FIGHTING MEGA SUPERBET FELL JUST SHORT OF THE TROPHY, DEFEATED BY CRVENA ZVEZDA IN THE RADIVOJ KORAĆ CUP FINAL

Mega Superbet made a big achievement simply by reaching the final of the Radivoj Korać Cup in Niš, but after a hard-fought battle, they couldn’t take the final step and lift the Žućkova Levica, losing to Crvena zvezda 84–106 (25:35, 25:30, 20:16, 14:25). Vule Avdalović’s team handled the EuroLeague opponent admirably and didn’t give up even when the rival pulled away in the middle of the third quarter. They fought until the end, but the more experienced opponent maintained the lead, and Mega suffered defeat in the club’s sixth Cup final in history.

The top performers for Mega Superbet were Luigi Suigo with 23 points and eight rebounds (efficiency 29), Bogoljub Marković with 17 points and seven rebounds, and Urban Kroflič with 15 points and six rebounds, while Kyrell Luc nd Andrej Mušicki added nine points each.

For Crvena zvezda, Jordan Nwora scored 29 points, Ognjen Dobrić 21, and other double-digit scorers included Jared Butler with 11, as well as Ebuka Izundu, Stefan Miljenović, and Uroš Plavšić with 10 points each.

Mega started the game excellently, taking a 9–2 lead. They maintained the advantage for the next few minutes, but the opponent responded with a big run and took over. The defending champions then pulled further ahead, leaving Mega trailing 25–35 after the first quarter. The “atomic” basketball continued in the second quarter: Avdalović’s team briefly cut the deficit in half, but Zvezda extended the lead again, and Mega went into halftime down 50–65.

At the start of the second half, the opponent extended the gap further, but Mega didn’t give up. Step by step, they chipped away at the deficit, reducing it to 70–79 by the end of the third quarter, though they still went into the final break down by double digits (70–81). Avdalović’s players fought until the last moment, but the more experienced rival held on and secured the victory.

Despite the loss, Mega Superbet made club history by reaching the Radivoj Korać Cup final for the sixth time, having previously won the Žućkova Levica in 2016.

Mega Superbet: Milenković, Lu c9, Đulović 4, Drezgić 3 (5 assists), Marković 17 (7 rebounds), Vukčević, Kroflič 15 (6 rebounds), Siby 4, Suigo 23 (8 rebounds, efficiency 28), Srzentić, Gačić, Mušicki 9

Crvena zvezda: Miler McIntyre 3, Plavšić 10, Miljenović 10, Nedeljković, Butler 11, Davidovac 1, Kalinić 6, Dobrić 21, Izundu 10, Simjanovski 3, Nwora 29, Radošić 2

Foto: KSS/Dragana Stjepanović