The players of Budućnost Voli were on the verge of achieving their seventh consecutive victory, their most significant win in this season’s Eurocup, but after 45 minutes of intense competition, they had to concede to Bahçeşehir with a final score of 95:93.

The outcome hinged on critical moments and defensive mistakes in the paint, compounded by the referees’ peculiar decisions, which resulted in 39 free throw opportunities for the home team compared to only 12 for Budućnost.

“The team gave it their all, but we fell short due to our free throw discrepancy. I’m not here to make excuses, but what can I say? We played aggressively, while they did not. I faced a technical foul without uttering a word to the referee,” stated the “blue and white” coach, Andrej Žakelj, during the post-game press conference.

He expressed admiration for his players…

“I must commend my players for their determination and character, and I also congratulate Bahçeşehir on their victory; it could have easily gone our way. We need to hold our heads high; we fought hard, and with this attitude, we will undoubtedly win our upcoming matches,” emphasized the Slovenian coach.

Young Montenegrin talent Đorđija Jovanović made a crucial mark during the match against Dubai over the weekend, scoring in the final second to push the game into overtime.

“He consistently gives his all, and while he managed that basket, ultimately we lost due to Bahçeşehir’s offensive rebounds. However, you can replay the footage to see what transpired during those contacts. It is what it is; we must keep moving forward,” concluded Žakelj.

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