Only once in six duels this season against Belgrade's eternal rivals Partizan and Red Star, teams that had a serious role in the Euroleague, did the Buducnost Voli basketball players come close to victory. This happened at a time when it was believed that Podgorica had a lot on its side and that a place in the AdmiralBet ABA League final was within reach, but Red Star was simply much better and brought the semi-final series back to the "M:tel Morača Hall".
The story of the difference in budgets and complete logistics has been told many times, Buducnost has shown what and how much it can do even in such conditions, now it just has to confirm it. There is one more big step left until the final, only then can we dream about the ring...
Just as there was no dilemma in the capital of Montenegro on Monday ("the Blues" celebrated 104:70), there was no uncertainty in the Arena, where Red Star dominated from the first to the last second for a 100:81 triumph.
Two nights ago in Belgrade, Buducnost was not ready to compete with the current champion. They failed in attack - practically all key players were out of rhythm, but above all they lost the "war" under their own basket, where Red Star did whatever they wanted on the wings. Filip Petrušev i Ajzee Kenana.
The "red and white" have perhaps caught the "Euroleague" rhythm for the first time in the last month and a half, and not even the absence Nikola Kalinic, with the absent Miloš Teodosić, Joel Bolomboy i Dejan Davidovac, was not noticeable.
- We entered the match softly and made a lot of mistakes, allowing the opponent to score easy points - said the coach of Buducnost Andrej Zhakelj.
Buducnost played the first two quarters with almost no attacking impact. McKinley Wright, Rashid Sulaiman, Fletcher Magee i Kenan Kamenjaš, but despite poor decisions and shooting percentages, they somehow improved their impression at the end of the second quarter and reduced the deficit to minus 10 - 50:40.
- We tried to come back, but we couldn't threaten Red Star's advantage. The rival was tougher, more aggressive and simply better. We didn't repeat the performance from the first game and our goal is to get back to the desired level - Žakelj emphasized.
This is followed by a masterpiece that in itself raises the tension "to the sky", especially after the first game in "Morača", which, in addition to the showtime of Buducnost, was also marked by an interruption caused by the reaction of the fans.
That's why, after the ABA League's penalty and reduced capacity, Budućnost will only have around 21 spectators on Sunday at 1.500 pm, as 70 percent of the stands will be closed. So is there a factor called home field in the masterstroke, so important in the regional competition, can "Morača" once again get the best out of Sulajmon, Wright and his friends?
- We will miss the fans, but we have to focus on what our job is and play like in the first match if we want to reach the final. I would not deal with or comment on events that have nothing to do with sports, it was not nice or pleasant, but that is the past and we all have to look forward. Our goal is to return to the desired level, and the chances of reaching the final are equal - Žakelj emphasized.
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