MEGA MIS SECURES THIRD CONSECUTIVE VICTORY IN ABA LEAGUE, DEFEATS CIBONA IN FINAL MOMENTS

Mega MIS basketball players notched their third consecutive triumph in the ABA League, as they defeated Cibona 80-76 in a hard-fought match during the 22nd round at the Ranko Žeravica Sports Hall (20:17, 20:21, 24:17, 16:21). Under the guidance of coach Marko Barać, after an evenly matched first half, Mega MIS gained a double-digit lead with outstanding play in the third quarter. However, Cibona managed a significant comeback at the beginning of the decisive period. Nevertheless, Mega found the strength to reclaim the advantage entering final moments, when the young Barać’s players held their nerve and secured their 12th victory in the ABA League this season, improving their record to 12-10, while Cibona, after the loss in New Belgrade, stands at 8-14.

Nikola Đurišić led the victorious team with 19 points, but the most valuable player for Mega MIS was Andrija Jelavić, achieving a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds, resulting in an PIR of 33. Uroš Plavšić also approached a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds, while Filip Jović, Stefan Miljenović, and Timotej Malovec all scored in double digits with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

For Cibona, Jakov Mustapić was the only player in double figures with 28 points, followed by Domagoj Proleta with nine and Aleksandar Aranitović with eight points.

Prior to the game, attendees in the hall had the opportunity to greet the Mega MIS women’s basketball team, winners of the Milan Ciga Vasojević Cup. Additionally, between the first and second quarters, the Mega MIS U15 team, recent champions of the Mini Cup in Niš, stepped onto the court.

Mega took control early with a 7-2 run, establishing a lead at 14-7 and later 18-10 after Đurišić’s layup. However, the closing moments of the first quarter favored the guests, reducing the deficit to 20-17 before the first break. Cibona reversed the lead early in the second quarter, leading to a back-and-forth battle. Both teams scored consistently, with each of Mega’s three-pointers met with a response from the opponents. Nevertheless, Barać’s team gained an advantage after Malovec’s dunk in the closing moments, ending the hard-fought first half with a 40-38 lead.

Mega started the third quarter well, with Đurišić and Plavšić leading a 9-3 run for a more comfortable lead (51-42) midway through the period. Cibona briefly responded, but Jović’s five consecutive points extended Mega’s lead to 12. The guests narrowed the gap, but Đurišić’s three-pointer at the buzzer secured a 64-55 advantage for Mega heading into the final quarter. However, with a 16-3 run at the start of the decisive quarter, Cibona staged a comeback. Nevertheless, Barać’s players found the strength to reclaim the lead after Miljenović’s layup with three minutes left (74-73). In the final moments, the hands of Jelavić, Đurišić, and Miljenović did not falter at the free throw line, securing a significant victory for Mega MIS.

In the 23rd round of the ABA League, Mega MIS will host Studentski Centar at the Ranko Žeravica Sports Hall on Sunday, March 17, at 12:00.

Mega MIS: Milijašević, Miljenović 10, Jelavić 12 (14 reb, PIR 30), Popović, Milutinović, Ilyasoglu 5 (6 ast), Đurišić 19, Kovačević, Gnjidić, Plavšić 13 (8 reb, PIR 20), Jović 11, Malovec 10

Cibona: Radovčić 5, Perasović 5, Mustapić 28, Proleta 9, Majcunić 7, Pavković, Aranitović 8, Buljan 3, Bošnjak 7, Bundović 4

Photo: Mega MIS/Ivica Veselinov