Nutrispoint Ilirija – BC Prievidza 83:74 (27:20, 25:24, 15:16, 16:14)
Referees: F. Gracin, G. Rogić, T. Miletić (all Croatia)
Attendance: 150
Venue: Hala Tivoli (Ljubljana, SLO)
Scorers – Ilirija: Duščak 28, Habot 15, Čiani 11, Vončina 9, Jurkovič 6, Pajič, Pavliha and Čerkvenik all 4, Kures 2
Scorers – Prievidza: Oshita and Daunys 18, Majerčák 13, Creammer 9, Jašš 7, Kincel 4, Matuška 3, Magdolen 2
First game in Group D between Nutrispoint Ilirija and BC Prievidza started with alternating successful attack on both sides. In the fifth minute, home team took lead by seven points (14:7) with a successful layup by Dan Duščak. In the second half of the first quarter, the Slovakian team played better in defense and forced the Nutrispoint Ilirija in mistakes, and with a point by Samuel Kincel they reduced the advantage to 16:12. Head coach of the home team, Sasa Dončič, took time out and after that his team started playing better again and finish first quarter, with a lead of seven points (27:20).
Guest team started second quarter with a better game in attack, but Ilirija maintained the advantage of a few points. BC Prievidza came to just one point behind (39:38) in the seventeenth minute of the game after a successful free throw by Marek Jašš. Nutrispoint Ilirija players did not get confused because of this, and they finished the quarter with a lead 52:44.
First five minutes of the second half was marked by missed throws and numerous errors by both teams. But no matter that, home team cameto their highest lead (59:46) with two points of Blaz Habot. In the continuation of the third quarter, BC Prievidza reduced the home team lead and finished that quarter with a result of 67:60.
BC Prievidza started last quarter with three points of Maxim Matuška and two points of Kincel and reduce Ilirija’s lead was reduced to just two points (67:65). But Slovenian players didn’t allow them to come to an equalization, and with a successful third free throw from Duščak, in the 35th minute they lead again by six (73:67). In the last two minutes Slovakian players tried to reduce the home team lead, but they were unsuccessful. Nutrispoint Ilirija won 83:74. The best scorer of the game was Duščak (Nutrispoint Ilirija) with 28 points and for BC Prievidza were Christian Oshita and Rymantas Daunys both with 18 points.
Post-game quotes:
Sasa Dončič, head coach of Ilirija: “We are super happy for the first international win, I think in the club history of Nutrispoint Ilirija. I am very happy for those young players that they will gain some international basketball experience.”
Dan Duščak, player of Ilirija: “We are very happy for the win, hard-won victory over BC Prievidza. Now we are going on with the preparations for our first national championship game. I hope for the win and support like tonight.”
Maroš Helmecy, head coach of Prievidza: “We started terrible, without energy and without focus. We need to play on a high level thought the whole game. Ilirija had 10 offensive rebounds in the first period, and we had zero. This is a big difference. They scored 17 points after the second chance, which is a lot. When we start to play with energy and focus from the beginning, limit turnovers, start to box out and go for offensive rebound, everything will be better.”
Marek Jašš, player of Prievidza: “I think we didn’t start well in the first half. They were better at rebounding, they had 15 more rebounds. We improved somehow in the third and last quarter, but it wasn’t enough. We have to play better throughout the whole game, not just in the second half.”
