The Montenegrin junior national basketball team failed to advance to the semifinals of the European Championship B Division in Romania.
Montenegrin basketball players were defeated last night in Pitesti, in the quarterfinal match, by Estonia with a score of 79:74.
Montenegro showed a great reaction in the second half, but it was just short of a complete turnaround.
Already in the first quarter, Estonia imposed a strong rhythm and took control of the game.
Accurate in shooting and quick in transition, the Estonians opened the match with a series of goals and won the opening period in their favor with a score of 27:12.
The Montenegrin team had difficulty finding solutions in attack, and problems in organizing the game further complicated the comeback.
In the second quarter, Montenegro tried to find a rhythm and reduce the deficit, but the opponent continued with disciplined play on both ends of the field.
The score at halftime was a significant 50:30 in favor of Estonia.
The third quarter brought a completely different picture.
The Montenegrin national team played competitively, organized and decisively.
Led by the brilliant Vuk Ivelja and Danilo Nikezić, they showed character and managed to completely restore the uncertainty to the match with a series of points.
Montenegro won that period 25:8, so they entered the decisive period with only three points behind – 58:55 for Estonia.
The last ten minutes were an even battle.
With six minutes left, Montenegro came close to a complete turnaround – 63:62, but Estonia responded with a mini-run for another +5.
Although our team entered the finals with an active score (74:70 with a minute and a half left), there was a lack of concentration and execution in key attacks, so the opponent brought the game to an end and recorded a victory with a score of 79:74.
Estonia was led to victory by Oliver Kulamae with 22 and Kaur Toman with 20 points.
In the Montenegrin selection, Vuk Ivelja was the best with 17 points, while Danilo Nkezić and Đorđe Gulić had one point less.
Montenegro will continue competing in the tournament in the fight for fifth to eighth place.
The first rival for the Montenegrin basketball players, today at 14:30 p.m., will be the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.
Bonus video:
