CRO - Cibona crush Zabok to stay perfect

ZABOK (A1 Liga) - Cibona recovered from a slow start to crush Zabok 84-66 and top the table in the second phase of the A1 Liga.

Cibona trailed 28-14 by the end of the first quarter, but cut into the deficit in the second quarter with Sami Udrih and Jamont Gordon providing much of the offensive spark to get within 44-39 at the break.

The visitors turned the game around in the third period with a 15-1 spurt. They outscored their opponents 26-8 in the quarter for a 65-52 advantage and did not look back as Zabok players simply tired out.

Gordon finished with 30 points and Udrih added 17, despite sitting out for 10 minutes due to injury. Cibona shot the ball extremely well, hitting 23 of 35 attempts from two-point range and nine of 15 from beyond the arc.

Veljko Budimir led Zabok with 22 points and five rebounds.

Meanwhile, Zadar also improved to 2-0 after edging out stubborn Svjetlost Brod 81-77 on the road.

The hosts raced to a 15-6 advantage early on but the visitors replied with seven unanswered points.

Svjetlost were in the ascendancy in the first half, leading 26-23 at the end of the first quarter and maintaining that three-point cushion at the break, 44-41.

Zadar started the third period with a 12-0 run and held their opponents scoreless for five minutes as they took a 59-55 advantage into the final quarter.

The hosts fought valiantly to regain the lead, but came up short. Petar Cosic had a chance to tie the game from the free-throw line in the final minute, but he made just one of two foul shots for a 75-74 deficit and at the other end Marko Car made a three-pointer.

Cosic replied with one of his own to get within 78-77 but with time running out Svjetlosts had to foul and Rok Stipcevic made both attempts from the charity stripe. Cosic missed a potential game-tying three and Zadar made one more free-throw for the final scoreline.

Hrvoje Peric led Zadar with a game-high 19 points and seven rebounds and Stipcevic had 19 and handed out five assists. Trent Plaisted had a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards.

Fran Pilepic had a team-high 18 points while Cosic finished with 17.

Elsewhere, newcomers to this stage of the competition Cedevita crushed Darda 100-64.

The home side trailed 27-20 at the end of the first quarter, but then proceeded to outscore their opponents 34-11 in the second period for a 54-38 halftime lead.

And they kept on adding to that advantage throughout the second half.

Andrija Zizic had 20 points and seven rebounds to lead a balanced offense for the eventual winners.

In the other game, Zagreb got the better of Triogir, 92-86, to record their first win and see their opponents drop to 0-2.



FIBA