THE DEFEAT OF MEGA MIS IN PODGORICA AT THE START OF THE ABA LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

Mega MIS basketball players suffered a defeat at the start of the playoffs of the ABA League in Podgorica, and Buducnost VOLI gained the advantage in the quarter-final series, which will be decided with two victories, with the result 94:77 (14:22, 35:15, 28: 18, 17:22). Marko Barać’s team opened the duel in Morača very well, won the opening quarter, and had a double-digit lead at the beginning of the second, but then with a furious run the home team, led by Erick Green, reached a turnaround, and at the end of the first half, even a double-digit surplus. Petar Mijović’s team doubled the advantage in the third period and very quickly removed all doubts about the winner.

In the ranks of Mega MIS, Matej Rudan stood out with 15 points and six rebounds for a PIR of 20. Nikola Đurišić followed him with 17 points, with four rebounds and assists each, while Luka Cerovina and Danko Branković added 10 points each. Ahmaad Rorie scored nine points and six assists.

For Buducnost, Erick Green scored 34 points, Kenan Kamenjaš 20, while Edin Atić and J.J. O’Brien finished the game with 11 each.

Mega opened the match excellently and tied three three-pointers in the opening minutes for a 9:4 advantage, guarded the surplus with good precision from a distance, and even increased it to 12 points. Still, the home team reduced the deficit to eight at the end of the quarter. After Branković briefly improved the lead to Mega from the penalty line, the team from Podgorica responded strongly and, with a 13:2 series, turned the game around. After that, Green made an incredible streak and, with 20 tied points, provided Budućnost with a double-digit advantage before the big break.

Led by Green, the home team increased the surplus to 20 points in seven minutes of play in the third quarter. Mega tried to respond in the decisive quarter. Still, the more experienced team of the Montenegrin champions kept the advantage, and only in the finish, Barać’s players softened the blow with a series of points.

The next match of the quarter-final series of the ABA League is scheduled for Sunday, May 7, from 18:00, and Mega MIS will host Budućnost in PSC Pinki Hall in Sremska Mitrovica.

Mega MIS: Paunović, Branković 10, Rudan 15 (6 rb, 20 PIR), Uskoković 5, Kobzistyi, Cazalon 8, Đurišić 17, Cerovina 19, Rorie 9 (6 as), Grbović 3, Marković, Terzić

Future: Reynolds, Bell Haynes 5, Atić 11, Kaba 2, Lazić, O’Brien 11, Ilić, Jagodić Kuridža 2, Drobnjak 3, Popović 6, Green 34, Kamenjaš 20

Photo: ABA League/Budućnost VOLI/Filip Roganović