Montenegrin Derby in Bar: Mornar Seeks First Victory Since November
Photo: KK SC Derbi/Filip Roganović
A small Montenegrin derby is set to take place in Bar – Mornar vs. SC Derby, as Mornar faces a challenge against a team that is currently comfortable, being far from the AdmiralBet ABA League playoff zone and the relegation battles (Saturday at 18 p.m.).
The Barani are at risk of descending to the ABA2 league, having only a single victory in 22 rounds. The significance of a potential win against Podgorica is uncertain, especially since Cibona has three more wins and a superior head-to-head record…
However, Mihailo Pavićević’s squad must remain hopeful as they aim to snap a 15-game losing streak. Their lone triumph this season came against Cibona in early November.
“I find myself repeating the same sentiment from game to game, wishing we could perform at the required level to secure a crucial victory, yet things don’t seem to be progressing well. There are objective challenges as well; we lost our best player, Carter, shortly after starting to find our rhythm, and then Jenkins had to leave Montenegro…”, stated Pavićević, adding:
“This week, we’ve been struck with injuries, with two key players – Smith and Runjic – sidelined due to a virus, leaving their availability in doubt. We are not in a favorable situation, but we must give everything we’ve got to achieve a victory, which could signify a turning point for us. I’m not pressuring the players; I simply ask them to deliver their utmost, and we will all be pleased if that proves sufficient,” Pavićević emphasized.
On the other hand, coach Petar Mijović of the “students” expressed satisfaction with the team’s recent training efforts.
“We’ve had a very productive week in training. However, we face personnel challenges, and it’s uncertain whether we will field a complete squad. Mornar is a team that demands our full focus and effort. At home, they exude confidence and energy, so we must approach the game with toughness and intensity, aiming to control the game’s rhythm through our defense. It is crucial that we deny the opponent easy scoring opportunities from 1-on-1 situations and offensive rebounds. Offensively, we need clarity and precision in our execution,” Mijović noted.
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