The recent break caused by the FIBA “window” and commitments to the national team proved beneficial for the Buducnost Voli basketball squad.

This was evident on Saturday when the Montenegrin champions triumphed over Cedevita-Olimpija in the AdmiralBet ABA League with a score of 95:78.

Buducnost demonstrated complete control throughout the game, making it clear that nothing could hinder Andrej Žakelj’s team on their path to victory.

After facing Cedevita-Olimpija, preparations commenced for the Eurocup and the upcoming match in Ankara against Turk Telekom (Wednesday, 17:30). Buducnost concluded the regular season with a record of 9-X and is returning to the Eurocup playoffs after a one-season hiatus.

Earlier this season, the Blues faced Turkish teams, having played two matches each against Besiktas and Istanbul Bahçeşehir. Unfortunately, Buducnost lost all four encounters, narrowly missing victory against Besiktas in Podgorica and Bahçeşehir in Istanbul, both decided by a single point.

On Wednesday, they face another Turkish team with a favorable record against the Montenegrin champions.

Turk Telekom and Buducnost have clashed four times, with the Podgorica team yet to secure a victory during the 2022/2023 season. Turk Telekom managed to win twice in the group stage (84:71 and 77:72), and also came out on top in the previous season (79:77 and 96:73).

“We’re approaching a challenging game. Turk Telekom is an excellent team, featuring skilled players and shooters. Preparation and scouting are crucial, but we must remain focused on our game. If we continue performing like we have, everything should turn out well,” stated Fletcher Magee.

According to the exceptional shooter, aggressive defense and scoring easy points from fast breaks will be vital for claiming victory in Ankara.

“Team defense is fundamental because Turk Telekom has several players capable of scoring. We need to emphasize our defensive game, enabling us to transition to offense and score easy points,” added Magee.

Former Buducnost player Joan Makundu, who has recently moved to Ankara, is now part of Turk Telekom. He is averaging 11.4 points and five rebounds in the Eurocup this season.

“We’re excited to see him again; he’s beloved by us all. He’s a fantastic player, and it will be interesting to compete against him,” Magee commented.

Historically, Buducnost has only won twice in Turkey—first in 1999 during the FIBA Saporta Cup quarterfinals against Tofaş (82:64) and secondly in 2022 during the Eurocup against Bursa (89:86).

Will the time come for the “Blues” to return from Turkey with a victory?

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