MEGA WON IN ZADAR FOR THE BACK ON THE WINNING TRACK

Mega was the best when it was most needed, victory in Zadar for getting back on the winning track!

Mega Soccerbet triumphed with an excellent game in the last quarter away in Zadar with 83:90 (21:21, 19:20, 21:25, 22:24) within the game of the 15th round of the ABA league. Coach Vladimir Jovanovic’s team came to victory in the Kresimir Cosic hall since they played the best when it was most needed and after 70:69 in the middle of the last quarter, they resolved the match in their favor with a series of 2:11 and came to a well-deserved victory!

The Petrusev-Simonovic tandem was again the best in Mega’s ranks, Petrusev scored a great 32 points with 9 grabbed rebounds, while Simonovic scored 17 points, eight of which he scored in the key series of Mega in the last five minutes of the game. In the Zadar, Chinanu Onuaku stood out the most with 20 points and nine rebounds.

After 15 rounds of the ABA league, Mega Soccerbet has ten wins and five defeats, while Zadar has two wins and nine defeats with four matches less. In the next round, Mega will meet Cibona in the Hall of sports Ranko Zeravica, and the match is scheduled for Sunday, January 24 at 12 o’clock.

Vladimir Jovanović started the match with the following five: Tepic, Smith, Momirov, Simonovic, Petrusev. A better start to the game for the home team, which is leading 9:2 after three and a half minutes of play. After entering the game, Cazalon scored for three points, but due to two personal fouls, he quickly had to go to the bench. Mega from the paint, even after the offensive rebounds, reaches new points and quickly got back to the game. Momirov scored after the offensive rebound, and with the triples of Cerovina and Smith, Mega briefly reached the advantage, 18:19, and the first quarter ended with the result of 21:21.

Zadar took the lead with 28:23 after less than three minutes of play in the second quarter, but Mega responded quickly through Petrusev and Simonovic, who dunked brilliantly on Tepic’s assist. Cazalon hits a new three-pointer, and soon after assisted to Petrusev for dunking and lead of Mega 33:34. Mega had a chance to increase the advantage until the end of the quarter, but smissed a few three pointers, so the result at half time was 40:41.

A better start to the second half for Mega, where Simonovic and Petrusev are doing well in the racket and Smith brings a plus 6 with a triple, 44:50. Zadar approaches with the points of Bursaćc and Onuaku, but Mega with triples of Simonovic and Petrusev repel that attack. Mega’s excellent offensive rebounding continued in the third quarter, so after several missed attacks on both sides, Mega with triples of Cerovina and Momirov reached plus nine, 55:64 in just over two minutes until the end of the quarter. In the remaining time, the home team manages to reduce the difference, so the result before the last 10 minutes of the game is 61:66.

Zadar manages to catch the momentum after Mega’s unsportsmanlike foul and equalized, 69:69. After a few minutes without points on both sides, Zadar gained the advantage from free throws, but Petrusev already in the next attack penetrated through the defense of Zadar for a strong dunk, and then Simonovic hit free throws after the technical for Onuaku and with a new three brought plus five, 70:75 with under five minutes to go. Another good defense of Mega, so that after the triples of Simonovic and Petrusev, Mega would definitely resolved the match. After that, Mega calmly brought the game to an end, and the final result was set by Petrusev from free throws for 83:90.

Zadar: Carter 11, Jordano 6, Justice 11, Palokaj 3, Brala, Vukovic 8, Bursac 5, Junakovic 13, Mavra 5, Onuaku 20 (9 rebounds), Planinic 2.

Mega Soccerbet: Miskovic 2, Smith 6 (9 assists), Petrusev 32 (9 rebounds, index 41), Tepic 5 (5 assists), Kljajevic 2, Momirov 7, Simonovic 17 (7 rebounds), Jovicic, Cerovina 6, Matkovic 6, Cazalon 7, Langovic.

Photo: Zadar/Zvonko Kucelin