MEGA MIS DEFEAT AGAINST PARTIZAN IN MATCH PLAYED IN HONOR OF DEJAN MILOJEVIĆ

The basketball players of Mega MIS were unable to extend their streak of good results, as they suffered a defeat in the 17th round of the ABA League against the title defenders Partizan Mozzart Beta, losing 112:80 at the Štark Arena (25:26, 34:13, 26:23, 27:18). In a highly emotional match for both teams, played in honor of Dejan Milojević, the disciples of Marko Barać gave a good fight to the Serbian representative in the EuroLeague until the middle of the second quarter when the home team managed to pull away, securing a significant lead by halftime. Mega competed well against the favored opponent after the break but struggled to significantly reduce the deficit. The finish of the third quarter favored the blacks and whites, and they entered the decisive period with a hard-to-reach advantage. Barać’s team fought until the end but couldn’t threaten the home team’s lead, suffering their eighth defeat with a 9-8 record, currently holding the seventh position in the regional competition table. Partizan improved their record to 13-4.

Before the match, a minute of silence was observed in honor of former Partizan basketball player and longtime Mega coach Dejan Milojević, who passed away unexpectedly on January 17 at the age of 47 due to a heart attack. The entire basketball community was shocked and saddened by his sudden death. All players in tonight’s match took the court wearing specially designed shirts dedicated to the celebrated Serbian coach, who achieved numerous victories during his eight years with Mega, winning the Radivoj Korać Cup and guiding many players on the right path.

Uroš Plavšić performed well against the opponent’s frontcourt, finishing the game with 26 points and a PIR of 20. Andrija Jelavić also had a strong performance with 16 points and six steals, earning him the title of Mega’s most valuable player with a PIR of 22. Omercan Ilyasoglu added 16 points (PIR 20), while Nikola Đurišić was close to a double-double with 13 points and eight assists.

In the winning lineup, James Nunnally was the top scorer with 24 points, followed by Frank Kaminsky with 14 points, and Uroš Trifunović with 10 points.

Mega MIS held their own against the favored opponent at the beginning. Plavšić had an excellent start, and after five minutes, the game was tied. The teams continued to trade baskets, and after three-pointers from Jelavić and Iljasolu, Barać’s team took the initiative and ended the first quarter with a one-point lead (25:26). However, Partizan regained control upon returning to the court and, with several accurate shots from beyond the arc, built a double-digit lead. Mega briefly prevented the opponent from pulling further ahead, but towards the end of the quarter, Partizan increased their advantage, leading 59:39 at halftime.

Mega managed to reduce the deficit several times during the third quarter. Plavšić, Jelavić, and Iljasolu held their own against the more experienced opponent. Still, the final minutes of the quarter favored the home team, who maintained the lead from halftime going into the decisive 10 minutes. Barać’s players made some good moves early in the final quarter to briefly reduce the gap, but Partizan reacted quickly, eliminating any doubts about the winner.

In the next round of the ABA League, Mega MIS will host Podgorica’s Budućnost VOLI on Sunday, January 28, at 12:00 in the Ranko Žeravica Sports Hall.

Mega MIS: Paunović, Miljenović 6, Jelavić 16 (6 st, PIR 22), Marković, Popović 1, Milutinović, Ilyasoglu 16 (5 as, PIR 20), Đurišić 13 (8 as), Kovačević, Gnjidić 2, Plavšić 26 (PIR 20), Malovec

Partizan: LeDay 9, Avramović 9, Koprivica 8, Punter 2, Smailagić 9, Jaramaz 3, Nunnally 24, Trifunović 10, Dozier 9, Ponitka 9, Kaminsky 14, Caboclo 6

Photo: AdmiralBet ABA Liga/Dragana Stjepanović