FIBA Basketball
SCG - Play-off teams known
BELGRADE (Superleague) - Two rounds before the play-offs commence, all four teams for the semi-finals of the Serbo-Montenegrin Superleague championship are now known. In Group A, reigning champions Partizan and
BELGRADE (Superleague) - Two rounds before the play-offs commence, all four teams for the semi-finals of the Serbo-Montenegrin Superleague championship are now known.
In Group A, reigning champions Partizan and regional Adriatic League title holders FMP secured their play-off spots.
In Group B Red Star, guided by new national team boss Dragan Sakota, will be joined by the youthful Podgorica outfit - who edged out last year's runners-up Hemofarm.
The derby match of round eight was played in Vrsac, where Hemofarm needed a win against Buducnost to stay in contention for the play-offs.
But, despite cutting the deficit to 68-67 in the penultimate minute of the game, the hosts lost 73-76, with Buducnost's Ivan Maras' three-pointer sealing their victory.
Hemofarm's American international Rashad Wright was the game's top scorer with 30 points, while Marko Pekovic, with 15 points, led the way for the visitors.
Hemofarm coach Luka Pavicevic said: "It is a very hard defeat for us, as we're eliminated from the final battles for the title. I can't say anything bad about my players as they played with their hearts, giving their best.
"We've failed as the visitors used our lapse in concentration in the third quarter, where we couldn't find an answer to their long-range shots."
Buducnost coach Dejan Radonjic said: "For the first time since Superleague started, we have had more rebounds than our opponents. I must congratulate my players for their performance, they've shown why they deserved to be in the play-offs."
Like Buducnost, Sakota's Red Star finished with a record of 7-1, after crushing OKK Beograd 103-79, with Milan Gurovic top scoring once again with 21 points.
Atlas have yet to register a victory in their campaign, as Zdravlje defeated them 77-94, with Vladica Jovanovic scoring 18 points for the victors.
Meanwhile, chasing their fifth title in a row, Partizan comfortably overcame Masinac - with the black-and-whites' 95-75 success keeping their 100% record intact.
League MVP Dejan Milojevic inspired Partizan with 21 points and 11 rebounds and young guard Uros Tripkovic was also influential, with 20 points and six assists.
Partizan coach Dusko Vujosevic said: "Our opponent was weaker then us, but it is never easy to play 'already won' matches.
"Thanks to my players and their attitude, we have had no problems so we can peacefully prepare for the forthcoming derby with FMP - which will decide who will have top-spot in our group."
Elsewhere in Group A, FMP defeated Borac 71-84, with 17 points from Branko Jorovic guiding his side to their seventh Superleague triumph.
Vojvodina stay in third place after defeating Mornar 94-79, with Marko Scekic and Milan Dozet taking centre stage for the hosts, with 22 and 21 points respectively.
PA Sport
In Group A, reigning champions Partizan and regional Adriatic League title holders FMP secured their play-off spots.
In Group B Red Star, guided by new national team boss Dragan Sakota, will be joined by the youthful Podgorica outfit - who edged out last year's runners-up Hemofarm.
The derby match of round eight was played in Vrsac, where Hemofarm needed a win against Buducnost to stay in contention for the play-offs.
But, despite cutting the deficit to 68-67 in the penultimate minute of the game, the hosts lost 73-76, with Buducnost's Ivan Maras' three-pointer sealing their victory.
Hemofarm's American international Rashad Wright was the game's top scorer with 30 points, while Marko Pekovic, with 15 points, led the way for the visitors.
Hemofarm coach Luka Pavicevic said: "It is a very hard defeat for us, as we're eliminated from the final battles for the title. I can't say anything bad about my players as they played with their hearts, giving their best.
"We've failed as the visitors used our lapse in concentration in the third quarter, where we couldn't find an answer to their long-range shots."
Buducnost coach Dejan Radonjic said: "For the first time since Superleague started, we have had more rebounds than our opponents. I must congratulate my players for their performance, they've shown why they deserved to be in the play-offs."
Like Buducnost, Sakota's Red Star finished with a record of 7-1, after crushing OKK Beograd 103-79, with Milan Gurovic top scoring once again with 21 points.
Atlas have yet to register a victory in their campaign, as Zdravlje defeated them 77-94, with Vladica Jovanovic scoring 18 points for the victors.
Meanwhile, chasing their fifth title in a row, Partizan comfortably overcame Masinac - with the black-and-whites' 95-75 success keeping their 100% record intact.
League MVP Dejan Milojevic inspired Partizan with 21 points and 11 rebounds and young guard Uros Tripkovic was also influential, with 20 points and six assists.
Partizan coach Dusko Vujosevic said: "Our opponent was weaker then us, but it is never easy to play 'already won' matches.
"Thanks to my players and their attitude, we have had no problems so we can peacefully prepare for the forthcoming derby with FMP - which will decide who will have top-spot in our group."
Elsewhere in Group A, FMP defeated Borac 71-84, with 17 points from Branko Jorovic guiding his side to their seventh Superleague triumph.
Vojvodina stay in third place after defeating Mornar 94-79, with Marko Scekic and Milan Dozet taking centre stage for the hosts, with 22 and 21 points respectively.
PA Sport