BC GGMT Vienna – Nutrisport Ilirija 67:80 (17:22, 15:24, 23:15, 22:19)
Referees: Scholze, Pokorný, Hartig (all Czechia)
Attendance: 100
Venue: Hallmann Dome Wien
Scorers – Vienna: Mateo and Savic each 18, Vujosevic 11, Murati 9, Rados 7, Manigat 4, Sirisevic, Zdravkovic, Valentic, Barisic, Kreso, Zadeh 0
Scorers – Nutrisport Ilirija: Kmetić 18, Arslanagić 17, Klobučar 14, Daneu 9, Filipić 7, Orel 6, Kruzynski 4, Mikuš 3, Padjen 2, Gustin and Gorisek
Ilirija started strong in this game – the home team had trouble getting the ball inside to their big man Rados. Vienna still tried to focus on their inside-play, but it didn’t work out like they’d planned. Substitutions on both sides brought fresh concentration – anyway Ilirija was able to win the first quarter. Ilirija started with a very aggressive defensive play into the second quarter. After a technical foul of Murati, Ilirija seemed on fire, scoring 3 times and having 2 steals in a row. Coach Naglić called his team in for a time-out. With only 3 minutes left in the halftime, Vienna tried to turn the score around but with two more technical fouls – one against point guard Vujosevic and one against the bench, this quarter ended in favor of Nutrisport Ilirija (32:46).
Vienna started with a 6:0 run, which led to an early time-out from Coach Modrić in the third quarter. The home team still seemed to find the better spots for open shots. It took Ilirija about 4-5 more minutes to find back to their rhythm. On both sides, more than two key players already sat on the bench with 4 personal fouls. Vienna came closer and won this quarter by 8 (55:61). The home team started into the last 10 minutes with already two men on the bench with 5 fouls (Murati and Manigat). With 5 minutes left to play, both teams seemed already tired and Vienna was still 10 points behind. Both coaches provided their young players with game time in the last two minutes and the game ended plus 13 for Nutrisport Ilirija.
Post-game quotes:
Aramis Naglić, coach of Vienna: “I’m glad that we finished this part of the competition on the first place of the group. This game was a chance for everybody to get some minutes and to rest some players. Now we are going to focus on the next four games in the home competition and Cup, which we take very, very seriously.”
Jozo Rados, player of Vienna: “Today it was a good chance for our young players to gain more playing time. Congrats to Ilirija.”
Stipe Modrić, coach of Ilirija: “Both teams changed a lot of players. We didn’t play with the main players – it was not such an important game, but okay, we got a win in the end.”
