MEGA MIS AT THE START OF THE ABA LEAGUE PLAYOFFS IN PODGORICA, BARAĆ: “CROWN OF THE SEASON, WE PREPARED WELL TO TRY TO MAKE A SURPRISE”

After excellent performances in the second part of the season and a historic streak of nine wins in ten consecutive games, Mega MIS basketball players will participate in the playoffs of the ABA League for the first time since 2016. The opponent in the quarterfinals is Budućnosti VOLI, which Mega defeated seven years ago in the semifinals. The first match is scheduled for Friday, April 28, at 6 p.m. in Morača Hall in Podgorica. The team from Podgorica, the third-placed team in the standings with an 18-8 score, has the advantage of the home field in the series, which is played on two wins according to the 1-1-1 system.

Mega MIS made it to the playoffs as sixth-placed with a score of 12-14, and coach Marko Barać emphasized his satisfaction with the results achieved in the league part.

– As by far the youngest team in the league, with an average age of around 20, we took sixth place, which is an exceptional result. I am proud of where this team was, how the players looked in August, September, and October, how they looked in the second part of the season, and how they look now. Many good things happened because of the team’s individual and team progress. The records fell, the biggest streak in the club’s history, which had great results in the past. I want to thank the club’s management for all the conditions they provided for us to make it happen for all the club’s employees. We are a demanding group, and it is not easy to support us and be with us all this time. I congratulate them on that,

Barac said.

He also referred to the upcoming challenge in Podgorica.

– The crown of the season, a great challenge, a pleasure for all of us. We are playing against the Budućnost, an outstanding team that, through roster changes, raised individual quality and created a group with players with many points in their hands, with experience from the Eurocup and Euroleague. A demanding series is ahead of us, and so is the first game. The match on their court, we are very aware of how difficult it is to play in Morača; victories are hard to come by, and we have prepared well to try to spring a surprise,

the Mega MIS coach added.

Captain Luka Cerovina believes that Mega can achieve a good result.

– A very demanding game against a very good team on their court. The most beautiful part of the season begins. They changed the coach; they will show a reaction; it is up to us to be focused, and with the aggressiveness of the defense, we can win,

Cerovina pointed out.

Nikola Đurišić recently won the best young player of the ABA League award and pointed out that it only incentivized his further work.

– An incentive for further work, to improve day by day. It is a great honor for me to be a top ABA prospect, but it would not have been possible without my teammates and coaching staff, who believed in me and pushed me day by day, and I am grateful to them for that,

pointed out Đurišić.

Like the captain, he believes the team can achieve a positive outcome in Podgorica.

– They are much more experienced than us. They changed the coach, and they will introduce new moves and play with more energy. Let’s respond to that physically and play as well as possible so that maybe we can even win there,

concluded Nikola Đurišić.

Throughout the history of the ABA League, Mega and Budućnost have shared the field 22 times. The Podgorica team has been more successful, with 16 victories, including two triumphs this season.

The second match of the playoff series is scheduled for Sunday, May 7, from 6 p.m., and Mega MIS will host the champions of Montenegro in the PSC Pinki Hall in Sremska Mitrovica. In the following period, the club will disclose information about the tickets for that game and all other information related to the rematch of the ABA league quarterfinals.

Photo: Mega MIS/Ivica Veselinov