Mega Basket defeated Zadar 88-82 in a match played in Belgrade, at the Ranko Žeravica Hall. The match was attended by 350 spectators, and the referees were Mordal, Lakićević, and Zbikowska.
The result by quarters was 19-20, 23-16, 18-24, and 28-22. Zadar won the first and third quarters, while Mega was more successful in the second and final quarters. In the first 20 minutes, Zadar lost 12 balls, which allowed the home team to take control in the second half.
The roster for Mega Basket included M. Šuput, Mušicki, Vojinović, Maniema, Hreľja, Bačko, Nikolić, Bjelica, Srzentić, Paunov, Lučić, and U. Šuput. Mušić scored 6 points, Vojinović 7, Maniema 9, Bačko 8 with 4 rebounds, Nikolić 15 with 7 rebounds, Bjelica 4, and Srzenti 10, with Paunov 11 and 5 rebounds, and Lučić 18 points with 7 assists.
The players for Zadar were Mihailović, Klarica, Odgen, Bičić, Williams, Ramljak, Mirčeta, Vraneš, Vučić, Drežnjak, Šare, and Buljević. Mihailović scored 20 points and provided 4 assists, Williams added 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, Vraneš 15 points and 7 rebounds, and Drežnjak 9. Klar 5, Ramljak 5, Šare 5, Vučić 4, Mirčeta 2, while Odgen, Bičić, and Buljević remained without points.
The oldest player of Mega was born in 2003, while the other players were born between 2006 and 2007. At the start of the game, a player from Mega jumped into the attack, scoring a three-pointer and blocking a shot, while Ivan Vraneš scored with a layup for 7-0. Lucas Nzambi Maniema brought the home team to the scoreboard, and Ognjen Nikolić gave Mega the first lead 14-11. Ross Williams played 12 minutes on the court in the first half.
In the first minutes of the second half, Aleksandar Vojinović scored for 47-36, but Marko Ramljk returned the lead for Zadar. Luka Paunov, a minute before the end, set the result 82-77, securing the victory for Mega.
The Zadar team, the day after the Belgrade match, will travel to Zagreb to play against local Virtus in the domestic league, with the next match in the regional competition scheduled for Friday, with a visit to Vienna.
