In a different format than in previous years, the competition in the Cup of Montenegro for basketball players starts today, and eight teams will fight for the cup in the "Bemax Arena".
Teams from the AdmiralBet ABA League (Budućnost Voli, SC Derbi and Mornar), the NLB ABA2 League (Sutjeska and Podgorica), then Dečić and Milenijum from the First League, and the basketball players from Pljevlja, who are in the half-season, secured a place in the tournament in the capital of Montenegro. were the leaders of the Second League.
During the draw for the quarterfinals, there were no restrictions, so the balls in the upper part connected SC Derbi and Mornar, that is, Budućnost Voli and Sutjeska. This means that Budućnost and Mornar, who fought for the trophy six times in the last seven years, will certainly not play in the final. In the lower part of the draw, Pljevlja and Milenijum will meet, that is, Dečić and Podgorica.
SC Derbi and Mornar played a match in the ABA league ten days ago, and the "students" celebrated, convincingly (94:74). The duel in the Cup will be different from the one in the regional competition because the teams are limited to a maximum of four foreigners, so coaches Andrej Žakelj and Mihailo Pavićević have to decide which internationals they will give priority to.
- The match against Mornar will be different from the one we played ten days ago in the ABA league. Also, teams are limited to four foreigners, but, in any case, I think we are a better team. As for our ambitions in the Cup, we will go game by game, first to play against Mornar, and then we will see - said the playmaker of SC Derbi Nikola Pavlićević.
Budućnost also has a big problem with the number of foreign players, which defends the trophy against Sutjeska, the only team that, besides Podgorica, won this cup in 2013. Ten Budućnosti basketball players do not have Montenegrin passports, and coach Vladimir Jovanovic decided that Eric Green, Tre-Bel Haynes, JJ O'Brien and Alfa Kaba will play in the Cup. From the locals there are Suad Šehović, Petar Popović, Aleksa Ilić and Igor Drobnjak.
On the other hand, the coach of Sutjeska, Darko Vujačić, will not be able to count on the injured Miloš Koprivica and Vladimir Tomašević.
- Without imperatives and pressure, we are going to play as well as possible, to try to offer a worthy resistance. We will make sure that the match is of high quality. There will be no shortage of motives, the boys will do their best. Buducnost is our strongest team, the favorite to win the Cup. We have to be a worthy opponent and give the maximum at this moment - said Vujacic.
In the lower part of the draw, the biggest favorite for the final is Podgorica, which has been playing quite well since the previous "balloon" of the ABA2 league in Banja Luka.
- We are in good shape and we are eagerly waiting for the final tournament of the Cup. We play in our hall, and that is certainly more of a motive for us. We were defeated by Dečić in the championship. I believe that with the right approach and focus for all 40 minutes, we have a great chance to open the Cup in the right way - Podgorica first team player Viktor Vujisić told the club's website.
The semi-final matches are played on Wednesday and the final is on Thursday.
The Cup for women's basketball starts on Wednesday, and in the semi-finals Podgorica - Budućnost Bemax (12) and Nikšić - Novi 1987 will meet (14:30 p.m.).
Today:
Pljevlja - Millennium Kodio (12)
Dečić - Podgorica (14.30:XNUMX p.m.)
Sailor - SC Derby (17)
Sutjeska - Buducnost Voli (19.30).
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