After two convincing victories over the London Lions and Ilirija, the Buducnost Voli basketball players went to Trento with a lot of confidence. But, in the city of volleyball, the "blues" failed to achieve a significant victory - the Montenegrin champion lost 91:90 after overtime tonight, in the 11th round of the Eurocup.
Buducnost had a chance tonight, coming back from a deficit, but suffered their fourth defeat in the Eurocup this season. The home team won thanks to a penalty kick by Stujard, who was fouled by Butsiel with 1,8 seconds left on the clock, during a three-point shot.
With two and a half minutes left in regulation, Buducnost was down seven points (75:68). But the "blues" patiently approached, not giving up, and entering the final minute it was tied (77:77). Then Nijang hit the first, not the second free throw (78:77), but Buducnost failed to catch the ball. Steward then solved the one-on-one situation with Buteja (80:77), with 31 seconds left.
A timeout by Žakelj followed, after which Ferrell hit a three-pointer to tie the game (80:80). Trento had a winning attack in the regular period, Aldridge missed a three-pointer, so the match went into five additional minutes. And in overtime, Buducnost had some bad decisions on offense, losing 90:87, and then Ferrell hit another three-pointer to tie the game (90:90). Then, with 1,8 seconds left, Butsiel was called for a foul on Steward, who hit one of three free throws and brought Trent the victory - 91:90.
"It's hard to talk after a defeat like this. It's hard to say anything. We were nervous, especially in the crucial moments. We missed our chances to win. Congratulations to Trent and their coach," said Igor Đaletić, who led the team in the finish after Žakelj received a second technical foul. Although it seems that Žakelj received a second technical foul unjustly, because his violent reaction was directed at Jovanović, and not at referee Caruha, who awarded him a technical foul.
The start of the game was slow, with Sulajmon scoring the first point after two and a half minutes, and then Trento went on a 7:0 run to take a 7:2 lead. The home team had a plus six (12:6), Buducnost responded with seven consecutive points (13:12), and after another 6:0 run, they took a 21:16 lead.
But then the "blues" allowed their rivals some open shots, Trento made a 14:2 run and took a 30:23 lead.
Buducnost was approaching, but every time the "blues" came within a point or two of losing, Trento had an answer and kept a safe distance, so they had a six-point lead at halftime (42:36).
Midway through the third quarter, the "blues" scored six points in a row and took the lead for the first time since the start of the second quarter (50:48). But, at those moments, Buducnost missed chances to capitalize on good defense and gain a more tangible advantage.
After the second three-pointer of the match, also the second by Kovlijar, Buducnost had a three-point lead (57:54), and at the beginning of the fourth quarter it was two points ahead (59:57). Trento went on an 8:0 run, initiated by a three-pointer from a great distance by Niang, giving the home team a 65:59 lead.
Buducnost then came close to 67:65, the Italian team repelled the onslaught and two and a half minutes before the end gained the aforementioned plus seven (75:68). The finish followed in which the "blues" managed to win an additional five minutes, but did not use their chances to win.
The most efficient player for Buducnost was Ferrell, who scored 23 points. Kovlijar and Tanaskovic had 12 points each, and Sulajmon had 11 points.
For Trent, Jones had 19 and Steward had 14 points.
TRENTO - FUTURE LOVES 91:90 (16:17, 26:19, 12:21, 26:23, 11:10)
Trento - “BTS arena”. Attendance: 2.046. Referees: Manuel (Spain), Caruha (Greece), Thais (Germany).
Trento: Steward 14 (5-3), Jones 19 (7-7), Niang 11 (4-2), Jogela 10 (3-3), Foray, Airienbuwa, Aldridge 5 (2-2), Yakimowski 13 (2-1), Bayeje 9 (3-4), Fall, Hassan 3, Bettl 7 (4-4).
Buducnost Voli: Sulajmon 11 (4-1), Maggi, Mace 9 (2-2), Slavkovic 2, Tanaskovic 12 (6-12), Ferrell 23 (10-10), Jovanovic 2, Morgan 7 (1-1), Butsijel 6, Nikolic, Kovlijar 12 (4-5), Butej 6.
Bonus video:
