The Top 8 phase of the ABA League is entering its finale, and the basketball players of Budućnost Voli seem to have found the right rhythm at the right moment.
"Blues" beat Partizan in the last round and continue to believe that they can reach the playoffs in third place, because two rounds before the end they have the same number of wins and losses as Red Star (17-5), but also a weaker head-to-head record.
A new derby is coming up, a new duel with a Euroleague team, but the journey is not as far as it would be under normal circumstances - Buducnost plays against Dubai on Monday in Sarajevo's "Zetra" due to the war events in the Middle East.
"We don't need to waste many words, we know who we are playing against. Dubai is a Euroleague team with an extremely high-quality roster. They are covered in all positions and are physically very powerful, which will once again be our biggest challenge," said coach Andrej Žakelj.
About twenty days ago, Dubai won quite easily in "Morača" - 95:78 after a dominant performance in the second half.
"We want to play better than in the first game against them in Podgorica, especially in terms of toughness and aggressiveness. Also, the goal is to carry the focus we had against Partizan to the next match and play as hard as we can at this moment," Žakelj pointed out.
Dubai is the leader in the ABA League standings, and as things stand, it will finish there before the playoffs.
The newcomer in the regional competition has a record of 19 wins and three losses, just like Partizan, but Jurica Golemac's team can count on a better result in head-to-head matches with the current champion.
"We know that we are facing a very difficult match against one of the best teams in the ABA League, but also a very good Euroleague team. Dubai has two players in each position that they can count on. The role of the favorite is on the opponent's side, but we are going there to give our maximum and try to surprise," says Buducnost center Zoran Nikolić.
Whoever imposes their own rhythm is closer to the goal.
"I expect a game with a lot of contact, like the one in Podgorica. We have to respond in the same way and try to impose our rhythm. They have a lot of good shooters who we have to pay special attention to and not allow them easy points. The other players play aggressively and apply a lot of pressure, so we have to be ready to respond in kind," said Nikolić.
Buducnost will face Cluj in the final round of the Top 8 round (April 19), while Dubai awaits a duel with Bosnia.
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