The three-day Montenegrin Cup final tournament for basketball players kicks off tomorrow in Bijelo Polje with the quarterfinals.

A total of eight teams will vie for the trophy, which SC Derby is defending.

Last year, SC Derby clinched victory against Buducnost Voli, a team that has won this competition 16 times, in the final.

In addition to these two teams, Sutjeska also holds the title, having emerged victorious in 2013.

The tournament in Bijelo Polje will commence with a match between Sutjeska Elektroprivreda and SC Derbi, starting at 1 PM.

Budućnost Voli faces Primorje 15 at 3:45 PM, and like last year, at 6 PM, Mornar Barsko Zlato will challenge Podgorica Bemax.

The final semi-finalist will be determined in a match between Jedinstvo 1950 and Teoda.

Sutjeska concluded its season in the NLB ABA2 League during the group stage but recorded an impressive 13 wins and only two losses in the First Montenegrin League.

Head coach Boško Bošković expressed excitement about participating in the Cup final, stating they aim to make a strong impression.

“We know we have a tough task ahead, facing SC Derby, who will compete in the Cup with the same squad from the ABA League. This competition often leads to surprises, and we have hope. Unfortunately, we will be missing shooting guard Bogdan Bojić due to injury, but the rest of the squad is prepared,” Bošković said.

SC Derbi made history by winning the Cup last year, and unlike other Montenegrin teams in the ABA League, they face no issues regarding the number of foreign players.

Coach Petar Mijović anticipates a challenging matchup, stating that SC Derbi is up against its toughest opponent apart from ABA League clubs.

“We respect Sutjeska, which boasts talented and experienced players from various levels. They seem to be in good form after an impressive win in Tivat. The Cup often leads to intriguing matchups and surprises, but we’ll aim to prove our status as favorites,” Mijović noted.

He anticipates entertaining, high-quality basketball over the tournament’s three days.

“Budućnost Voli remains a favorite this year as well. Due to the foreign player limitation (maximum of four), coach Andrej Žakelj has chosen to rely on McKinley Wright, Yogi Ferrell, Fletcher Magee, and Kenan Kamenjaš.

“The Cup is unique, but Budućnost always has high ambitions and we embrace our role as favorites. We must demonstrate character, approach the quarterfinals respectfully, and aim for the semifinals first. We just returned from Belgrade, so we might need some rest, but we are professionals,” Žakelj remarked.

He emphasizes the need for maximum respect among players, confident it will be upheld.

“We are fielding a team missing six players, relying on younger talent, but our focus is to win. Fatigue may be a factor, but our approach must remain steadfast,” Žakelj emphasized.

Primorje’s coach, Pavle Roganović, acknowledges his team as underdogs in the competition, lacking major ambitions.

“We’ve faced a challenging schedule and numerous injuries, but despite this, we aim to compete as fiercely as possible. While we may struggle against Budućnost, we’ll certainly strive to make a notable impression,” Roganović stated.

Just like last year, Mornar Barsko Zlato and Podgorica Bemax will meet in the quarterfinals.

Despite their struggles in the ABA League with 13 losses, Mornar aims to deliver a respectable performance.

“As an established club in the ABA League, we likely hold the role of favorites despite recent poor results. Our lineup may change, but our motivation remains strong to perform well and reach the semifinals. Injuries are a concern, and coach Mihailo Pavićević plans to rest some players, as our primary focus is survival in the ABA League,” said assistant coach Ivan Jelenić.

Podgorica Bemax currently competes in the Top 8 phase of the NLB ABA2 League, holding a solid 13-2 record in the First A Montenegrin League.

“Mornar, being an ABA League team, will inherently be a favorite regardless of the lineup. We’ll aim to make the best of our opportunities and strive for victory to advance to the semifinals,” remarked Podgorica’s coach Marko Sekulić.

Teodo, facing significant personnel issues, has lower expectations than last year.

“Injuries have caused considerable challenges, and we may not know who can play until the last moment. Regardless, we’ll do our utmost to achieve a win against the host team,” stated Boris Jeknić from the Tivćan coaching staff.

As host of the final tournament, Jedinstvo 1950 approaches the start of the competition with excitement.

“The club has worked hard to ensure everything is well-organized. I hope for a full house, great basketball, and that everyone enjoys the event. Qualifying has been a success for us, marking Jedinstvo’s return to the pinnacle of Montenegrin basketball after many years,” commented Bijelo Polje coach Nikola Korać.

He is hopeful for a packed stadium to support their efforts against a strong Teodo team.

“We have a deep roster now, with Evans and Čekić joining us from Teoda, and some injured players are returning. We’re gearing up positively for the tournament,” Korać concluded.

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