FIBA Basketball
SCG - Partizan thrash Mornar in Superleague
BELGRADE (Superleague) - Partizan are off and running in their Superleague title defense after a big win over Mornar. The Serbo-Montenegrin basketball championship has entered its final phase with the beginning of
BELGRADE (Superleague) - Partizan are off and running in their Superleague title defense after a big win over Mornar.
The Serbo-Montenegrin basketball championship has entered its final phase with the beginning of the national Superleague and in the first round of fixtures in Group A, Partizan crushed Mornar 96-68, inspired by a 22-2 burst in the second quarter. Kosta Perovic weighed in with 17 points for the champions while young guard Uros Tripkovic, who could play for the country at the FIBA World Championship in Japan this summer, scored 16.
"Our better quality was crucial for this win," said Partizan coach Dusko Vujosevic. "We are expecting new challenges and hope we can fulfil goals we set at the start of this season."
In other Group A clashes, FMP defeated Vojvodina 89-75 thanks to an inspired performance by 22-year-old guard Marko Marinovic, who poured in 27 points and racked up seven assists.
Masinac went on a game-winning 31-18 run in fourth quarter to defeat visiting Borac 83-79, this despite the visitors enjoying a 25-point haul from Milos Teodosic.
Group B competition started with a controversial derby in Vrsac, as Red Star Belgrade defeated Hemofarm 89-85 in a game marred by Red Star coach Dragan Sakota`s ejection from the court for arguing with the referees. Sakota is also the national team coach of Serbia & Montenegro.
Hemofarm, led by top-scoring trio Vladan Vukosavljevic (21 points), Robert Conley (18) and Rashad Wright (16), threatened to mount a comeback in final minutes only for Nebojsa Joksimovic to miss a potentially game-winning shot in the dying moments, allowing Red Star the opportunity to seal the win from the free-throw line seconds later.
"The Superleague has already shown that every game must be played from the first to the last second with full concentration," said Sakota. "It was important for us to start the championship with a victory over last season's runners-up, and we did it.
"As for my ejection, I can only say that my second technical foul was a result of nerves, which was a part of this game."
Nasa Liga winners Buducnost crushed Zdravlje 107-81, inspired by Miljan Pavkovic's 11 assists and 10 points, while his team-mate Marko Pekovic was the game`s top scorer with 21 points.
The final first round game, between Beograd and Atlas, takes place on Monday night.
The Superleague features 12 clubs in two groups competing for the overall national title, which current holders Partizan have won for the past four years.
Seven teams from the preliminary Nasa Liga - Buducnost, Mornar, OKK Beograd, Masinac, Zdravlje, Borac and Atlas - have qualified for the tournament, and will link up with five members of Adriatic League - Partizan, Hemofarm, Red Star, FMP and NIS Vojvodina - for a six-week group stage, from which four teams will advance to a play-off.
From Darko Nikolic, PA Sport, Belgrade Exclusively for FIBA
The Serbo-Montenegrin basketball championship has entered its final phase with the beginning of the national Superleague and in the first round of fixtures in Group A, Partizan crushed Mornar 96-68, inspired by a 22-2 burst in the second quarter. Kosta Perovic weighed in with 17 points for the champions while young guard Uros Tripkovic, who could play for the country at the FIBA World Championship in Japan this summer, scored 16.
"Our better quality was crucial for this win," said Partizan coach Dusko Vujosevic. "We are expecting new challenges and hope we can fulfil goals we set at the start of this season."
In other Group A clashes, FMP defeated Vojvodina 89-75 thanks to an inspired performance by 22-year-old guard Marko Marinovic, who poured in 27 points and racked up seven assists.
Masinac went on a game-winning 31-18 run in fourth quarter to defeat visiting Borac 83-79, this despite the visitors enjoying a 25-point haul from Milos Teodosic.
Group B competition started with a controversial derby in Vrsac, as Red Star Belgrade defeated Hemofarm 89-85 in a game marred by Red Star coach Dragan Sakota`s ejection from the court for arguing with the referees. Sakota is also the national team coach of Serbia & Montenegro.
Hemofarm, led by top-scoring trio Vladan Vukosavljevic (21 points), Robert Conley (18) and Rashad Wright (16), threatened to mount a comeback in final minutes only for Nebojsa Joksimovic to miss a potentially game-winning shot in the dying moments, allowing Red Star the opportunity to seal the win from the free-throw line seconds later.
"The Superleague has already shown that every game must be played from the first to the last second with full concentration," said Sakota. "It was important for us to start the championship with a victory over last season's runners-up, and we did it.
"As for my ejection, I can only say that my second technical foul was a result of nerves, which was a part of this game."
Nasa Liga winners Buducnost crushed Zdravlje 107-81, inspired by Miljan Pavkovic's 11 assists and 10 points, while his team-mate Marko Pekovic was the game`s top scorer with 21 points.
The final first round game, between Beograd and Atlas, takes place on Monday night.
The Superleague features 12 clubs in two groups competing for the overall national title, which current holders Partizan have won for the past four years.
Seven teams from the preliminary Nasa Liga - Buducnost, Mornar, OKK Beograd, Masinac, Zdravlje, Borac and Atlas - have qualified for the tournament, and will link up with five members of Adriatic League - Partizan, Hemofarm, Red Star, FMP and NIS Vojvodina - for a six-week group stage, from which four teams will advance to a play-off.
From Darko Nikolic, PA Sport, Belgrade Exclusively for FIBA