Slovenian AAC-newcomer KD Hopsi Polzela managed to get the win agains KK Vrijedosnice Osijek. They beat the Croatians 82:76.
KD Hopsi Polzela vs. KK Vrijedosnice Osijek
82:76 (19:12, 39:33, 56:49)
Referees: Majkic, Spendl, Blasko.
Audience: 250.
Venue: Sportna dvorana Polzela.
Scorers KD Hopsi Polzela: Burgett 21, Jack 14, Godler 13, Atanacković 12, Benson 7, Bukovič 6, Vasilić 5, Rotar 4.
Scorers KK Vrijedosnice Osijek: Mandić 18, Abu 17, Pavlović 12, Vrkić 10, Ihring 6, Perić 6, Šango 5, Turalija 2.
STATISTICS
Hopsi started the match perfectly, they took an ealry 4:0 lead. In the middle of the first quarter, they led by as much as eight points (15:7) after the three pointer of Jack. Guests from Osijek lowered the gap to 19:12 after the first ten minutes of Hopsis Alpe Adria Cup debut.
The 2nd quarter was better started by Osijek’s players and approached the point of lag behind the four minutes of the game. BUt as the game continued Hopsi found back to it’s rhythm. The guests couldn’t stop Burgett, who carried the slovenian side to the highest advantage. It was +12 (39:27) with just one minute to go. With three baskets the guests managed to get closer until the break – 39:33!
Hopsi started with three buckets from beyond the arc and set the tone early, after five minutes in the third quarter they led 50:39. But again, they couldn’t force a decision and allowed the guests from Osijek to come closer (56:49).
In the last quarter, the players of the coach Kuhar controlled the course of the game, their advantage ranging from eight to ten points. The last quarter was also marked by two unsportsman personal foul, which made Osijek’s player Pavlovic. In the last minute of the match, Hopsi started with a preference of ten points, and the final 82:76 was set by Mandic with three points.
Boštjan Kuhar, head coach of Hopsi: “The main problem of our team was the aggressive rebounding of the guests, which I already warned before the gae. The guests had 25 rebounds in the attack, from which they scored a lot of points. The weakness was also defencse of three pointers, and we were getting tired. In the week before the next game we have to rest in the first place.”
Uroš Godler, player of Hopsi: “Despite a lot of mistakes we managed to lead through the whole match and in the end we deserved to win. It is nice to win the first official match of the season. I hope that the season will be successful”
Vladimir Krstić, head coach of Osijek: “I would congratulate the hosts for their victory, they have led the whole match. We played poorly in defense, Hopsi caught too many baskets from the attacks. Despite a good rebound performance, we were badly affected from the distance, which brought the deserved victory to the hosts.”
Mate Mandić, player of Osijek: “We did our best, but we did not get a shot from the distance. We missed ten free throws, and at the end of the match, we made two more unsportsman personal foul, which decided the game.”
