Basketball players from Borca took a 1:0 lead in the play-off for survival, i.e. the play-off of the Admiralbet ABA League - Čačani defeated Helios 96:78 tonight at home.
The Serbian team led from the beginning of the match, and in the first half had a difference of 22 (52:30), but in the continuation of the finalist of the NLB ABA2 league, it came to minus five (71:66), but could not do more than that.
The start was marked by Diante Baldwin and Đorđe Gagić, so Borac took the lead 15:4, and after free throws by Hunter Hale, they gained a double-digit advantage for the first time - 17:6.
In those moments, the Helios players seemed defocused, they were not served by shots, and Borac did not allow them to play in transition, which was the trademark of the team from Domžal during the entire season in the NLB ABA2 league.
At one point, Gagić was replaced under the basket by veteran Sava Lešić, but the visitors had no solution for him either. After his points, Borac took the lead 41:23, and then the best scorer in the league, Hunter Hale, played, so the home team, in the middle of the first part, after his three-pointer, for the first time reached plus 20 (47:27), and then to the maximum plus 22 (52:30), when Nemanja Todorović was accurate for three points.
At halftime, there were 15 differences (57:42), and in the third quarter, Helios managed to reduce the deficit and, after a point by the talented Tibor Mirtic, came to minus six (61:55), but after that came a series of 7:0 by Borca (68: 55).
In the last minute of the third quarter, Niko Bačvić scored a three-pointer for minus five (71:65), and then Hale took the baton, who first led Borac to a double-digit advantage with 6,75 points outside the line, and then maintained the lead.
Hale and Baldwin finished the match with 25 points each, and the best scorer of the ABA League had six assists.
Gagić scored 16 points, with nine rebounds, and Lešić had 10 points and 14 rebounds.
On the other side, Luk scored 14 points (5/14 shots from the field), and had seven assists and five turnovers. Bačvić scored 13 and Mahkovic 12 points.
The series is played for two victories, and the second match is on Friday (20) in Domžale.
The eventual master is next Tuesday in Čačak.
Bonus video:
