SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE VICTORY SECURES MEGA MIS FOURTH PLACE IN ABA LEAGUE BEFORE PLAYOFFS

Mega MIS basketball players defeated Igokea in Laktaši 78:92 (17:23, 28:24, 15:20, 18:25) in the final round of the ABA League regular season, securing the fourth position in the standings before the play-offs with a record-breaking seven consecutive victories. Marko Barać’s team led most of the game, gradually establishing control and resolving doubts about the outcome with outstanding play in the final quarter. With a record of 16-10, they concluded the first phase of the competition and, thanks to a series of excellent results, will have home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs against Cedevita Olimpija (played to two wins). Igokea, with 13 wins and losses each, finished seventh and advanced to the quarterfinals.

The player of the match was Mega MIS captain Uroš Plavšić, with a superb double-double of 17 points and an impressive 16 rebounds, earning him a PIR of 36. Nikola Đurišić was outstanding once again, scoring 23 of his 26 points in the second half. He also contributed four assists, drew seven fouls, and ended the game with a PIR of 29. Like Plavšić, Andrija Jelavić recorded a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds (PIR 20), while Stefan Miljenović scored 14 points along with seven assists.

Goran Filipović stood out for Igokea with 18 points, followed by former Mega MIS player Dragan Milosavljević with one less, while Marko Jeremić and Jackie Carmichael both scored in double digits with 14 and 12 points, respectively.

The hosts had a slightly better start to the match, taking a 9:4 lead, but Mega responded strongly with a 10:0 run to reverse the score. They also held an eight-point lead towards the end, resulting in a 17:23 lead for Barać’s team at the end of the first quarter. Early in the second quarter, Mega MIS extended their lead to double digits, but Igokea reduced the deficit by half by the middle of the period, coming within just one point. However, Mega resisted the home team’s surge with points from Jelavić and Malovec, maintaining the lead until halftime (45:47).

Mega maintained their advantage after the break and thwarted Igokea’s attempts to seize control with three-pointers. After Jović’s dunk, they led by nine points with a minute and a half remaining in the third quarter, entering the decisive 10 minutes with a 60:67 lead in favor of Barać’s team. With a three-pointer from Miljenović about three minutes into the fourth quarter, Mega MIS gained a double-digit lead again. The young Mega players continued their excellent performance, extending their lead to 14 points after Đurišić’s three-pointer with about four and a half minutes remaining. The hosts lacked the strength to close the gap again, and Barać’s team maintained their lead to secure victory deservedly.

The playoffs are next, and Mega MIS will face Cedevita Olimpija in the quarterfinals. Marko Barać’s team will play at home in the first and, if necessary, the third games of the series, which is played to two wins.

Mega MIS: Milijašević 2, Miljenović 14 (7 assists), Jelavić 10 (12 rebounds, PIR 20), Marković, Milutinović, Ilyasoglu 5, Đurišić 26 (PIR 29), Kovačević, Plavšić 17 (16 rebounds, PIR 36), Jović 8, Malovec 10

Igokea: Kondić, Bošković, Filipović 18, Stanković 4, Jošilo 4, Nakić 6, Milosavljević 17, Carmichael 12, Jeremić 14, Milovanović 3

Photo: Igokea m:tel/Nikola Vuruna