VICTORY! MEGA SUPERBET DEFEATS SC DERBY

Mega Superbet basketball team returned to the court after a short break and, in the second round of the ABA League Play-Out phase, defeated SC Derby at Ranko Žeravica Sports Hall with a score of 90:76 (26:19, 21:14, 23:23, 20:20). The team coached by Vule Avdalović established control in the first quarter, extended the lead in the second and built a comfortable advantage, which they maintained in the third period. The opponent tried to close the gap in the final 10 minutes, but Mega did not allow it, earning a well-deserved victory and improving their record to 7–11. SC Derby remained on four wins (4–14).

The best performer for Mega Superbet was Bogoljub Marković with 18 points and 14 rebounds (efficiency rating 32), while Savo Drezgić was the top scorer with 23 points. Urban Kroflič also had an excellent game with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Kirel Luke added 12 points. Newcomer Jordan Davis also recorded his first minutes in the Mega Superbet jersey.

For SC Derby, Nikola Pavlićević scored 19 points, Matic Rebec and Aleksa Ilić added 12 points each, while Emir Hadžibegović finished with 10.

Mega opened the game strongly and with a 7:0 run in the opening minutes quickly built a solid lead (13:4). Avdalović’s team continued to play excellently and with three and a half minutes remaining in the first quarter reached a double-digit advantage, even going up 25:9. However, the visitors reduced the deficit to seven points by the end of the quarter (19:26). Shortly after the break, Mega restored a double-digit lead, but Studentski centar responded once again. Still, Avdalović’s team regained control and pulled away again, heading into halftime with a comfortable 47:33 lead.

Mega successfully kept their opponent at a distance after returning to the court. They maintained a double-digit lead in the third quarter despite several runs by the visitors, and then extended it further through Drezgić and Luke, entering the final 10 minutes with a 70:56 advantage. Early in the fourth quarter, the visitors briefly cut the deficit to single digits, but Mega responded in time and, after five consecutive points by Kroflič, went ahead 78:63. That was effectively the end of the contest. The visitors no longer had the strength to mount another comeback attempt, and Avdalović’s squad preserved the lead to secure an important victory in the race for the Play-In.

In the next round, Mega Superbet will host Borac Čačak at Ranko Žeravica Sports Hall. The game is scheduled for Sunday, March 15, at 12:00.

Mega Superbet: Milenković, Luke 12, Davis, Drezgić 23 (eff. 20), Marković 18 (14 reb, 5 ast, eff. 32), Vukčević 2, Kroflič 16 (7 reb, eff. 26), Sibi 2 (7 reb), Suigo 4, Srzentić 5, Gačić 3, Mušicki 5. 

SC Derby: Rebec 12, Vučeljić 4, Ilić 12, Johnson 8, Pavlićević 19, Anđušić, Hadžibegović 10, Šaranović, Bogdanović, Davis, Dean 7, Drežnjak 4. 

Photo: Mega Superbet