It wasn't easy in the former East Germany, but without Yogi Ferrell and James Thompson, no one expected it to be that way.
The basketball players of Budućnost Voli won an important battle in Saxony - in the 7th round of the Eurocup, led by the phenomenal Axel Butey (26 points, nine rebounds), they defeated Chemnitz 84:71.
It was the Montenegrin champion's fourth consecutive European triumph and another important step in the fight for the top of the table and a better position before the playoffs.
In a match in which the home team was chasing the lead several times, Buducnost broke the deadlock with a confident play during the last two minutes at the "Kemnic Arena".
The first breakaway of the match was made by the home team, who went to 19:12 after a three-pointer by Jordan Minčev, but the Podgorica team's response was the right one.
Butej was flawless in those moments, Fletcher Magee hit a three-pointer and the "blue and white" went on a 9:0 run to go into the first mini-break after 10 minutes with a 21:19 lead.
The first half was marked by several controversial refereeing decisions, primarily regarding fouls called in attack that angered Andrej Žakelj, and this seemed to partly influence the slower offensive play at the beginning of the second quarter.
Chemnitz took advantage of everything to gain another plus seven (34:27), but once again Buducnost had an answer. At the end of the first half, Džuvan Morgan reduced the home team's advantage (39:37), and at the beginning of the second half, Butej (who had scored 17 points by that point) led the Montenegrin champion 42:39.
Andrej Žakelj's men made a lot of mistakes, had a lot of turnovers (18 in total), and after Amadou Sou's 2+1, the German team took the lead again (50:47).
And, of course, as throughout the match, Buducnost responded once again, again through Butej - a three-pointer, then an offensive rebound and a great assist from the floor for Morgan for another tie (56:56).
The French master opened the last 10 minutes with a three-pointer and another excellent assist for Morgan. Budućnost had a 61:56 lead, then 64:58 after a long-range three-pointer by Megi.
However, Chemnitz did not give up and quickly took the lead once again (66:64), mostly thanks to the enthusiastic Kevin Jeboa.
And then everything was decided during the last two minutes... First, Morgan hit a three-pointer for 73:68, and when Taj Brewer responded, the unreal Butej was precise again from outside the 6,75 line (76:71) and it was then clear that Buducnost was on the path to victory.
KEMNIC - BUDUĆNOST VOLI 71:84 (19:21, 20:16, 17:19, 15:28)
Chemnitz - "Kemnitz Arena". Attendance: 3.100. Referees: Kowalski (Poland), Giovanneti (Italy), Gracin (Croatia).
Kemnic: Jebo 20 (5-5), Sibande 10 (4-4), DEJVIS 6 (2-2), NJUMEN 1 (4-1), Kadžami-Kin 6 (2-1), Mušidi, SOU 6 (3-2), Bruer 5, Štajnfeld, BERAN 6, Šiling, MINČEV 11 (2-2).
Buducnost Voli: SULAJMON 6 (2-2), Maggie 6, Mace 7, SLAVKOVIĆ, TANASKOVIĆ 11 (4-2), Jovanović 2 (2-2), Morgan 18 (8-7), BUTSIJEL 1 (4-1), Nikolić 1 (2-1), KOVLIAR 5 (2-2), Butej 26 (2-2).
Bonus video:
