Round 1 (Second Stage): Dubai fire past Bosna

The Second Stage in ABA League just started. Host teams show no mercy winning all games. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

UAE Dubai defeated Bosnian Bosna at home 100-82. Dubai shot the lights out from three sinking 15 long-distance shots on high 51.7 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of Canadian center Mfiondu Kabengele (207-1997, college: FSU) who helped to win the game recording 21 points and 7 rebounds. American point guard McKinley Wright IV (182-1998, college: Colorado) contributed with 13 points and 8 assists for the winners. American Michael Young (206-1994, college: Pittsburgh) answered with 20 points for Bosna. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Bosna will play next round against strong Partizan trying to get back on the winning streak. Dubai will try to continue on its current victory against Cedevita Ol. in Ljubljana.
The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Bosnian Igokea in Beograd. Visitors were defeated by Serbian Crvena zvezda 94-84. American guard Jared Butler (191-1999, college: Baylor) stepped up and scored 18 points and 4 assists for the winners and Jordan Nwora chipped in 11 points and 6 rebounds. At the losing side American guard Nate Pierre-Louis (193-1998, college: Temple) responded with 19 points. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Crvena zvezda will play against Cluj Napoca on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Igokea will play against Buducnost in Podgorica and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
One of the most interesting games of round 1 was a derby match between two teams from Serbia. The game took place in Beograd where FMP BG won against visiting Mega BG 102-87. Filip Barna nailed 27 points and 5 assists (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field) for the winning side. Bogoljub Markovic came up with 22 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists for Mega BG in the defeat. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. FMP BG will meet Spartak in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Mega BG will play against Derby and hope to secure a win.

Other games in round 1 were not that significant. Borac was beaten by Zadar on the road 81-63. Bottom-ranked Derby won against Spartak on its own court 83-77. Krka unfortunately lost to Vienna in a road game 76-92. Partizan managed to beat Buducnost at home 98-82.

Group Play-Out

Zadar - Borac CA 81-63

There was a surprise result when Croatian Zadar beat at home Serbian Borac 81-63 on Thursday. Zadar outrebounded Borac 34-22 including 27 on the defensive glass. Lovro Mazalin (204-1997) nailed 20 points and 5 rebounds for the winning side and swingman Marko Ramljak (201-1993) accounted for 11 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Four Zadar players scored in double figures. Zadar's coach used an eleven-player rotation saving starting five for next games. Swingman Pavle Nikolic (200-2005, agency: Octagon Europe) came up with 17 points and 7 rebounds and guard Aleksa Uskokovic (189-1999) added 17 points respectively for Borac in the defeat. Zadar will meet at home Split in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Borac will play against Vienna and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Zadar: M.Lovro 20+5reb+2ast, M.Vladimir 13+7reb+1ast, R.Marko 11+6reb+7ast, T.Boris 10+5reb+2ast, Z.Karlo 7+6reb+3ast, K.Krsevan 6+1reb
Borac CA: A.Uskokovic 17+3reb+1ast, P.Nikolic 17+7reb+2ast, C.Uros 12+1reb, J.Pierre-Louis 9+3reb+1ast, M.Josilo 6+3reb+3ast, P.Radovic 2+2ast

Derby - Spartak 83-77

There was an upset when Serbian Spartak lost to Montenegrin Derby in Podgorica 77-83 on Friday. Power forward Aleksa Ilic (204-1996) nailed 23 points (on 10-of-12 shooting from the field) for the winning side and Slovenian point guard Matic Rebec (183-1995, agency: SLN) accounted for 23 points and 4 assists. Canadian Olivier Hanlan (193-1993, college: Boston Coll.) came up with 22 points and Montenegrin point guard Igor Drobnjak (188-2000) added 16 points (on 7-of-8 shooting from the field) respectively for Spartak in the defeat. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Derby will meet Mega BG in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Spartak will play against FMP BG having rather not much hope for a victory.
Top scorers:
Derby: R.Matic 23+1reb+4ast, I.Aleksa 23+4reb+2ast, P.Nikola 10+4reb+4ast, H.Emir 9+6reb+2ast, D.Mateo 7+2reb+5ast, J.Darius 4+1reb
Spartak: O.Hanlan 22+3reb+1ast, I.Drobnjak 16+2reb+1ast, N.Rebic 9+3reb+1ast, D.Nikolic 7+5reb, J.Hawkins 6+1ast, D.Ilic 6+9reb+1ast

Vienna - Krka 92-76

Rather predictable result when Austrian BC Vienna won against at home Slovenian Krka 92-76 on Friday. Vienna dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to Krka's 18. Vienna looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Slovenian-Austrian center Rasid Mahalbasic (210-1990) nailed 19 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists for the winning side and Croatian swingman Lovre Runjic (197-2000) accounted for 21 points. BC Vienna's coach used a ten-player rotation saving starting five for next games. Swingman Zak Smrekar (201-2006) came up with 18 points and 4 assists and Oman Urban (198-1998, agency: PEPI SPORT) added 7 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for Krka in the defeat. BC Vienna will meet Borac in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Krka will play against Ilirija and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Vienna: R.Lovre 21+4reb+1ast, M.Rasid 19+8reb+5ast, H.Samuel 9+2reb+1ast, J.Simas 8+14reb+4ast, M.Ade 8+2reb+1ast, T.Cotton 7+1reb+2ast
Krka: S.Zak 18+2reb+4ast, B.Mahkovic 14+1reb+3ast, S.Mathon 11+6reb+1ast, O.Urban 7+8reb+4ast, L.Urbiha 6+2reb+1ast, L.Santelj 5+1reb+2ast

FMP BG - Mega BG 102-87

One of the most interesting games of round 1 was a derby match between two teams from Serbia. The game took place in Beograd where FMP BG won against visiting Mega BG 102-87. They outrebounded Mega BG 40-29 including 16 on the offensive glass. FMP BG looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. Swingman Filip Barna (201-1999) nailed 27 points and 5 assists (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field) for the winning side and guard Lazar Stefanovic (201-2002, college: UCLA) accounted for 15 points and 6 rebounds. Forward Bogoljub Markovic (210-2005) came up with 22 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists and guard Savo Drezgic (193-2006, college: Georgia) added 18 points and 6 assists respectively for Mega BG in the defeat. Five FMP BG and four Mega BG players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. FMP BG will meet Spartak in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Mega BG will play against Derby and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
FMP BG: B.Filip 27+4reb+5ast, E.Christyon 17+3reb+1ast, L.Stefanovic 15+6reb+3ast, S.Joshua 11+4reb+5ast, G.Nikola 10+7reb, D.Radosavljevic 6+3reb+7ast
Mega BG: M.Bogoljub 22+6reb+4ast, S.Drezgic 18+1reb+6ast, K.Urban 12+7reb+1ast, A.Djulovic 12+5reb+2ast, K.Luc 10+3ast, L.Suigo 9+5reb

Group Top 8

Crvena zvezda - Igokea 94-84

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Bosnian Igokea in Beograd. Visitors were defeated by Serbian Crvena zvezda 94-84. Crvena zvezda made 19-of-22 charity shots (86.4 percent) during the game. Crvena zvezda outrebounded Igokea 40-21 including a 29-16 advantage in defensive rebounds. Crvena zvezda players were unselfish on offense dishing 23 assists. Igokea was plagued by 24 personal fouls down the stretch. American guard Jared Butler (191-1999, college: Baylor) stepped up and scored 18 points and 4 assists for the winners and Nigerian-American Jordan Nwora (203-1998, college: Louisville) chipped in 11 points and 6 rebounds. Five Crvena zvezda players scored in double figures. At the losing side American guard Nate Pierre-Louis (193-1998, college: Temple) responded with 19 points and the other American import guard Ahmaad Rorie (186-1995, college: Montana) scored 11 points and 8 assists. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Crvena zvezda will play against Cluj Napoca on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Igokea will play against Buducnost in Podgorica and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Crvena zvezda: B.Jared 18+2reb+4ast, M.Stefan 13+3reb, O.Semi 13+5reb+1ast, M.Chima 11+4reb+1ast, N.Jordan 11+6reb+2ast, B.Joel 8+4reb+2ast
Igokea: N.Pierre-Louis 19+2reb+3ast, D.Milosavljevic 11+3reb+1ast, A.Rorie 11+1reb+8ast, V.Ilic 8+2reb, A.Lazic 8+2reb, S.Antunovic 6+2reb+1ast

Partizan - Buducnost 98-82

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams when Montenegrin Buducnost lost to Serbian Partizan in Beograd 82-98 on Sunday. Partizan looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. German forward Isaac Bonga (204-1999) nailed 13 points and 8 rebounds for the winning side and swingman Aleksa Radanov (201-1998) accounted for 13 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Four Partizan players scored in double figures. American point guard Yogi Ferrell (183-1993, college: Indiana) came up with 13 points and 6 assists and Nigerian-American Rasheed Sulaimon (194-1994, college: Maryland) added 14 points and 4 assists respectively for Buducnost in the defeat. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Partizan will meet Bosna in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Buducnost will play against Igokea and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Partizan: W.Duane 14+1ast, B.Sterling 14+1reb+5ast, B.Isaac 13+8reb+2ast, R.Aleksa 13+5reb+4ast, F.Bruno 12+5reb+2ast, C.Nick 9+2reb+7ast
Buducnost: A.Bouteille 14+2reb+2ast, R.Sulaimon 14+1reb+4ast, Y.Ferrell 13+3reb+6ast, N.Tanaskovic 9+3reb, J.Morgan 9+1reb+2ast, S.Mays 8+1reb+1ast

Dubai - Bosna S. 100-82

UAE Dubai defeated Bosnian Bosna at home 100-82. Dubai shot the lights out from three sinking 15 long-distance shots on high 51.7 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of Canadian center Mfiondu Kabengele (207-1997, college: FSU) who helped to win the game recording 21 points and 7 rebounds. American point guard McKinley Wright IV (182-1998, college: Colorado) contributed with 13 points and 8 assists for the winners. American Michael Young (206-1994, college: Pittsburgh) answered with 20 points and the other American import guard Dontay Caruthers (185-1995, college: Buffalo) added 10 points and 10 assists in the effort for Bosna. Four Dubai and five Bosna players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Bosna will play next round against strong Partizan trying to get back on the winning streak. Dubai will try to continue on its current victory against Cedevita Ol. in Ljubljana.
Top scorers:
Dubai: K.Mfiondu 21+7reb, M.Dzanan 15+2ast, W.McKinley 13+4reb+8ast, K.Kenan 11+7reb+1ast, B.Dwayne 10+1reb+2ast, A.Justin 9+1reb+4ast
Bosna S.: M.Young 20+3reb+1ast, P.Kovacevic 12+1reb+1ast, A.Plummer 11+3reb+1ast, E.Atic 11+3reb+3ast, M.Halilovic 10+5reb+3ast, D.Caruthers 10+2reb+10ast