The Buducnost Voli basketball team is closing out a very demanding week with another derby, perhaps the toughest of the season so far. After a loss to Red Star Belgrade (93:80) in the AdmiralBet ABA League, and a victory over Burgas (96:84), which secured third place in the Eurocup, the "blues" are facing another regional classic.
This time, Andrej Žakelj's team will travel to Partizan. The match in the "Belgrade Arena" is scheduled for Sunday at 21 pm, and is also the first match in the Top 8 phase of the ABA League.
Buducnost entered the second part of the regional competition as the first-placed team in Group B with a record of 13 wins and three losses, and in the new phase they will face two matches each with the "black and whites", Dubai, Igokea and Cluj, with whom they will also play in the round of 16 of the Eurocup.
The Montenegrin champion did a great job against Bourg, and the victory over the French team showed that the "blues" have character. Now they face another derby, a duel with a team that has gone through a turbulent period this season after the departure of Željko Obradović.
"The Top 8 phase of the competition begins and each subsequent match will be against quality opponents, starting with the Euroleague team Partizan. They have entered better form, they are playing better and better and they have shown that in previous matches. We are expecting a very demanding match," said Budućnost coach Andrej Žakelj in the match announcement.
The triumph over Burgas is a boost before the Belgrade derby.
"After the Eurocup match on Wednesday, we are going into the game in a positive atmosphere and with good team chemistry. We know what to expect from Partizan, but it is important that we focus on our own game first and foremost. It will be a tough and physically demanding match, and with certain personnel problems, we will try to give our maximum and see where it takes us," said Žakelj.
Partizan lost to Real Madrid last night (77:73), but has been playing better lately. The "black and whites" finished the first half of the ABA League with a win over Dubai (86:76), so they enter the second half with a score of 15-1.
"Every time we play against a Euroleague team, the atmosphere is special, especially when it comes to a team like Partizan. It's a big rival and we know that our fans will expect us to play hard and fight," Rashid Sulajmon pointed out.
The "Blues" want to open a new phase of the regional competition with a victory.
"I expect a tough game, with a lot of energy and intensity on our part. We will try to play aggressively from the first minute and come away with a victory," concluded Sulajmon.
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