The series of five victories of Budućnost Voli at the start of the season in the AdmiralBet ABA League made Podgorica ahead of Partizan and Crvena Zvezda in the table, and tonight's visit to Belgrade will show how close or far they are from the level of the Euroleague teams.
The leader of the regional competition goes to the Zvezda match (19 p.m., "Stark Arena") in the biggest test of the season so far, against a team that has already changed its coach (Dusko Ivanovic has inherited Yanis Sferopoulos) and who showed on Thursday against Bayern in the Euroleague that he has room to play much better basketball than has been the case so far.
All that, along with a much bigger budget of the "red and whites" and a better quality playing staff, means that Budućnost cannot be the favorite in this match, and the fact that they have lost to Zvezda in the last seven games does not help them either. The people of Podgorica have not looked forward to tonight's rival since May 2021, when they triumphed in the final series of the ABA League in "Morača", while they have been waiting for a victory away from home since December 2020.
- We are visiting one of the favorites in the ABA league, with Partizan surely the number one favorite. Crvena zvezda is a team made up of a large number of exceptional players. According to their confession - the team is made for the biggest ambitions in the Euroleague - said the coach of Budućnosti Petar Mijović.
- After the heavy defeat in Burg, where we had chances and where we did not valorize periods of good play to the end, we are going to Belgrade with ambitions - Mijović does not hide.
Buducnost Voli has 7 defeats in a row in duels with Crvena Zvezda. The last time she celebrated was in the final series of the ABA League in 2021, and she hasn't celebrated in Belgrade since December 2020.
In order to stop an attacking force such as Zvezda (with Miloš Teodosić, Šabaz Nejpir, Jago dos Santos...) the defense must be almost perfect. This has not been the case so far in the season even against weaker teams.
- It is certain that we need a perfect match for a good result. Especially defensively, where we have to reduce their greatest attacking power through individual quality, one-on-one situations, pick-and-roll play to a minimum. Visiting Belgrade is for a big challenge and we approach this duel there. We want to compete, we want to show in this match that we also have quality and that we are not where we are by chance after five rounds of the ABA league - Mijović pointed out.
Fletcher Maggi expects Zvezda's reaction, but also that Buducnost should be ready for it.
- The Belgraders experienced certain changes in the previous period, but the rhythm is such that they have already played three matches. We certainly go with the desire to return with a victory. Compared to the previous away games, we have to have continuity of play, so that it doesn't happen like against Burg, that in just a few minutes we lose all the good things that we built in the majority of the match. We have to play well for 40 minutes and respond to the strength of the opponent. Then we have a good chance - said Maggi.
Zvezda has a record of 4-1, its only defeat was on Monday when Partizan was better in the eternal derby.
- Buducnost is a very good team, they are undefeated in the ABA league and that fact in itself shows the quality of our opponent. We have to be focused and stick to the plan from start to finish - emphasized Sferopoulos, the former coach of Olympiakos and Maccabi.
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