What an incredible two and a half months it has been, full of determination and impressive play from Buducnost Voli… When Spartak celebrated their victory in “Morača” on November 17, few anticipated that the “blue and white” would accumulate 11 consecutive wins in the AdmiralBet ABA League, including victories against Euroleague teams in the heart of Belgrade.

After defeating Partizan, they also overcame Crvena Zvezda, the fifth-placed team in the Euroleague, with a score of 96:89 in the Serbian capital. This marks yet another indication that Buducnost can harbor championship aspirations this season—though coach Andrej Žakelj remains cautious.

“We’ve demonstrated that we can compete at this level, and the players’ belief in our approach is key. However, as we’re facing back-to-back games, fatigue and injuries are starting to take their toll, and we’ve unfortunately lost Džuvan Morgan,” Žakelj noted during a press conference.

Still, the Slovenian coach has much to be pleased about regarding his team’s performance.

“We’ve been playing commendable basketball from the outset, and we’ve only faced two losses in both competitions in the last two months, which shows we are capable. The players have faith in our strategy, and it’s leading to positive outcomes. The league is lengthy, and many games await us, so we need to maintain focus,” Žakelj emphasized.

The intense derby culminated in overtime.

“It was a true derby match, an exceptional game, and I must commend the players for their response following two slightly subpar performances. They displayed character, adhered to our game plan, and remained focused—crucial qualities when fatigued. We maintained control of the score throughout the game,” Žakelj concluded.

Buducnost now leads the ABA League with an impressive record of 18-2, matching Partizan, while Red Star stands at 16-4.

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