Basketball players from Kotor made a big surprise and defeated Podgorica Bemax (89:87) in the 1st round of the First Montenegrin Basketball League.
In the 22nd minute, Podgorica had a 15-point advantage (52:37) and it seemed that they would have no problem justifying their role as favorites. However, Kotor managed to make a reaction and reach a double-digit plus with a 16:0 series in the 33rd minute, when Mačić hit a three-pointer for 75:65.
It seemed that the home team's comeback was impossible, but Živanović hit a three-pointer 82 seconds before the end for a tie - 85:85.
However, Jovanović scored 23 seconds before the end to take the lead (89:87), and although the guests had an attack to solve everything, they made a mistake, so Skot had a chance to score, but missed the shot for overtime...
"I congratulate the Kotor team on the victory. We allowed them too many easy points. Although we had the advantage, I'm not satisfied with how we looked. A well-deserved victory for our rivals, after we went into a counter rhythm in the second half, we missed a lot of open shots, which Kotor knew how to take advantage of ", said Dragan Radović, coach of Podgorica Bemax.
In the Podgorica team, Scott was the most effective with 31 points, Smith added 12, the same number of goals scored by Golke. On the other side, Jovanović shone in the ranks of Kotor with 28 points, while Kostić scored 14, and Mačić and Kartalović scored 12 each.
"A surprise, because Podgorica was the favorite not in this match, but in the entire league. We prepared well, although we did not expect to be able to beat such strong teams. But, this season we are stronger than last season and this is a reward for great work, which we started back in August," said Kotor coach Momčilo Knežević.
Sutjeska Elektroprivreda justified its role as a favorite in Bijelo Polje against Jedinstva 1950 and celebrated 81:68.
In the middle of the second quarter, Sutjeska made a 10:0 run, leading 31:22, and at halftime had a plus 14 - 44:30.
In the third quarter, Jedinstvo came close to minus three twice, but Dragan Bajić's team went on an 8:0 run and entered the fourth quarter with an 11-point advantage (65:54), which solved the question of the winner.
Filip Barović was the most effective in the winning team with 18 points, along with six rebounds. Spasojević added 16, Webster 13, while Starovlah had a double-double - 11 points and 10 rebounds.
For Jedinstva, Marko Kljajević stood out with 12 points, Nenad Vuković had 11, and Nemanja Knežević 10 points.
A great match was seen in Golubovci, where, after a great drama, Dečić defeated Millennium 93:92. Millennium scored as many as 36 points in the first quarter, leading in the 28th minute 70:58, only for Dečić to turn it around in the 36th minute through Bogojević (82:80) and eventually reach the triumph.
In Dečić's team, Marko Koljević scored 30 points, along with nine rebounds, Petar Ivanović added 17, and he also had 11 rebounds, while Luka Nikaljević with 12 and Đorđe Marinović with 11 were also in double figures.
Ibar defeated Danilovgrad 76:69. The visitors led 43:32 at halftime, after a three-pointer by Popović, but Rožajci, after a three-pointer by Nurković in the 32nd minute, turned it around - 62:60, and at the end reached 72:62.
Vasilije Knežević was the most efficient with 16, and Nurković, Đukanović (12 each) and Kalić with 10 were also in double figures.
With the visitors, Popović scored 22 points with eight rebounds.
In Bar, Primorje lived up to expectations in a historic match for Šušanj, which played its first match in the elite category - the Novljan team triumphed 104:67.
Baran's Ognjen Čarapić stood out for Novljan with 19 points and seven assists. Miljanić added 17, Reed 14, while Kosović and Pots were the most effective for the hosts with 13 each.
Previously, SC Derbi defeated Vukove Zeta 83:58, and Teodo defeated Lovcen 1947 (75:43).
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