When a team has 22 losses in 24 rounds of the AdmiralBet ABA League and is on a streak of 16 failures, most of which were by double-digit margins, then it is clear what their chances are against a Euroleague team away from home.
The Mornar basketball players play against Partizan in the Belgrade Arena on Sunday (17 p.m.) and no one has a problem concluding that the Barans have nothing to look forward to in that game, regardless of the fact that sports and basketball have repeatedly shown that total outsiders should never be written off.
But it seems that Mornar has written itself off, so it is increasingly certain that the ABA2 league will be played in "Topolica" next season.
"We are playing against one of the best teams in the league. At the moment we are in, there is not much to say. The quality of Partizan is known, and unfortunately the quality of our team is also known. We cannot expect anything more than a fair, correct game and to try to play as well as possible," said Mornar coach Mihailo Pavicevic.
Mornar has won only once this season, in the seventh round when they beat Cibona at home. More than four and a half months have passed since that triumph.
"We are playing against a much better and higher quality team and it all depends on how much Partizan will allow us. This is a great opportunity for our young players who are getting a chance to gain valuable experience in the minutes they have against the best team," emphasized Pavićević.
For Partizan, this duel comes after the debacle in the Euroleague, as Anadolu Efes was better last night in the Arena, winning 97:65, but also before the match with Alba, also in the Belgrade hall, which will be played on Tuesday.
In such a lineup of rivals, Mornar could be looking for a chance to at least be competitive. And the sensation after everything the Montenegrin representative has been through recently is further than ever before...
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