03/04/2006
News
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SCG - Nasa Liga ends with cheers and tears
BELGRADE (Nasa Liga) - All available Superleague slots have been filled at the end of the first phase of the Serbia and Montenegro Nasa Liga.
Atlas, Buducnost, Mornar, OKK Beograd, Masinac, Zdravlje and Borac have qualified and will link up with five Adriatic League teams, Partizan, Hemofarm, Red Star, FMP and NIS Vojvodina, in the 12-team Superleague which will be contested from April 15 to May 24 before moving to the play-off phase.
Belgrade club Atlas sealed the final qualification spot for elite competition after a 93-81 victory over bitter rivals Ergonom who had had a similar 10-11 record at start of play.
Ergonom led 12-5 but once coach Predrag Jacimovic was given a technical foul it was Atlas who took over, led by Branislav Ratkovica who scored 17 points.
The hosts built a 35-22 lead and then survived Ergonom's surge with Milos Mirkovic managing 22 in a losing cause.
"After five victories in last six matches, I must thank my players for this joy," said Atlas coach Dragan Vascanin.
"I must congratulate our opponents for their success, they've deserved it," said Jacimovic.
"We've made too many turnovers and that cost us a lot. You can't afford a lack of concentration in matches like these, and that is what happened with us, unfortunately."
Mega Ishrana ended their season with a 97-93 defeat at the hands of Buducnost.
Mega Ishrana had a 56-66 lead at the start of the last period but then saw Buducnost outplay them 41-27 in the final 10 minutes to achieve a victory which condemns Mega to relegation alongside Napredak and Primorka.
"I think that our relegation didn't happen today, with this defeat, as the main failure came a week ago when we allowed Napredak to outplay us," said Mega coach Vlade Djurovic.
Meanwhile, Vlade Divac's first club Sloga needed a victory in Krusevac to avoid relegation and, backed by 1,000 fans who travelled south, beat Napredak 76-68.
"We've faced a rival who haven't had anything to lose, and therefore our task was tougher. But our concentration and wish to stay in the league prevailed," said
Miodrag Kadija, coach of Sloga whose best player was Perica Mitic with 22 points and seven rebounds.
The best individual performance came from 23-year-old Mirko Kovac whose 39 points, including seven from 10 behind the paint, was not enough to prevent OKK Beograd losing 105-98 at Masinac.
In other matches Zdravlje outplayed Borac 81-71 in a clash for fifth place with Vladica Jovanovic scoring 24 points and missing just two of his 11 shots.
Bottom side Primorka were easy opponents for second-placed Mornar who won 93-71 with Ivan Jelenic scoring 24 points for the winners.
PA Sport
Atlas, Buducnost, Mornar, OKK Beograd, Masinac, Zdravlje and Borac have qualified and will link up with five Adriatic League teams, Partizan, Hemofarm, Red Star, FMP and NIS Vojvodina, in the 12-team Superleague which will be contested from April 15 to May 24 before moving to the play-off phase.
Belgrade club Atlas sealed the final qualification spot for elite competition after a 93-81 victory over bitter rivals Ergonom who had had a similar 10-11 record at start of play.
Ergonom led 12-5 but once coach Predrag Jacimovic was given a technical foul it was Atlas who took over, led by Branislav Ratkovica who scored 17 points.
The hosts built a 35-22 lead and then survived Ergonom's surge with Milos Mirkovic managing 22 in a losing cause.
"After five victories in last six matches, I must thank my players for this joy," said Atlas coach Dragan Vascanin.
"I must congratulate our opponents for their success, they've deserved it," said Jacimovic.
"We've made too many turnovers and that cost us a lot. You can't afford a lack of concentration in matches like these, and that is what happened with us, unfortunately."
Mega Ishrana ended their season with a 97-93 defeat at the hands of Buducnost.
Mega Ishrana had a 56-66 lead at the start of the last period but then saw Buducnost outplay them 41-27 in the final 10 minutes to achieve a victory which condemns Mega to relegation alongside Napredak and Primorka.
"I think that our relegation didn't happen today, with this defeat, as the main failure came a week ago when we allowed Napredak to outplay us," said Mega coach Vlade Djurovic.
Meanwhile, Vlade Divac's first club Sloga needed a victory in Krusevac to avoid relegation and, backed by 1,000 fans who travelled south, beat Napredak 76-68.
"We've faced a rival who haven't had anything to lose, and therefore our task was tougher. But our concentration and wish to stay in the league prevailed," said
Miodrag Kadija, coach of Sloga whose best player was Perica Mitic with 22 points and seven rebounds.
The best individual performance came from 23-year-old Mirko Kovac whose 39 points, including seven from 10 behind the paint, was not enough to prevent OKK Beograd losing 105-98 at Masinac.
In other matches Zdravlje outplayed Borac 81-71 in a clash for fifth place with Vladica Jovanovic scoring 24 points and missing just two of his 11 shots.
Bottom side Primorka were easy opponents for second-placed Mornar who won 93-71 with Ivan Jelenic scoring 24 points for the winners.
PA Sport
