Adriatic League: Playoff picture shaken up

As Week 25 of the Adriatic League played out, the playoff picture comes down to three teams for two spots, Radnicki, Partizan, and Buducnost. Igokea will win the regular season regardless of what happens in Week 26 since they win a tie-breaker with Red Star having won both matches the clubs played this season.

Things get interesting because No. 4 Buducnost lost a road match to Red Star, 79:63, and Partizan fell in a close game on the road to MZT Skopje Aerodrom, 66:64.

With the No. 3 through No. 6 teams all two games apart and none of them playing each other in the final week, there are numerous playoff scenarios ranging from very simple to where No. 3 and No. 4 are by themselves and no calculators are involved, to three-way ties that throw out the regular season records and focus on the records between the three tied teams. At this point in the season there is no scenario that gets Cedevita into the playoffs as they lose out in tie-breakers.

Here’s our best attempt to play everything out…

Radnicki currently sits alone in the No. 3 position at 16-9 and finishes the season at home against No. 2 Red Star. The first time they squared off at Pionir Hall Radnicki came up on the short end of a 87:73 score. Buducnost VOLI finishes at home against Union Olimpija (Union won at home 95:92). Partizan finishes at home against Szolnoki Olaj (Szolnoki won 70:68 at home).

If Radnicki loses to Red Star, then there are four possibilities:

• Partizan (15-10) wins, Buducnost VOLI (15-10) loses – Partizan ends up No. 3, Radnicki No. 4 due to Partizan winning the head to head tie-breaker.
• Buducnost wins, Partizan loses – Radnicki gets No. 3, Buducnost gets No. 4.
• Both teams win, so there’s a three-way tie at 16-10. In games between the three, Partizan is 3-1 (gets No.3), Radnicki is 2-2 (gets No. 4), and Buducnost is 1-3 (out)
• Both teams lose, Cedevita wins, so there’s a three-way tie at 15-11. Radnicki gets No. 3 at 16-10. In games between the three, Partizan is 4-0 (gets No. 4), Cedevita is 2-2 (No. 5, out), and Buducnost is 1-3 (No. 6, out)

If Radnicki wins, they stay No. 3 as Red Star is 18-7, so there would still be a one-game gap, but the battle for the final spot could come down to two teams:

• Buducnost wins, Partizan loses: Radnicki is No. 3, Buducnost Is No. 4.
• Partizan wins, Buducnost loses: Radnicki is No. 3, Partizan is No. 4.
• Both teams win: Radnicki is No. 3, Partizan is No. 4 due to tie-breaker with Buducnost (won both games).
• Both teams lose: Radnicki is No. 3; Partizan, Buducnost, and Cedevita are tied for the No. 4 spot. In games between the three, Partizan is 4-0 (gets No. 4), Cedevita is 2-2 (No. 5, out), and Buducnost is 1-3 (No. 6, out)

Week 25 Game Recaps:
Szolnoki Olaj – Zadar, 90:79
In a contest that pitted the No. 12 and No. 13, Szolnok Olaj came out on top with a 90:79 win at home. The contest was close in the early going, but the last time it was close was when the two clubs were knotted up at 36 mid-way through the second quarter. From there it was a gradual increase in the lead to the end, giving Szolnoki their ninth win on the season.

James Florence was game-high for Olaj with 23 points, 4 assists, and 3 steals. Rashad Bell added 14 points to the winning effort.

Goran Vrbanc was high-man for Zadar with 20 points, Ante Delaš added 17.

MZT Skopje Aerodrom – Partizan mt:s, 66:64
In a game with deep playoff implications, MZT Skopje held off the No. 5 team in the league, Partizan, to earn a 66:64 win. In the final minute of the game, numerous free throws were missed that could have changed the outcome, but the clubs were tied at 64 with less than a minute to play and Skopje was able to take advantage of the situation and did drop in a few singles to get the win. For Partizan, it drops their record to 15-10, losing out on a prime opportunity to get inside the qualifying line.

Gjorgi Čekovski was game-high for Skopje with 21 points, and 9 rebounds. Nikola Otašević added 13 to the winning effort.

Partizan was led by Drew Gordon’s 18 points, and 14 rebounds.

Igokea – Krka, 84:75
Igokea assured themselves of the top spot of the league with an 84:75 win at home over Krka. The guests looked like they were going to put up a good fight and took a 41:44 advantage into the locker room at half time. Igokea turned everything around in the third outscoring their visitors, 21:11.

Branko Jorović was game-high with 24 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 steals. Corsley Edwards II added 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Domen Lorbek dropped in 18 for Krka, Matjaž Smodiš dropped in 17 points.

Cedevita – Cibona, 92:78
Cedevita scored the first 11 in the game en route to their 14th win. After the hosts dropped in their first 11, Cibona returned the favor and evened the score shortly after. After finishing the first quarter stalled at 22, Cedevita outscored Cibona every quarter, building their 14-point decision.

Crvena zvezda Telekom – Budućnost VOLI, 79:63
Buducnost VOLI had a huge opportunity to strengthen their playoff hopes, but instead were pounded by the No. 2 team in the league, 79:63. The loss drops Buducnost to 15-10 and in the No. 4 spot tied with Partizan. The win keeps Red Star in the No. 2 spot in the league.

Split – Radnički, 63:81
After falling behind early, Radnicki used strong quarters one and two to pick up their 16th win and strengthen their chances at getting into the final four.

Union Olimpija – Široki WWin, 82:85
Siroki WWin needed an extra frame between them and their hosts, Union Olimpija, to put this contest in the books. Union got out to a big lead in the first and maintained the advantage throughout the test, until Siroki found their range and tied the score in the fourth to send it to overtime. Siroki got the win behind Sakic Zeljos’s three-pointer at the buzzer to give the guests the win.

Adriatic League

This Week’s (Week 25) Adriatic League Matches[matches league_id=1 match_day=24 template=summary dateformat=”M. j, Y”]

Adriatic League Standings[standings league_id=1 show_website=false template=nolink]

Week 26 (Final) Adriatic League Matches[matches league_id=1 match_day=26 template=sumnoscore dateformat=”M. j, Y”]