Adriatic League: Partizan picks up sixth title

The shirt says it all about Partizan’ dominance of the Adriatic League…

It’s just some text on a t-shirt, but what a powerful statement that text makes… As the celebration began after the final horn in the Adriatic League final Saturday, the Partizan mt:s players were given shirts that said, “Keep Calm We Are the Kings of the Rings”. True statement, the club has won the title in the ABA League six times now, which is four more than the second highest number held by KK FMP. The real powerful text is on the back of that shirt, where it reads, “Liga ABA Champion 2013 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007”. To get there they had to defeat the No. 1 seed in the Final Four in Igokea, and on Saturday, they went up against Red Star, the No. 2 seed, and fought hard for a 71:63 victory.

The Adriatic League was founded as a regional league for teams in seven countries. The 2012-13 Final Four included four Serbian clubs, but the final was contested by not only two teams from Serbia, they are both from Belgrade and even more localized, they share the same home court in Pionir Hall. To say that these clubs are rivals would be a gross understatement…

It was tense, it was intense, so much so that the both coaches were ejected in the fourth quarter after a double technical to both benches, which was the second technical each coach had received in the contest (the sixth called during the game), so they were escorted out and their assistants took over.

We did the biggest thing in the semi-final, where it was decided, which team will represent the region in Euroleague in the next season. From this aspect all games were played under the pressure. At the beginning of the season we didn’t promise much but we were sure we have a very talented team. Now we did a big thing by qualifying for the Euroleague. Games against Crvena zvezda always have a special meaning for all and there is always a lot of adrenalin, –Partizan’s coach Duško Vujošević stated before the game.

Partizan opened the contest knocking down the first seven points, including five from Dejan Musli. DeMarcus Nelson brought Red Star even with a triple at the mid-way point, bringing the score to 9-all. Partizan was held scoreless in the final minute, giving the Red and Whites opportunity to build a small lead, 14:18.

The Black and Whites scored five unanswered early in the second to take the lead, but Red Star went on a 3:10 run at the end of the frame to take a seven point advantage into the halftime intermission, 25:32.

Adriatic League

The Adriatic League title game was intense, and it was physical…

Early in the third the stars of the contest took over, with Davis Bertans and Leo Westermann combining for nine to pull Partizan within a point, 33:34. Red Star’s Rasko Katic dropped in a pair of jumpers to keep his club in the lead. Shortly after Westermann completed a three-point play to knot the score at 38 and kick off a 10:0 run for the Black and Whites. At the start of the run, the first bench technical was issued, giving Partizan two free throws and the ball, which ended in a foul and a pair of additional singles. Vladimir Lucic hit both of his and Joffrey Lauvergne split his. By the time Katic connected on one of two free throws to kill the Red Star scoring drought, Partizan had built a 45:38 advantage, with four minutes remaining in the third. As the buzzer sounded at the end of the 30th minute, Partizan was up five, 50:45.

It will be our second final against Partizan this season but the first one in ABA league so far. First I hope there will be no incidents so that people will be able to enjoy good basketball. We all know what games with Partizan bring with. Partizan came to the tournament in its best shape so far, it really works like a team. What will decide will be the concentration. The one with a calmer head will win.  –Vuk Radivojević, Red Star, prior to the contest.

Early in the final frame Bogdan Bogdanovic dropped in a deuce to extend the Partizan lead to eight, 53:45, but he was whistled for a foul on Igor Rakocevic after the play. Partizan coach Duško Vujošević was hit with a technical during his protest of the call, giving the Red and Whites four free throws and the ball back. Rakocevic connected on three of four of the charity tosses and Katic hit a jumper to complete a five-point series and pulling Red Star to within three, 53:50. Lauvergne split a pair of singles shortly after and Davis hit the cords with a triple after that to regain the Black and White’s seven point margin, 57:50.

Adriatic League

After some discussion, both coaches were given technicals and ejected.

Later in the frame Dragan Milosavljevic and Lucic were both called for fouls on Katic. After the play, Katic was called for a technical, and the entire situation had both benches protesting to the officials, loudly. The result was two bench technicals that got both head coaches ejected. With the assistant coaches at the helm, play resumed, but it would be nearly three minutes before either team found the bottom of the net.

A Lauvergne steal and basket gave Partizan an eight point lead with three minutes to play. After Rakocevic and Branko Lazic each split a pair of free throws, Bertans and Lauvergne both dropped in doubles to give the Black and Whites a 10-point lead as they entered the final two minutes. Katic was able to get Red Star back to within seven, but a Bogdanovic triple countered it. Katic hit the last two points of the contest and as the horn went off the Black and Whites began to celebrate their sixth Adriatic League championship.

Adriatic League

The Partizan boys show off their new ring collection

Westermann and Bertans each scored 15 to lead Partizan. Katic picked up a double/double with 19 points and 12 rebounds, along with an impressive valuation of 31. Nelson and Rakocevic each scored 14.

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