Partizan’s head coach, Željko Obradović, remarked that his team found their rhythm during a challenging period in their close victory against Cedevita Olimpija in the AdmiralBet ABA League. He expressed concern that his players lacked motivation for most of the match.

“The rhythm of the team and the extensive number of games are taking their toll. Cedevita Olimpija’s coach indicated prior to the match that he would exploit our weaknesses. Unfortunately, one of our weaknesses tonight was motivation; we played with less drive than in previous games. I urged the players to awaken their enthusiasm for the game. We came alive in the toughest moments, aided by a bit of luck. After all, luck tends to favor the brave,” Obradović stated during the press conference.

Partizan managed to secure a narrow 78:76 victory against Cedevita Olimpija on their home court in Belgrade, marking their success in the 14th round of the regional ABA league.

“Cedevita Olimpija executed a commendable game and utilized their team strengths effectively. I sought to create a lineup that would be more combative and strategic on the court. The players who finished the game succeeded in doing just that. Our improved defense led to effective counterattacks, and we chose our shots wisely, which ultimately secured us the win. Congratulations to both Cedevita Olimpija and my players for their performance in the closing moments,” Obradović added.

With this win, Partizan stands at the top of the table with 12 victories and two losses, while Cedevita Olimpija, facing their first loss after a streak of five consecutive wins in the ABA league, occupies the ninth position with a record of 7/7.

Obradović also acknowledged Cedevita Olimpija’s coach, Zvezdan Mitrović, stating that his serious approach has greatly improved the team’s organization and defensive tactics. “Despite our poor performance, they only led by five points. We simply had to step up,” he noted.

The Partizan coach mentioned that Vanja Marinković and Mitar Bošnjaković remain sidelined due to injuries, although Ife Lundberg has begun training with the team.

Cedevita Olimpija’s coach, Zvezdan Mitrović, commented on the unacceptable mistakes made towards the end of the game and acknowledged the victory of the more experienced team.

“I congratulate Partizan on their win. I believe that Partizan has lost several matches like this in thrilling finishes. We made critical errors that we should not have. They showed resilience and managed to hit some tough shots. Our strategy was to slow the game down, as we couldn’t compete with Partizan in transition; we aimed to control the tempo as much as possible. The more seasoned team won today, thankfully taking advantage of a few of our mistakes. While I regret the defeat, I think our performance was commendable,” Mitrović remarked.

Looking ahead, Partizan will face Mega in an away game in Belgrade, while Cedevita Olimpija will welcome Krka in Ljubljana.

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