KK Adra Oil Škrljevo – Nutrisport Ilirija 73:84 (24:21, 20:18, 13:18, 16:27)
Referees: Kadkhodae, Nizamic, Ivanković (all Austria)
Attendance: 80
Venue: SRC Mavrinci
Scorers – Škrljevo: Rajčic 21, Marinelli 19, Vrgoč 17, Adway 6, Šajin and Vucić each 4, Hortman 2, Kostić and Stojanović 0
Scorers – Ilirija: Jurković 20, Duščak 17, Bačvić 12, Habot 9, Kureš and Vončina each 7, Ciani 6, Cerkvenik and Mikuš each 3, Kruzynski and Pavliha 0
The Ljubljana team opened the game better, so after two minutes they had a 4-0 advantage after Blaž Habot hit one free throw, and then Dan Duščak a three-pointer. This was followed by a period of play where Nutrispoint Ilirija and Adria Oil Škrljevo alternated in the lead until before the start of the last minute of the first quarter, when the hosts separated to plus-four 24:20. Ivan Vrgoč was in the lead with the Greens with three three-pointers, and Paolo Marinelli with six points. With Ljubljana, the experienced Duščak scored two three-pointers, Luka Kureš a three-pointer, and two. In the second quarter, the host didn’t lose the advantage, although the guests came to minus one on four occasions. The Greens had the biggest advantage in 19 ‘plus seven 41:34, and teams went to the big break with the advantage of the hosts 44:39.
After thirty minutes of play, the score was 57:57, which was the first equalizer of the game. Previously, the home team had a plus eight in 23 ‘with a result of 51:43. However, the guests from Slovenia did not give up and with the constant changes made by Saša Dončić, they managed to reach a draw. The home team, which was deprived of Toni Jelenković’s services due to the illness, and captain Josip Barnjak sat on the bench, wasn’t helped by plus-ten 69:59 in the 33rd minute. After that difference, the home team sank, Adria Oil Škrljevo managed to do 15 turnovers in the second half! Every possession in the last 5 minutes was bad for the home team, so many mistakes, and a good team from Ljubljana took it!
Post-game quotes:
Damir Rajković, coach of Škrljevo: “Deserved victory of Ilirija. It was my decision that Barnjak doesn’t play today. This is a shame of these players who couldn’t bring an end to our side after 10 differences in the last quarter. They’ve lost 10 balls with the wrong passes in the last few minutes. Some players need to reconsider their attitude towards the game and the club but also about their behavior on the field because this was a devastating and bad play today. I really have no words for this.”
Mario Rajčić, player of Škrljevo: “In the end, we lost a game that we practically won. We lost a game in which we were better the whole game until the last 5 minutes when we started playing as cadets. We played really badly in the last moments. The next game is in two days. We need to analyze this loss, forget it, and move on as best as we can.”
Saša Dončić, coach of Ilirija: “We entered the Alpe Adria Cup because of our young players. Today we showed our two faces, one is losing, one is winning. Congrats to my players, even though they are young, we showed our teeth and won this game.”
Robert Jurković, player of Ilirija: “It was a tough game, but we won. We had to fight really bad to win this game, but it was worth it. I’m proud of my team for playing such a good game. I’m happy.”
