The flight across Europe - from Vienna to Panevėžys - extended the winning streak to four games, so the unexpected early losses to Spartak and Trento now seem far away.
The basketball players of Budućnost Voli have caught the winning rhythm and want to keep it up after another 40 minutes of AdmiralBet ABA League - Nikola Tanasković and his teammates welcome Zadar today at 5:30 PM.
"Four wins in a row are great, but I think we can and must do even better," is the clear message from Andrej Žakelj, the coach of the "blue and whites".
The match with the team led by our Vladimir Mihailović comes after an important victory over Litkabelis in the Eurocup.
"It was a good game, although we still have ups and downs during the match. We have to follow it all with good energy and focus - then everything is much easier. Of course, there are still things we need to work on, but unfortunately we don't have much time, so we are improving some of them through the games. I believe we can do even better and we will do everything to show it," added Žakelj.
Adapting to atypical basketball
The team that, under Mihailović's leadership, defeated Red Star Belgrade at Pionir at the start of the season, but then suffered three consecutive defeats - against Ilirija, Cedevita-Olimpija and Spartak, is now coming to "Morač".
The style of the team from the "Krešimir Ćosić" hall is well known since it was led by Danijel Jusup, as well as how tough a rival it can be.
"Zadar is a very difficult opponent by default. They play a somewhat atypical style of basketball, with a lot of inside play from the guards, so we have to adapt to that during training," the Slovenian expert believes.
He emphasized that there is not much room for tactical preparations.
"The key will be maximum approach, which we particularly insisted on at the meeting. We know who the biggest threat is and how they will try to attack us, so we have to be ready and do everything we can to achieve victory on home soil," Žakelj said clearly.
Energy and good defense
In addition to form and quality, there is also tradition on Buducnost's side, which says that the Podgorica club has not been defeated by Zadar since March 2022, and that it has lost only three of its 22 games in Morača to the team from Dalmatia.
"We have a very difficult opponent coming, we will have to respond primarily with energy and good defense," says captain Tanasković.
What kind of game could the fifth round of the ABA League bring?
"We expect an aggressive team with a lot of contact. We know what kind of team this is, which plays a lot through the 'low post', often attacks the racket and we have to be especially tough and concentrated there," added Tanasković.
And the guy who has been leading Buducnost as captain since this season wants a fifth triumph in a row.
"Of course it's a nice feeling after four consecutive wins and I hope we continue that winning streak," concluded Tanasković.
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