The basketball players of Budućnost Voli have overcome the first hurdle in the AdmiralBet ABA League playoffs, defeating Mega in two games to advance to the semifinals, where they will face Red Star Belgrade.
Unlike the first game in the playoffs, Buducnost had a harder time winning in Belgrade. Andrej Žakelj's team played brilliantly in the second quarter, making a difference, but then suffered a major slump in the third. Buducnost conceded as many as 31 points in that period, trailing by seven points on several occasions, but still managed to rise in the last quarter and end the series in two games.
"Mega is a specific team that we don't like. They play fast in transition, which we could see in the regular season, when they easily beat us in Belgrade. We knew it would be different compared to the game in Podgorica, that Mega would respond with greater aggression, so we were in a way prepared. But, we searched for each other for quite a long time during the game, it took us time to reach the desired rhythm. There was a decline in the third quarter, but the most important thing is that we showed character after that, that we came back and managed to win," said Budućnost basketball player Andrija Slavković for "Vijesti".
There were games during the season when Buducnost came back from a deficit, when they showed character at the end of the match and came away with a victory.
"I've emphasized this many times - this team and these guys have great character. The best indicator is the games when we came back from a deficit several times, we didn't give up. I hope it will be like that until the end of the season."
The semi-finals and the series with Red Star Belgrade follow. The first match is in Podgorica, and is scheduled for Monday, May 26th.
"Zvezda is the favorite on paper and in terms of budget, and I leave that role to them. From the next training session, we will start preparing for the series, it is certain that we will be ready for the game. We have time to rest and recover. I hope that McKinley Wright will be ready for that series. We will do everything to win the first match in Podgorica," said Slavković.
Buducnost lost to Red Star in Podgorica (75:73) in the regular season, but won in Belgrade after overtime (96:89). Now both teams have more time to rest and prepare for the game, which was not the case during the season due to commitments in European competitions.
"The ABA League certainly felt Red Star's fatigue from the Euroleague. Now they have more time to rest and train, but this is the playoffs and the semifinals of the ABA League. Both they and we will be at more than one hundred percent of our capabilities," the winger said.
The first semi-final match will take place ten days after the match between Buducnost and Mega in Belgrade. The ABA League has also extended the playoffs this season, so there is a large time gap between the matches.
"It would be better if there was a shorter gap between games in the playoffs, but it is what it is. We are looking at good things, we will be in the hall more, we will have more time to prepare and analyze."
Buducnost played the regular season very well, won first place, and defeated Mega in the quarterfinals, so talk of the title and a repeat in 2018 is growing louder in Podgorica.
"We dream of the title. At the beginning of the season, no one put us in the forefront of fighting for the title alongside the 'eternals'. We talk about it, but we have to stay calm, work harder, because the most important games are coming up. We will do what we can, we will try to get the title. The future has not been closer to winning the ABA League for a long time," said Slavković.
Buducnost has home court advantage until the end of the playoffs. A full stadium will be a huge wind at Slavković's and his teammates' backs.
"I think that right now, no one can beat us in a full 'Morača'. That's a big advantage. I believe that we will keep our hall impregnable until the end," Slavković concluded.
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