SRB – Partizan win, Hemofarm concern over Serbia center Marjanovic

BELGRADE (Kosarkaska Liga Srbije) – Partizan Belgrade are favorites to win the Serbian domestic title and they took an important step towards achieving that by beating Hemofarm Stada 67-60 in Game 1 of the play-off finals at the Pionir on Monday night.

But Partizan coach Dusko Vujosevic, whose side has already won the Serbian Cup and the Adriatic League, knows that upsets can happen.

“They (Hemofarm) are highly motivated and have more freshness,” he said after Monday’s win, before adding, “and we see what happened in Barcelona.”

Vujosevic was referring to the Spanish ACB finals where Caja Laboral have sent shockwaves across Europe by taking a surprise 2-0 lead over Euroleague, Copa del Rey and Supercopa winners Barcelona.

One victory in the best-of-five title showdown in Serbia is in the bag for Partizan, though.

Aleks Maric, the Australia international center who’s had a breakout season for Partizan, poured in 13 points on Monday while American guard Bo McCalebb and Czech international power forward Jan Vesely contributed 10 apiece.

Making things all the more difficult for Hemofarm in the coming days is the apparent loss of 21-year-old center Boban Marjanovic, who went down with a knee injury in the final seconds of Game 1.

Marjanovic was earlier this month named in Serbia’s preliminary squad for the 2010 FIBA World Championship so it’s not just Hemofarm fans, players and coaches that are worried.

Stefan Markovic, the Hemofarm captain and Serbia national team point guard, said: “We expect to get revenge on our home court.

“I only hope that Bobby doesn’t have a serious injury. All the players are here for him.”

Game 2 is on Wednesday night in Vrsac.

FIBA