Spišskí Rytieri – KK Velika Gorica 74:72 (21:19, 15:17, 20:14, 18:22)
Referees: Robert Mordal, Tomasz Tybor, Bogna Podkowinska (all Poland)
Attendance: 100
Venue: Mestská Športová Hala Spišská Nová Ves
Scorers – Spišskí Rytieri: Dressler 18, Dennis 17, Stevanović 12, Gavrilović and Hlivák each 8, Lužaić 7, Baťka 4
Scorers – Velika Gorica: Mašić 17, Kaljžić 16, Uljavić 11, Cvitković 10, Baković and Činać each 7, Savić and Majić each 2
A very high-quality match was played in Spiš. In the first quarter, the teams took turns in the lead, the home team dominated under the basket, the guests were more successful from the outside, and so the first quarter ended 21-19 for the home team. The second half was dominated by close defenses, balanced and quality fighting continued on both sides and went to check rooms with an equal score 36-36. In the third ten minutes, the match was even more equal, which also resulted in the expulsion of assistant coach of home Erich Korfanta. Spiš Knights improved their shooting from behind the arc, they gradually built a 12-point lead, and although the Croatian team in the end tightened heavily, the Knights defended their home file and gained a valuable scalp.
Post-game quotes:
Štefan Svitek, coach of Spišskí Rytieri: „The key to our victory was our aggressive defense, when we didn’t let the best shooters of our schedule make a significant hit, despite the fact that they gave 10 threes. I’m glad that we prepared the strong rival the first loss, we learned from the previous match, and our defense was much better. The defense was the foundation of our success today.”
Marko Stevanović, player of Spišskí Rytieri: „It was a difficult match. We started well, but in the second quarter we didn’t hit the open shots and they used that. We had problems with their zone, but over time we managed to break it and we started shooting from outside. We have to take care of rebounds during our home matches, we get better from match to match.”
Bože Radoš, assistant coach of Velika Gorica: „We saw a very balanced match, there was a lot of energy on both sides. In the end it was about one shooting attempt, we missed some open shots, they, on the contrary, hit heavy shots and decided this interesting match.”
Marko Baković, player of Velika Gorica: “It was a difficult defeat here in Nova Ves. They dragged us into their own rhythm because they are known as an awkward home team. Let’s just say, they beat us well. We now have to gather our heads up and look towards Saturday and our next game. We have to get out of this series of defeats.”
