Budućnost Voli has faced numerous significant matches this season, including away games and victories over Partizan and Red Star in the AdmiralBet ABA League, along with various crucial encounters in the Eurocup…

One of the pivotal moments for Podgorica’s basketball team occurred on Wednesday in Ankara. They didn’t resemble a team that had lost only four games over the past three months, with the fifth being a road defeat for Andrej Žakelj against Turk Telekom (93:73), which compromised their chances in the Eurocup playoffs.

The “Blues” moved into the match without pressure, as they weren’t favorites against a squad that secured third place in Group B. However, they left an impression of falling too easily in Turkey, where the outcome felt predictable from the onset.

– We started too slowly – Coach Žakelj pinpointed the issue after Budućnost’s final European game of the season.

The team was incomplete, missing Yogi Ferel (and Andrija Slavkovic), leading to heightened reliance on the creativity of their lone playmaker It’s on him and Rashid Sulaimon.

Wright delivered an impressive performance with 34 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in just 11 minutes, while the Wolves rookie could not find his rhythm—scoring only nine points in 31 minutes, hitting none of his nine three-point attempts. Although Sulaimon contributed five steals and four assists, it was evident that Budućnost needed a more aggressive Rashid in Ankara.

– We couldn’t recover after such a start. Turk Telekom exploited our vulnerabilities, especially with two defenders sidelined, leading to significant pressure on players with no substitutes. This was crucial to the match – Žakelj noted.

Buducnost secured 41 rebounds—11 more than their adversaries—and claimed 19 on the offensive end of Turk Telekom’s basket. Yet, these offensive rebounds didn’t translate into scoring opportunities, ultimately falling short of advancing to the Eurocup quarterfinals. Fletcher Maggie was the standout performer, netting 16 points in over 21 minutes… Nonetheless, defense was also a major issue, as their 93-point concession indicates.

– We attempted various strategies, but our defense was lacking. Moreover, despite securing 19 offensive rebounds, we only converted a handful into points, signaling that something went awry. We needed to play with a lot more confidence – Žakelj explained.

Now, Buducnost turns its attention to a competition in which they are excelling. In the ABA League, they are currently tied for first place with Partizan, and with nine rounds left in the regular season, it appears they have a better shot at finishing in the top position going into the playoffs—though they still need to prove that on the court.

The “Blues” are set to host Megi in New Belgrade this Sunday at noon.

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