The basketball players of Budućnost Voli got, or rather, took, everything they needed from the match with Cedevita Olimpija.
The first win in the ABA League (88:71) is being written, it is being written that the mini series of two unpleasant losses has ended, but also a very good performance by Andrej Žakelj's team against the most serious opponent in the first four games of the season.
Unlike the matches with Spartak and Trento, this time the Slovenian expert received a response from the team - real energy and a defense that, except for one part of the second quarter, was at the level of the current vice-champion of the region.
The match at "Morača" didn't even get going when the guests were left without a coach, as Montenegrin expert Zvezdan Mitrović was sent off after just four minutes.
Mitrović believed that a foul was not called in one of the "Dragons'" attacks, and he got into a somewhat heated conversation with referee Ilija Belošević, which ended with him receiving a technical foul, and a few seconds later, an expulsion.
The impression is that the Serbian referee overdid it, although it wasn't his first time, so Mitrović quickly had to return to the locker room - and was sent off to applause from the Podgorica crowd.
Buducnost had a 13-point lead on several occasions in the first quarter, and 14 at the beginning of the second, and then came the minutes that had already been seen against Spartak and Trento.
Fortunately, there were much fewer of them than in those duels, although Cedevita Olimpija caught the attacking rhythm and slowly melted away the deficit.
They even managed to tie the game (39:39), but Buducnost went into the break with a plus three - 44:41.
The third quarter was supposed to offer answers to many questions and Buducnost passed the test, as it created a key difference in that period.
Frank Butsiel and Axel Butey - the most efficient with 20 points each - returned the double-digit plus (53:43), and Rashid Sulejmon brought the maximum plus 16 - 60:44 with a three-pointer.
Buducnost had a 70:59 lead before the last 10 minutes, their rival reduced it to 70:62 in the first attack, but the visitors' assistant coach Đorđe Adžić was forced to call a timeout after less than two minutes because the Montenegrin champion responded with a 4:0 run.
Cedevita Olimpija's last attempt to restore the suspense was seen with three and a half minutes left when DJ Stewart dunked and reduced the lead to 76:69, but Butsiel responded in the same way in the next attack, and a minute later the lead was back to double digits - that was when the end was definitely put.
Buducnost plays away to Turk Telekom on Tuesday, and on Friday they play against Bosnia.
THE FUTURE LOVES - CEDEVITA OLYMPIA 88:71 (29:17, 15:24, 26:18, 18:12)
Podgorica - "M:tel Morača Hall". Attendance: 1.455. Referees: Belošević, Nikolić, Tomić (Serbia).
Buducnost Voli: Sulajmon 15, Maggi, Mays 7, Thompson 6, Slavkovic, Tanaskovic, Ferrell 12, Jovanovic, Morgan 2, Butsiel 20, Kovliar 4, Butej 20.
Cedevita Olimpija: Stewart 13, Gibson 5, Džirard 9, Radović 5, Nikolić 11, Uindo, Blažič 5, Ciperle, Cerkvenik 6, Škara 8, Daneu, Kenedi 9.
Bonus video:
