KK Ilirija – SCM winsed.swiss Mozzart Bet Timisoara 92:81 (17:21, 27:24, 30:20, 18:16)
Referees: Galić, Roglić, Čopić
Attendance: 143
Scorers – Ilirija: Barišić 22, Klobučar 17, Macura 14, Kureš 12, Mulalič 10, Mikuš 9, Orel 5, Ferme 3
Scorers – Timisoara: Kesar 34, Mitrović 20, Petrescu 8, Gajić 6, Mirković 5, Nasturescu and Schipor each 3, Grayson 2
Ilirija and Timisoara prepared for the fans some great basketball performances in the first quarter. Great defensive effort on both sides, enabling offense to develop on either side – 17:21. Guests started the 2nd quarter better, taking the lead at 27:32, 4 minutes into the 2nd quarter. The lead went up to 10, but Ilirija, with two good offensive schemes, put the score at 32:37. Both teams found their rhythm in the second part of the second quarter and finished the first half at 44:45.
lirija started the second half better, taking the 8-point lead four minutes into the second half. Ilirija continued strong and took the 13-point lead in the game. Guest did not let Ilirija escape, but she could not come closer than -9 at the end of the 3rd – 74:65. Ilirija started the last quarter string, and after 3 minutes and 13 points, Ilirija led, so the guests had to take a timeout. Ilirija continued with a great performance, but guests did not give up, getting to -10, 92 seconds before the final whistle. But Ilirija left nothing to chance, keeping the lead and taking the win at home – 92:81.
Post-game quotes:
Stipe Modrić, coach of Ilirija: “Congratulations to my guys for a deserved win. I have to admit, the game was a bit strange, both teams had a one-week break, and that was shown. But what’s important is that we won and are still in the game of advancing.”
Luka Barišić, player of Ilirija: “I think it was a good game, a very important game for us, because we are still in the game to go to Final 4, and that’s the most important to us, tomorrow we start preparing for the Olmoucko game.”
Dragan Petričević, coach of Timisoara: “Congratulations, Ilirija, for the win, well deserved. We are going back home to train and prepare for the Final 4. I wish Ilirija all the best, and I’m sure that if they play this way, they are sure to advance to the Final 4 as well.”
Igor Kesar, player of Timisoara: “I want to congratulate Ilirija for the win, it was a great game. We came to Ljubljana with only nine players, and we had one more injury at the game, so we played with only one playmaker. Nevertheless, we are going back home to play even better.”
