MEGA MIS BREAKS TOUGH ZADAR IN THE FINALE AND SECURES ANOTHER VICTORY
The basketball players of Mega MIS welcomed Zadar in the 6th round of the ABA League, and after 40 minutes of battle in the Ranko Žeravica Sports Hall, they secured their third victory, 91:81 (26:17, 25:18, 15:26, 25:20). Marko Barać’s team opened the match excellently and increased their lead from quarter to quarter, with some fluctuations. They even led by 18 points in the third quarter, but then came a strong surge from the visitors, who turned the tide at the beginning of the decisive period. Another tense ending followed, in which Mega showed more concentration and patience, ultimately achieving a new triumph. After six rounds, both teams have a record of 3-3.
Nikola Topić played another outstanding match, recording a double-double with 27 points and 10 assists. He also grabbed six rebounds for a total efficiency index of 41. Uroš Plavšić was exceptional, scoring 23 points, along with seven rebounds and a perfect 11/11 shooting, for a total index of 25. OmerCan Ilyasoglu contributed with 11 points, four assists, and three rebounds.
In the defeated team, Dario Drežnjak scored 26 points, Luka Božić added 19, and Marko Ramljak had 16.
Mega started the game excellently, taking a 9:4 lead in less than three minutes through Plavšić and Topić. They maintained a comfortable lead until the last two minutes of the opening quarter when the guests closed in to just one point behind. However, Barać’s players responded excellently and closed the first quarter with a 10:2 run, thanks to excellent performances from Ilyasoglu and Miljenović. The score at halftime was 26:17 in favor of the home team. Mega continued with good offensive play after the break and, thanks to a good sequence from Kovačević, extended their lead to 39:26 in the middle of the second quarter. They maintained a double-digit advantage from the free-throw line, and at the end of the quarter, Ilyasoglu and Topić pulled away with five consecutive points, resulting in a halftime score of 51:35 for the home team.
Mega kept their lead in the third quarter, with Plavšić and Đurišić leading the way. After Janković’s points with three minutes left before the final break, the lead was 18 points. However, a huge series from the visitors of 13:0 followed, and the teams entered the decisive quarter with only a five-point advantage for Barać’s team (66:61). Mega responded well, and Zadar even managed to turn the score around after three minutes of play in the fourth period. A great battle ensued, with both teams playing basket for basket. Topić took responsibility and with 10 consecutive points, gave Barać’s team the lead again. Plavšić then sealed the deal with four consecutive points, assisted by the young playmaker.
In the next round of the ABA League, Mega MIS will visit Mornar in Bar, with the match at the Topolica Sports Hall scheduled for Sunday, November 12, at 19:00.
Mega MIS: Paunović, Miljenović 9, Jelavić 6, Kobzystyi, Popović, Ilyasoglu 11 (4 ast), Đurišić 6, Kovačević 4, Janković 2, Plavšić 23 (7 reb, 24 eff), Topić 27 (10 ast, 6 reb, 41 eff), Malovec 3
Zadar: Klarica, Vujačić 5, Žganec 7, Mazalin 2, Njegovan, Lakić 4, Mekić 2, Jambrović, Drežnjak 26, Grbić, Božić 19, Ramljak 16
Photo: Mega MIS/Ivica Veselinov