The week that started today could determine the entire season Voli's future. News from Poland will be awaited, where Sljonsk would have to shock Turk Telekom tomorrow in order for the electorate to win Andrej Žakelj a day later, with a possible victory over Gran Canaria, they grabbed the last train for the round of 16 of the Eurocup, but probably no one in Podgorica is thinking about that now.
The reason is simple - in Morač today (17:19 p.m.) for the derby of the XNUMXth round of the AdmiralBet ABA League, the biggest rival, Crvena zvezda, will arrive. The "blue" and "red-white" duels marked several seasons, they also played three finals in which there was anything and everything...
Now the situation is different, because Zvezda is much stronger and has a more expensive team, and practically secured the 1st place before the playoffs. Buducnost, on the other hand, is still hoping for the 2nd position, but it would have to triumph today and in the 25th round against Partizan in "Morača", and probably in all other matches as well.
In the event of a defeat, she would practically drop out of the race with the "black and whites", because she would have lost plus and minus 13 from the first match in the "Belgrade Arena"...
- I expect that we will meet the match ready. We are in a moment where we can resist Red Star, if we are focused and at the energy level we were at in the last game - said Žakelj, whose team celebrated in Trento on Wednesday 97:78.
The Slovenian expert appreciates Zvezda, but focuses on his team.
- We know who we are playing against, it is an attractive and very strong team, a Euroleague team with excellent individuals. It is up to us to prepare as much as possible, but I say once again - we are more concerned with our game, approach and energy. I hope it will be up to par - emphasized Žakelj.
One of the assets of the 45-year-old coach could be the defender with whom he worked in the previous two seasons in SC Derby, Fletcher Maggie. The best three-pointer in NCAA history expects a very difficult game.
- Crvena zvezda is a Euroleague team, they have very good players and every time we play with them we know it will be a big fight. We have to be ready to fight from the start, to impose our style and show them that we want to win - said the great shooter.
Buducnost had frequent drops in the game this season, especially in the 3rd quarter, and Megi is aware that this must not happen against the Belgraders.
- It is important that we play well for all 40 minutes. I know it sounds simple, but we played a lot of games at a high level for 30-35 minutes and lost them for the remaining 5-10. We have to be consistent in energy and focus throughout the match, that can bring us victory - the 27-year-old from Orlando is clear.
Zvezda played three very difficult matches in the "Belgrade Arena" in the previous eight days. In the AdmiralBet ABA league, they beat Partizan 88:86 on Sunday, then Valencia in the Euroleague (82:64) on Tuesday, and lost to Barcelona 85:76 on Friday.
- The future has quality, we expect a tough match. It is clear that we have to be mentally prepared and concentrated for 40 minutes of basketball - said the coach of the "red and whites". Yanis Sferopoulos.
Dejan Davidovac emphasized that Zvezda had time to freshen up after three tough games in 120 hours.
- Bubućnost showed its quality by placing in the table and fighting for the top. We have to respond with a solid game and concentration for all 40 minutes - stressed the winner of silver from last year's Mundobasket.
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