Nutrisport Ilirija – SLUNETA Ústí nad Labem 99:81 (27:7, 19:28, 30:21, 23:25)
Referees: A. Jovović, A.-T. Reić, D. Juraga (all Croatia)
Attendance: 50
Venue: Hala Tivoli (Ljubljana, SLO)
Scorers – Ilirija: Cerkvenik 19, Jurković 16, Bačvić 13, Mikuš and Vončina each 10, Duščak and Kureš each 8, Pajić 6, Kraljević 5, Pavliha 4
Scorers – Ústí nad Labem: Svejcar 19, Fait 14, Alston and Pecka each 11, Karlovský 9, Autrey and Bohuslav each 8, Johnson 1
Nutrispoint Ilirija, playing without Blaž Habot, Saša Ciani and head coach Saša Dončić, started the game with a fast break and dunk by Robert Jurković. After that they were playing good on defense and effectively in offence, so they came to lead by 12 (14:2) in the fourth minute of the game. Guest team coach Jan Šotnar tried to stop Slovenian team with time out, but without success and at the end of the first quarter Ilirija led 27:7. Second part of the game players of Sluneta Ústí nad Labem started playing better and more effectively in offense. Less than four minutes to the end of the second quarter, they reduced the home team’s lead to just nine points (38:29). Luka Vončina set the result of the first half with three points made shot (46:35).
The start of the second half was like the beginning of the game, because Ilirija scored 12 points in a row and came to lead by 23 points (58:35). Despite the effort of the Czech team, the home players were effective in shooting from a distance, so it was not difficult for them to maintain a high lead. The third quarter ended with a score 76:56. In the last quarter, the power ratio on the floor did not change and the home team celebrated the victory with 99:81.
Post-game quotes:
Stipe Modrić, coach of Ilirija: “Congratulations to my team, all of them played as we agreed throughout the game. However, our thoughts are already moving forward, as a difficult schedule awaits us.”
Matic Mikus, player of Ilirija: “We started the game well and followed the coach’s instructions. We made a lot of open shots. A new victory is in our pocket, now we have matches in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, where we are going after the victory. I would also like to congrats the coach who took over his role after the absence of the head coach.”
Jan Šotnar, coach of Ústí nad Labem: “First I would like to congratulate to home team, they played really well, fast, smart They totally destroyed us with pressure defense. They made some hard three-point shots. I hope we will play better at home.”
Ladislav Pecka, player of Ústí nad Labem: “I think we lost the game in the first quarter, because we were down for 20. After that it was an equal game, but they have a really young team, and they work hard. At home, next time, I hope we are going to beat them.”
