For the first time since the 2021/2022 season, the Cedevita-Olimpija basketball team has advanced to the Eurocup quarterfinals. Under the guidance of Montenegrin coach Zvezdan Mitrović, they triumphed over Besiktas with a score of 96:86 in the playoff match held in Ljubljana.

This marks a significant achievement for the Slovenian champions, especially given their previous two Eurocup campaigns. The “Dragons” secured three victories in the group stage during the 2022/2023 season, compared to just one win the year before.

Last summer brought a major shake-up, leading to Zvezdan Mitrović’s arrival in Ljubljana. He had previously won the Eurocup with Monaco four years ago and was recognized as the top coach in the competition.

The team’s participation in the Eurocup was a significant factor in Mitrović’s move to Slovenia, as the goal was to enhance their European performance after the challenges of the last two seasons.

The “Dragons” quickly demonstrated improvement by defeating Dušan Alimpijević’s squad, who had previously halted Cedevita-Olimpija’s progress in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Eurocup while coaching Bursa.

In tonight’s match, Cedevita-Olimpija faced a 13-point deficit in the first half, concluding at 47:34. Aleksej Nikolić played a crucial role in narrowing the gap, with halftime leaving the Turkish team ahead by just seven points at 49:42.

During the second half, fellow players Robinson, Lemar, and Stewart joined Nikolić, and midway through the third quarter, after a three-pointer from Stewart, the Ljubljana team gained a narrow lead at 58:57. The scoring was close until the fourth quarter when Cedevita surged ahead with a six-point streak, ultimately achieving a comfortable victory with a score of 89:79.

Robinson was the standout performer for Cedevita, scoring 21 points. Lemar added 20 points, while Jones contributed 14, Stewart scored 13, and Nikolić and Beringe each had 12.

For Besiktas, Matthews notched 18 points, and newly appointed Montenegrin national team member Kyle Olman finished with 13 points and 14 assists.

Cedevita-Olimpija will be facing Istanbul Bahçeşehir in the quarterfinals, a team coached by Mitrović’s godfather, Dejan Radonjić. The matchup is scheduled for next week in Turkey.

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