February 10 was a significant day for the Budućnost Voli basketball team, as their remarkable performance in Belgrade marked their second win of the season, bringing them closer to securing first place at the end of the regular season in the AdmiralBet ABA League.

In the “Aleksandar Nikolić” hall, they triumphed over Red Star after extra time, and March 1 looks promising for the Podgorica team to extend their winning streak.

The “Blues” are currently enjoying an 11-game winning streak in the regional league, and this evening at 19:00, they will host Cedevita Olimpija at the “M:tel Morača Hall” – a long-standing rival coached this season by Montenegrin Zvezdan Mitrović.

Andrej Žakelj’s team faces a challenge in the Dragons, but their resilient spirit, as seen this season in the ABA League, Eurocup, and most recently in the Montenegrin Cup final where a depleted Budućnost captured the title by defeating SC Derby, indicates they are ready.

– I believe Cedevita Olimpija is in good shape. They are playing well, and I expect a highly competitive game. We’ll see how we perform after the break; we had two days to prepare, and it will definitely be a different match than those before the break – said Žakelj.

Currently, the Slovenian team ranks fifth in the ABA League, holding a record of 12 wins out of 20 games. Notably, one of their eight losses came against Budućnost, who convincingly beat them in Ljubljana during the sixth round (91:71) while Mitrović was sidelined due to back issues.

– Cedevita Olimpija is a formidable team known for their solid defense, and we must be prepared for that. Offensively, they are dynamic with a lot of movement and shooting; we need to focus on these aspects to kick off the second half of the season with a win – emphasized Žakelj.

After 20 rounds, Budućnost shares the top position with Partizan, posting an impressive 18 wins and just 2 losses.

– Following the international break, we resume our marathon in club basketball. We are hosting a team that has proven its quality and will contend for significant honors in the ABA League and Eurocup. We must be aware of the standout players in Cedevita Olimpija and how they excel, but with our supporters behind us, I believe victory is within reach – said Kenan Kamenjaš, a center for the “Blues”, who recently celebrated qualifying for the European Championship with the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.

Mitrović, the former Montenegrin coach and expert who spent many years with Budućnost, returns to his hometown, acknowledging Budućnost as the favorites.

– Budućnost is in excellent form. Let’s recall our first match in “Stožice”, where our Podgorica rivals secured a solid victory. Budućnost is the favorite, so we approach this away match without pressure, aiming to put in a strong performance. We’ll see if that is enough for a positive result – concluded Mitrović.

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