SRB - Punches thrown as Partizan beat Hemofarm in Game 2

VRSAC (Kosarkaska Liga Srbije) - Partizan Belgrade are one win away from lifting the Serbian league title after edging Hemofarm Stada 86-81 in Vrsac on Wednesday night.

Dusko Vujosevic’s team took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series but a fight that broke out between the teams near the end of Game 2 marred the contest, and cast a dark cloud over the Serbian championship.

Hemofarm, who played without center Boban Marjanovic after he picked up a knee injury in Game 1, overcame his absence and led 78-77 when all hell broke loose.

Partizan big man Lawrence Roberts was left open behind the arc at the top of the key and drilled a three-pointer.

In the battle for position under the boards on that very play, Partizan's Australia international Aleks Maric lost his cool with Hemofarm's Rasko Katic.

Video replay of the incident appears to show Maric, who was being boxed out, use his right arm to bring Katic down to the floor.

Both players ended up on the court.

The Australian quickly stood up and walked in the direction of Katic, who reacted by jumping up and throwing a forearm at Maric's head.

Hemofarm hardman Goran Jagodnik, who was involved in an incident in Game 1, charged into the middle of the scrap and wrapped his arms around Maric in an attempt to separate him from Katic, only for the Australian to throw a punch at the Slovenia international.

Partizan's Czech international Jan Vesely was a peace-maker but he caught a blow and ended up with a bloody mouth.

Other people, sadly, threw punches.

Police had to detain some fans, and there was a lengthy delay to restore order before play resumed. The only problem was, officials ejected nine players from each team, so the contest finished as a three-on-three game and Partizan ultimately claimed a five-point win.

Bo McCalebb finished with 23 points, five assists and five rebounds while Maric weighed in with 18 points.

"I have nothing to say," said Hemofarm coach Zeljko Lukajic.

"What has happened is shameful!

"They will fill these unpleasant images on YouTube.

"Now there will be speculation as to who is to blame, who first started it ... but really, we are all wrong!

"This should not be happening.

"I think the smart people need to sit down after such things, think things through and start working so that this will never happen again."

Serbia international Milan Macvan of Hemofarm, one of the brightest young talents in all of Europe, spoke with a lot of sadness and regret.

"I apologize on behalf of the whole team and the people who worked with us all year, because of the bad examples that we gave everyone who watched the game...

"Perhaps we have been an example for the younger ones, but we will try to correct this bad image.

"This is not allowed to happen because in the stands were small children."

There are, without question, other incidents during games that lead to fights.

The series has been a tough one with Jagodnik criticized for his physical play in Game 1.

“Unfortunately, this picture will visit all the sports channels, and therefore we cannot boast but rather ask ourselves where we are wrong, and why has this happened,” Vujosevic said.

One thing is for certain.

There will be a large police presence at the Pionir for Game 3, and the incidents have tarnished an amazing season for Partizan.

"This year," Vujosevic said, "we won the domestic cup, then in spectacular fashion in Zagreb before 15,000 spectators (the Adriatic League), and especially reaching the Euroleague Final Four was a fantastic result, so that has increased the motivation of our opponents.

"We have reached top of the mountain so everyone you play wants to beat you and I would be the same if I were on the other side."

FIBA