Montenegro will have four representatives in the ABA2 League this season, and along with Podgorica Bemax, Mornar Barsko-zlato and Primorje, the second-ranked regional competition will also feature Sutjeska Elektroprivreda, which will play host to Široki Brijeg tonight (18) in the first round.
Tradition is not on the side of the Nikšić “blues”, who last defeated the team from Široki Brijeg five years ago. Admittedly, the teams did not meet last season due to the competition format, but the team from Bosnia and Herzegovina clearly does not suit the people of Nikšić.
- We are expecting an unpleasant away game. I see that Široki is announcing a return to the AdmiralBet ABA League. I think they have big ambitions and a good budget for that. We are not going with a white flag. We are going to play a good game, to see where we are and what we have done. The first game - I told the guys that there is absolutely no pressure. But, we are not going there to play for show. We want to win - said Sutjeska coach Marko Simonović, who arrived in Nikšić this summer.
He explained how he wanted the team to play.
- We have to be good at defense all the time, in contact, running, making it look as simple and easy as possible, on as many possessions as possible. We tend to play that way and I hope it will be good.
Andrej Vulević is one of the players who stayed in Nikšić this summer. He says that the team is ready and that they will try to get a favorable result in Široki Brijeg.
- Preparations have been going at a good pace, we have played control matches, there have been both wins and losses. Now the real thing is starting. We are starting the season in Široki Brijeg. I expect a competitive match, we will try to get a win. It would be nice to open the season with a triumph, to get off to a good start. The team is ready and complete. Široki has good individuals, but we also have our strengths. The atmosphere is excellent - we players have good cooperation on the field, and the cooperation with the coach is also good - said Vulević.
Bonus video:
