MEGA DEFENDED HOME COURT, KRKA BREAKS DOWN AFTER OVERTIME

Mega Leks defended the home court in Sremska Mitrovica for 6th time this season as they overcame Krka after overtime with 84:77 (16:26, 28:14, 14:19, 13:12, 13:6). Although they weren’t in the shooting mood, players of Dejan Milojevic played good in defence for the most part of the game and thanks to that and great offensive rebounds (24 rebounds in the attack) finally came to a well-deserved triumph. Mega will again spend the night at the first place with a score of 9-3.

The game started very badly for Mega and after 4 minutes, the score was 2:11. Nikolic three and Ivanovic lay-up after steal returned a resulting balance but Krka responds with new points from distance for 16:26 at the end of the first quarter.

Krka kept the advantage until the middle of the second quarter and then Mega over Jankovic points in the paint and with threes from Luwawu-Cabarrot moved into the lead. After a new offensive rebounds and points from Jankovic, the first half ended with 44:40.

The third quarter opened Kaba great with 6 points, the last one after an elegant assist from Luwawu-Cabarrot and points scored from after tip in. This was followed by baskets on both sides on both sides and the result after third quarter was 58:59.

Last quarter began with a exchanged poinst and until the 36th minutes when Krka took lead to 64:68. Simeunovic succeed in a difficult position to reach the rebound after a foul, hitting both free throws and then Ivanovic was also accurate. In the last 2 minutes teams entered with 68:68. Game went into overtime as the Ivanovic’s shot for 3 points didn’t hit target.

In overtime key role had Jaramaz who hit the first three pointer and two free throws and then a heavy basket with one foot in the fall to 80-76. By the end of the overtime,Mega preserved victory with a good defense.

In the next round of ABA league, Mega Leks play away in Valjevo against Metalac. Match will be played on December 6th, from 5 pm.

Mega Leks: Simic, Aranitovic 5, Djokovic, Jaramaz 14, Veljkovic, Ivanovic 13 (4 assists, 5 rebounds), Pavlovic, Luwawu-Cabarrot 20 (9 rebounds), Kaba 10 (6 rebounds), Simeunovic 4 (9 rebounds) Nikolic 3, Jankovic 13 (12 rebounds).

Krka: Tratnik, John 10, Sinovec 16, Rojc 6, Lalic 20, Katnić 7, Mulalić 11, Kastrati, Dimec, Polutak, Ritlop, Lapornik 7th

Djordje Simeunovic: “This was a very important game for us. I would like to congratulate the players of both teams on the big fight, and my team on a very substantial win. We knew it would be difficult, but we managed to get out of the difficult situation at the end of the match and deserved triumph. This time our fitness came to the fore”.

Dejan Milojevic: “I am very pleased victory since in the season sometimes more important victory is when you are not playing well. This time we were defensively very good for three-quarters and in overtime, but in this gaming segment first quarter was bad because we received 26 points. Everything else was in our recognizable level this season. We made Krka on 21 loose ball and it was the key to victory with a bad three-point shot from our main players Luwawu-Cabarrot and Ivanovic. However, they gave their contribution to the defense, I think we were brave enough and brought the game to an end in the right way. Now we have a score of 9-3 and as far as I’m an optimist, I can not say that I really was expecting this, but I’m not even thinking about the end of the season than to go game by game, and to get everyone we can”.

Luka Lapornik: “I’d congratulate my teammates on the right approach. We opened the match, but later we fell, we lost too many balls and we let Mega easy points from counter attacks. Also, we have allowed the opponent a large number of offensive rebounds. I must emphasize that we played pretty well and if we didn’t have so many nonsense in the end and we hit some wide open shots, we could win”.

.Vladimir Anzulović: “I want to first of all thank you all for your hospitality and to congratulate Mega and a coach at the fantastic games and the results achieved this season. No one can play easy in Mitrovica and they are absolutely deservedly hit of ABA league and because of the way they train and how they play. I have to thank my players who conducted most of the things as far as team tactics, but the failure was in the individual tactics, which resulted in a large number of turnovers and offensive rebounds of Mega which is partly due to our low height team. At the end, when we were offered the victory in the match on a platter, we could not hit open shots”.

Photo: Mega Leks