MEGA SUPERBET STRONG IN THE CLOSING STAGES TO BEAT ZADAR

Mega Superbet recorded their first win of the new ABA League season, defeating Zadar 88:82 (19:20, 23:16, 18:24, 28:22) in Round 3 at Ranko Žeravica Sports Hall. Vule Avdalović’s team turned things around in the first half to take a six-point lead into the break before a hard-fought battle continued after halftime. The teams entered the final quarter level, but Mega’s young squad showed composure and character when it mattered most, held off Zadar’s challenge and earned a deserved victory to move to 1-1 after two games.

Andrej Lučić led Mega with 18 points and seven assists, while Ognjen Nikolić added 15 points and seven rebounds. Luka Paunov and Ognjen Srzentić also reached double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Vladimir Mihailović led Zadar with 20 points, followed by Ross Williams with 17 and Ivan Vraneš with 15.

After falling behind 0:7, Mega found their rhythm and, led by Ognjen Nikolić, turned the game around to lead 16:11. Zadar responded with a 9:0 run, but Andrej Lučić’s late three-pointer cut Mega’s deficit to 19:20 at the end of the first quarter. In the second period, two three-pointers from Paunov helped Mega regain the lead before a 7:0 run made it 40:31. They maintained their advantage to take a 42:36 lead into halftime.

Mega extended their lead to 47:36 early in the third quarter, but Zadar gradually erased the deficit and moved ahead. Bjelica and Vojinović helped the hosts regain the lead, but the teams entered the final period tied at 60:60. Mega then used a 10:0 run to go ahead 70:63, although Zadar closed the gap to one point down the stretch. Paunov’s three-pointer for 82:77 proved decisive, while Lučić and Mušicki secured the win from the free-throw line.

Mega Superbet: M. Šuput, Mušicki 6, Vojinović 7, Maniema 9, Hrelja, Bačko 8, Nikolić 15 (7 reb), Bjelica 4, Srzentić 10, Paunov 11 (5 reb), Lučić 18 (7 ast, PIR 21), U. Šuput.

Zadar: Mihailović 20, Mirčeta 2, Klarica 5, Buljević, Šare 5, Vraneš 15, Ogden, Drežnjak 9, Vučić 4, Williams 17, Ramljak 5, Bičić.

In the next round of the ABA League, Mega Superbet will visit Ilirija in Ljubljana on Sunday, October 18, at 17:00.

Photo: Mega Superbet