth in the league table, having secured nine wins out of 15 matches, and features experienced players like Montenegrin national Danilo Nikolić and Nemanja Gordić, with Vlade Jovanović, the former coach of Budućnost Voli, at the helm.

“The derby is a significant project that has been developing for years, focused on promoting young talent from Montenegro and the surrounding region. This year, we’ve assembled a youthful and skilled team that meets expectations—primarily fast-paced, energetic play on both ends, aggressive with an emphasis on scoring and transition shots. First and foremost, we need to improve on the impression we left in our first game in Podgorica,” Jovanović commented.

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