In the 25th round of the AdmiralBet ABA League last night, the Buducnost Voli basketball team secured a victory over Cibona in Zagreb with a score of 96:82, maintaining their tie for first place alongside Partizan.

Both teams boast a record of 22-3, with Budućnost set to face SC Derbi in the upcoming round, while Partizan will take on Igokea. Following these matches, a direct encounter will occur in Podgorica.

In Zagreb, Buducnost established a commanding 25-point lead during the first half (40:15); however, the home team mounted a comeback, closing the gap to five points multiple times. Ultimately, the “blues” managed to restore their double-digit lead and clinch the win.

“When we perform well, especially defensively, we look exceptional. Nonetheless, when players ease off and assume the game is over or lose focus on defense – that’s when we encounter issues, as happened today. In my opinion, that’s unacceptable. We allowed 34 points in the third quarter, compared to just 33 in the entire first half. It all revolves around defense – focusing on how many easy points we give to the opposing team,” commented Budućnost coach Andrej Žakelj after the game.

Buducnost played without Slavković and Ferrell, who returned to the USA for personal reasons, while Sulajmon left the game in the third quarter and didn’t return.

“We began the game well – with aggression, speed, and easy points. We need to maintain that intensity for as much of the game as possible. Every game is challenging, and every win is crucial, as any defeat could significantly impact our pursuit of a better ranking. Our objective was to secure the win, and we achieved that. There were some positive moments, though it wasn’t all good. We will address and analyze our shortcomings and strive to extend our positive performances over more minutes. I congratulate Cibona on their courageous and commendable performance, and I wish them the best for the remainder of the season,” added Žakelj.

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