JOVANOVIC: “MAXIMUM CONCENTRATION AGAINST ZLATIBOR”

Mega Mozzart will start the competition on this year’s “Triglav Osiguranje Kup Radivoj Korac” in Nis on Thursday at 9 pm, where they will play against the Zlatibor team in the quarterfinals. This year’s Cup will be played from February 17 to 20 in SC Cair in Nis, and if Mega records a victory against Zlatibor, in the semifinals on Saturday, February 19 at 5 pm, they will play against the betterfrom the duel Crvena zvezda mts – SPD Radnicki d.o.o.

In the second half of the draw, the pairs are FMP Meridian – Borac (Cacak) and Partizan NIS – Borac Zemun, which play their matches on Friday, the semifinals will be played on Saturday at 5 pm and 9 pm, and the finals are scheduled for Sunday, February 20 at 9 pm .

Mega Mozzart’s coach Vladimir Jovanovic took the following 12 players to Nis: Luka Cerovina (captain), Mladen Vujic, Samson Ruzhentsev, Nikola Jovic, Matej Rudan, Aleksa Uskokovic, Nikola Kocovic, Dayshon Smith, Karlo Matkovic, Nikola Djurisic, Borisa Simanic and Mihailo Musikic.

Before the start of the competition, Mega Mozzart’s coach Vladimir Jovanovic pointed out that the cup is a specific competition and that his team must play the match at the highest possible energy level:

– I am very satisfied and happy that the cup has returned to Nis, which is a very good organizer. As far as the cup is concerned, it is the most massive competition, but for the eight teams that appear there, in addition to being beautiful, it is also very demanding. I have to say that the cup is not coming to us at the best moment, primarily because we came out of the mini series of regular and postponed ABA league games when we played three games in seven days. It was too much effort and after two days of preparing for the cup in Belgrade, we are playing a game in the quarterfinals in Nis. Regardless, we will try to prepare as best we can. The cup is a specific competition where there is no right to make a mistake, where all teams come very motivated and everyone sees their chance. I have great respect for the Zlatibor, as I have already mentioned, the municipality of Cajetina has been investing a lot in basketball in the last few years, and this can be seen in the notable results provided in KLS. The team is composed of experienced Serbian players, who previously played in the ABA league and abroad. Regardless of the opponent who deserves every respect, a competition that is very specific and does not allow the right to make mistakes, as well as the moment we are in, all this requires maximum concentration and readiness to play that game at the highest possible energy level,

said Jovanovic.

Mega’s captain Luka Cerovina points out that there is no room in the cup to correct mistakes:

– The cup is a specific competition, it is played in one game and surprises are always possible. We go step by step, we are focused on our opponent in the quarterfinals. Zlatibor is a quality team and we need to enter that game with maximum concentration and with the right energy. You have no room in the cup to correct mistakes and we must be aware of that. We haven’t played the last two games in the ABA league at the required level, but I believe that we have learned lessons from them and that we will be at the required level on Thursday,

said Cerovina.

Mega Mozzart played four times in the Radivoj Korac Cup finals, winning the trophy in 2016.

Photo: Mega Mozzart