The basketball region has expanded over the years, the Admiralbet ABA League has gained several new members, but among the top four teams, one spot has always been reserved for Buducnost Voli. This has been the case for 11 consecutive years, since the playoffs have been played.
The "blue and white" reached the new semi-finals against a rival they watched more than anyone else this year - Buducnost defeated Cluj for the fourth time in the sixth match since March (112:81) and ended the quarter-final series with a hurricane attack with a score of 2:1.
They took some revenge on the Romanian club for their elimination from the Eurocup, but also scheduled a semi-final against Dubai.
The game in which Andrej Žakelj's team led practically from the first minute, during which they scored 55 points at halftime and often had a double-digit lead, was spoiled by the injury of Oleksandr Kovlijar. The Buducnost point guard fell awkwardly at the end of the first quarter, leaving "Morača" on a stretcher, but according to initial information, the injury should not be serious.
The "blue and white" offense was excellent from the start. Yogi Ferrell and Rashid Sulaiman immediately got the ball rolling (scoring the first 13 points), Juwan Morgan got "Morača" back on its feet with a dunk, and Axel Butey led his team to a plus-10 lead with four consecutive baskets (29:19).
That period was also marked by Nikola Tanaskovic watching him from the bench, after starting the previous two duels. However, the captain later showed how important he was for this team.
Buducnost had a 15-point lead several times in the second quarter, and a 16-point lead at the end of the second quarter (55:39), but they were unable to find a solution for Deron Russell. The former Mariners' point guard scored 21 points in the first half, shooting three-pointers without missing (4-4) and scoring whenever Andrej Žakelj's team threatened to break away.
Sulajmon was also in rhythm (15 points in the first half), so regardless of the defensive lapses, the Podgorica club went into the break with a nice 55:43 lead.
Morgan's reckless and unsportsmanlike play "pushed" Cluj, who approached 55:49, and threatened to be down five several times during the third quarter, but at those moments Tanasković came into play, followed by Zoran Nikolić, Đorđije Jovanović, Sulajmnon and Butej, so the Montenegrin champion maintained the advantage and entered the fourth quarter with a plus 10 (80:70).
Everything was decided at the beginning of the last period - Fletcher Magee hit a three-pointer, Butej scored another four points, and Nikolić completed the series for a maximum and unattainable 89:70.
After that, everything was in a celebratory rhythm, the lead was over 30 points, and thoughts could already be focused on semi-final series against Dubai. Media from the region announced that the match will be played in the United Arab Emirates, but the question is whether Buducnost will accept to travel to the still unstable Middle East.
FUTURE - KLUZ 112:81 (29:19, 26:24, 25:27, 32:11)
Podgorica - "Morača" Hall. Attendance: 2.540. Referees: Belošević, Obrknežević, Jevtović (Serbia).
Buducnost: SULAJMON 24, Megi 5, Mace 4, Slavkovic, Tanaskovic 11, FEREL 12, JOVANOVICI 6, MORGAN 5, BUTSIJEL 3, Nikolic 16, Kovlijar 5, Butej 21.
Cluj: Molinar 15, Ćepoj, Sizer 6, Miron, KULVITIS 4, Altit, MILETIC 16, RUSSEL 24, Petrik, WOODBERRY 5, Richard 3, KRIK 8.
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