MEGA MIS RECOVERS FROM A 22-POINT DEFICIT BUT LOSES IN THE FINAL SECONDS TO CEDEVITA OLIMPIJA

Mega MIS basketball team kicked off the new season in the ABA League with one of the toughest away games. Despite an excellent performance in the second half, they were unable to defeat Cedevita Olimpija in Ljubljana, losing 89:87 (31:21, 31:21, 20:25, 7:20). Marko Barać’s team, after conceding 62 points in the first half, played significantly better in the second half, gradually erasing the 20-point deficit. With a fantastic display on both ends in the final quarter, they managed to level the match entering the last minute. However, the guests managed to score in the closing moments. Mega had a shot for victory, but Andrija Jelavić’s attempt didn’t find the basket.

Nikola Topić was the highest scorer for Mega MIS with 25 points, followed closely by Stefan Miljenović with 18, and Nikola Đurišić with 13. Timotej Malovec also reached double digits with 10 points.

For the team from Ljubljana, Justin Cobbs led with 19 points, including the decisive basket in the final moments. He was followed by Jaka Blažič and former Mega player Karlo Matković, both with 14 points, while Dwayne Stewart and Shawn Armand contributed 10 points each.

After an even battle in the opening minutes, the hosts went on a run and reached a 23-10 lead in the middle of the quarter. Mega’s players rallied and responded with a 7-2 run, narrowing the deficit to eight points at the end of the quarter. The halftime score favored Cedevita Olimpija, 31:21. Mega played with good rhythm after the break, closing in to within seven points, but the host reestablished control in the middle of the second quarter, ending the first half with a 20-point lead.

Topić led the charge at the start of the third quarter, creating chaos in the defense of the home team. Mega quickly halved the deficit. However, the host strung together a few points and repelled the surge from the young Barać’s team, maintaining a double-digit lead until the last break, leading by 15 points. Barać’s chosen ones didn’t give up. They continued to fight, and it paid off. Led by Topić, Miljenović, and Đurišić, they went on a big run, leveling the score at 87:87 entering the last minute! Cobbs managed to break Cedevita Olimpija’s scoring drought in the next play. Jelavić had a shot for victory on the other end with the buzzer sounding, but the ball didn’t go through the hoop – victory for the hosts.

Mega MIS: Paunović, Miljenović 18, Jelavić 4 (10 reb), Kobzistyi, Milutinović, Đurišić 13, Kovačević 6 (6 reb), Plavšić 5, Jović 7, Topić 25, Malovec 10

Cedevita Olimpija: Stewart 10, Armand 10, Sow 8, Radičević, Cobbs 19, Glas 4, Blažič 14, Matković 14, Jones 6, Ščuka 7, Klobučar, Šaškov

In the second round of the ABA League, Mega will host Borac Mozzart from Čačak, with the match scheduled for Friday, October 6th, at 8:00 PM.

Photo: Cedevita Olimpija/Ales Fevzer