BARAĆ: “DEJAN DESERVED THIS ATMOSPHERE, I REGRET WE DIDN’T PUT UP A STRONGER RESISTANCE, AND I HOPE WE WILL PERFORM BETTER NEXT TIME IN FRONT OF SUCH A CROWD”

The basketball players of Mega MIS couldn’t continue their streak of good results, as they lost to the defending champions Partizan Mozzart Beta 112:80 (25:26, 34:13, 26:23, 27:18) in the 17th round of the ABA League at the Štark Arena, following four consecutive victories. In a highly emotional match for both teams, played in honor of Dejan Milojević, Marko Barać’s players gave a good fight against the Serbian representative in the EuroLeague until the middle of the second quarter, when the home team managed to pull away, establishing a significant lead by halftime. Mega competed well against the favored opponent after the break but struggled to significantly reduce the deficit. The finish of the third quarter favored the blacks and whites, and they entered the decisive period with a hard-to-reach advantage. Barać’s team fought until the end but couldn’t threaten the home team’s lead, suffering their eighth defeat with a 9-8 record, currently holding the seventh position in the regional competition table. Partizan improved their record to 13-4.

Coach of Mega MIS, Marko Barać, shared his impressions at the post-match press conference:

“I congratulate Partizan on a well-deserved victory. The occasion for this kind of atmosphere is very sad for all of us, but I want to congratulate all the people who came, the audience that created an atmosphere that Deki surely deserves. Regarding the game, I regret that we didn’t put up a stronger resistance. Playing in front of such a crowd affected my players, and it was undoubtedly difficult for them to adapt. We scored 26 points in the first quarter, giving the impression that it could be an offensive game, but of course, I knew that the moment the home team increased the intensity, we wouldn’t be able to keep up with that rhythm. Due to being impressed by the atmosphere, it seemed that my team didn’t fight hard enough. I regret that because Dejan was the embodiment of fight and a fighter. I wanted, knowing how good, quality, and important this game was for Partizan, for my guys to fight until the last minute. At times, it looked like that, but it’s obvious that this is a new experience for them, and I hope that the next time they have the opportunity to play in front of so many people, they will show improvement,” said Barać.

He also spoke about Dejan Milojević:

“He meant a lot, truly. It’s hard to remember when such sadness prevailed in the city and basketball. It wasn’t easy for anyone, not even for us to think about basketball all these days. I don’t want to privatize too much, except for condolences to the family, friends, and godparents. The most striking thing, when I took over Mega, I thought for a few days whether to ask him for advice. He anticipated me. He offered to help me, and make it easier on the new job. Everyone knows what he did for everyone. One thing that is memorable for me… I am immensely grateful for the meeting. I wanted to ask him how he handles coaching with a smile, but the moment I got to know him a little better, every question was redundant,” concluded Barać.

Mega MIS will host Podgorica’s Budućnost VOLI in the next round of the ABA League on Sunday, January 28, at noon in the Ranko Žeravica Sports Hall.

Photo: AdmiralBet ABA Liga/Dragana Stjepanović