BARAĆ: “LACK OF CONFIDENCE AND WINNING THE FIELD WITH DRIBBLING INSTEAD OF PASSING THE BALL CAUSED US NOT TO END THE MATCH IN OUR FAVOR”

After a great fight, the basketball players of Mega MIS suffered a defeat in Zadar 96:90 (23:30, 23:19, 26:19, 24:22). Marko Barać’s team had an excellent start to the match in the Krešimir Ćosić hall and after a very efficient first part had seven points lead. They managed to stay ahead until halftime, but the experienced team of Daniel Jusup led by Luka Božić, managed to turn the score around in the third quarter. It was a dramatic finale, and in the end, the more experienced domestic team reached the triumph. After visiting Zadar, Mega is 0-3, while the Croatian team registered its second victory (2-1).

Coach Barać pointed out after the defeat that Zadar’s best player Luka Božić wasn’t guarded well enough but added that there were positive things.

– I congratulate the host on the victory. Our entire game plan was to stop the player who showed during the first two rounds that he’s one of the most dominant in the league, and when he scoreed 33 points, it’s obvious that we did not do a good job. In some situations, we guarded Božić too softly, expected help and double teams without individual responsibility, allowed him to open the game with great confidence, and put in some tough shots. In such a complex game away from home, against a team in great shape, we missed an incredible number of easy shots in the end. We managed one last push, and were very close with some good defending and lots of running, which should be our trademark. That part was good tonight against a physically well-prepared team. Lack of confidence and winning the field by passing instead of dribbling the ball meant we couldn’t end the match in our favor. It’s up to us to keep working, to play the way we want to, and to learn from our mistakes and not repeat them,

said Barac.

The basketball players of Mega will continue their fight in the regional championship on Sunday when they’ll welcome Cibona (12.00) in the Sports Hall of Ranko Žeravica. The entrance is free.

Photo: KK Zadar/Zvonko Kucelin