GREAT LAST QUARTER FOR THE WIN IN STOZICE

Players from Mega Leks in spite of big problems with injuries of players, managed to beat Union Olimpija with 89:99 (27:22, 20:21, 22:26, ​​20:30) in the 11th round of ABA league. With this win the Mega again climbed to first place on the table where they will be sure to spend the night. This match due to injuries are missed both Ognjen Jaramaz and Radovan Djokovic, but in their absence shined Stefan Simic, who for 10 minutes on the court, scored 11 points without a mis (5/5 FGs) while his debut in the ABA league had Alpha Kaba.

Dejan Milojevic started the match with the following five: Simic, Luwawu-Cabarrot, Simeunovic, Nikolic and Jankovic. After 3 minutes of the match result is a draw 6:6 with 4 points and 1 assist froms Simic. The home side with 3 triples managed to take the lead 17:12. Ivanovic and Aranitović with free throws did not allow the Olympia to come off in the coming minutes. Ivanovic then hit a three pointer and the first quarter ends 27-22.

Aranitovic affects long fg at the beginning of the second quarter and then Nikolic hits triple for equalizer. Olimpija managed to have a of 7:0 series which was stopped by a points from Simic. Olimpija continues to shoot great for the 3 points and the result in the 17th minute was 44:33. Ivanovic then hit a new triple and Kaba after steal assists to Simeunovic for easy points. Half is over with a buzzer beater triple from Ivanovic for 47:43. The most efficient in the Mega Leks after 20 minutes were Ivanovic with 14 points and Aranitovic with 8.

A good start to the second half for Mega after Nikolic points from offensive rebounds and triple from Luwawu-Cabarrot reach the new score, 50:50 and then to the first lead in the game 53:54. Nikolic hit three and a basket after a new offensive rebounds. Olimpija did not allowed raise of the lead fro Mega and in the next minutes teams exchanged baskets. Ivanovic hit the  buzzer for the score at the end of 3/4, 69:69.

The last period opens Nikolic with three for new lead for Mega, 69:72. Simic steals the ball with easy laying and after two triples from Luwawu-Cabarrot, Mega have a lead 73-80. Coach of Olimpija Gasper Potocnik calls a time-out but Mega after it corresponds a new series of 0:7 with points of Simic, Jankovic and Simeunovic to plus 12, 87:75. In the last 5 minutes of the match Mega Leks routinely saved the victory for the new head of the table, 89:99.

After 11 rounds, Mega has a record of 8 wins and 3 losses and currently holds the top position in the standings, while Union Olimpija remained at 4 wins. In the next round on November of 28th, Mega Leks welcomes Krka in Sremska Mitrovica.

Mega Leks: Simic 11, Aranitovic 8, Veljkovic, Ivanovic 19 (5 rebounds), Pavlovic, Luwawu-Cabarot 22, Kaba 4, Simeunovic 9, Nikolic 19 (11 rebounds), Jankovic 7.

Union Olimpija: Wright, Rupnik 12, Hrovat 11, Mesicek 4, Nikolic, Vucetic 6, Lapornik 13, Sajevic, Lesic 21, Zagorac, Akis 17, Cancar 5.

Stefan Simic: “Congratulations to Olympia on a good game. Despite bad luck because of absence Jaramaz and Djokovic due to injury in training, our team play came to the fore and character and physical fitness, which was seen in the fourth quarter, when we took the game in control and came to the win”.

Dejan Milojevic: “Very important win for us because we beat a competitor for the play-off. While Olimpija played variable, they are team of  quality players. I’m not satisfied with the opening match and the first half-because we were not aggressive enough in the field. In the second half we played a decisive , stronger and more aggressive with a lot of easy points after offensive rebounds. Both teams had a good shot for 3 points and the small details decided the match. Our defense, although it was not good, in the end decided the game. “