LOKOMOTIV WINNER OF MEGA BEMAX CUP

Lokomotiv Kuban players won the Mega Bemax Cup 2017 after they won against Mega Bemax in the finals with 85:108 (20:23, 18:18, 25:32, 22:35). In the “Mega Factory” hall in Belgrade, Dejan Milojevic’s players had very good match  by the end of the third quarter when Russian guests with three pointers went to a double-digit advantage which they did dropped by the end of the match. The third place in the tournament was won by the Belgian Telenet Ginats Antwerp who beat Partizan NIS with 87:84.

The best in the winning team was Joe Ragland with 18 points and 8 assists (index 30) while in Mega Nikola Rebic and Dylan Ennis had both 21 points. Lokomotiv Kuban player Joe Ragland was also announced for the MVP Mega Bemax Cup 2017, and the trophy was handed to him by former NBA and Slovenian national team player Primoz Brezec, while the trophy for the winners of the tournament was handed over by the president of Mega Bemax Velimir Mihailovic.

Milojevic started the match with Rebic, Ennis, Lazic, Koprivica and Bitadze. Mega slowly started the match, so after triple of Rebic for 5:4, followed series of guests 15:0 for their 14-point lead. Rebic with six points stopped a series of guests and then Marjanovic joined him with a tough jump shot and three pointer. With a great defense, the advantage of the Russian team melted, so after the three Sinovec, the first quarter ended with 20:23.

Team of coach Sasa Obradovic starts somewhat better the second quarter and gets to plus 7, but Mega returns with a 8:0 series and a triple of Rebic for lead 33:32. Ragland, however, scored points for the Russian team, who leads at 38:41 at half-time.

Russian team hits two threes at the start of the second half for 38:47. Ennis then launches a new great Mega series. First, he had great drive under a foul, and then in the next attack, he strikes well and throws the ball from the back of the opponent for the new points. Mega’s defense works great and after Rebic three and points of Sinovec Mega took lead 48:47. Guests return with shots behind line 6.75 and got back the lead 53:59 with 4 minutes to end of quarter. Ennis hits three, but the Russian team hits the new triples and gets to plus 10 for 63:73 at the end of the third quarter.

In the final quarter, a great series of three visiting teams continued. Enins tried to return Mega to the game, but the guests eventually came to a convincing victory, 85:108.

Mega Bemax: Recić 21, Ennis 21 (5 rebounds, 5 assists), Jovicic 3, Kapetanovic, Marjanovic 9, Sinovec 17, Bitadze 2 (6 rebounds), Lazic 6, Koprivica, Samardziski 6.

Lokomotiv Kuban: Collins 4, Antipov 12, Ragland 18 (8 assists, PIR 30), Lacej 10, Levshin 2, Ilnitskiy 10, Balashov, Babb 20, Gerasimov 7, Qvale 10, Broekhoff 13 (10 rebounds), Nelyubov 2.

Photo: Mega Bemax/Dragana Stjepanovic