Prva Liga Round 2 (Regular Season): Sibenka hands first loss to Zagreb

There were only 2 rounds played so far and it's still very beginning of the Regular Season in Prva Liga. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Zagreb in Sibenik on Sunday night. Visitors were defeated by Sibenka 79-74. Forward Fran Jacovic (199-1999) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 25 points and 11 rebounds. Forward Henrik Sirko (199-1993) contributed with 13 points and 4 assists for the winners. The former international forward Ivan Novacic (201-1985) replied with 34 points (!!!) and 6 rebounds for Zagreb. Sibenka is looking forward to face Crikvenica on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Zagreb's supporters also look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Zagreb Novi Zagreb.
Very important is a road loss of Hermes against Puntamika on Saturday night. Visiting Hermes were crushed by Puntamika in Zadar 84-60. Guard Mario Fantina (196-2000, college: CMU) scored 16 points and 7 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and Dominik Zelanto chipped in 12 points and 8 rebounds during the contest. Luka Ljubicic (200-1996) responded with 17 points and 7 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Puntamika will play against Djakovo on the road in the next round where they are favorite. Hermes will play against Gorica to get more than just one victory in their record.
A very close game took place in Zagreb between Novi Zagreb and Kastela. Novi Zagreb got a very close home victory over Kastela. Novi Zagreb managed to escape with a 3-point win 71-68 on Saturday evening. Host team only slightly avoided a big embarassment. Roko Zdrilic notched 12 points and 5 assists to lead the effort. Even a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds (on 10-of-12 shooting from the field) by Mario Delas did not help to save the game for Kastela. Novi Zagreb's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Zagreb to the arena Zagreb.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 2: Jazine beat Gorica on the road 104-95. Mladost ZG was destroyed by Radnik on its own court 75-105. Crikvenica managed to outperform Marsonia in a road game 72-68. Winless Omis recorded a loss to Djakovo at home 81-88.



Gorica - Jazine 95-104:
No shocking result in a game when Jazine beat Gorica in Velika Gorica 104-95 on Sunday. Jazine made 19-of-24 free shots (79.2 percent) during the game. Jazine outrebounded Gorica 39-26 including 27 on the defensive glass. Jazine looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Vito Porobic (198-2001, agency: AltusBasket) notched a double-double by scoring 20 points, 8 rebounds and 13 assists to lead the effort and power forward Viktor Saric (203-2001, agency: Octagon Europe) supported him with 26 points and 11 rebounds (on 11-of-14 shooting from the field). Even 36 points (!!!) by guard Borna Dramalija (185-2003) did not help to save the game for Gorica. Swingman Pavao Turic (191-2004) added 14 points, 8 rebounds and 11 assists for the hosts. Five Jazine and four Gorica players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Jazine will meet at home Mladost ZG in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Gorica will play against Hermes in Zagreb and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Gorica: D.Borna 36+1ast, T.Pavao 14+8reb+11ast, S.Kristijan 13+6reb+5ast, V.Kristijan 11+3reb+2ast, P.Ante 8+2reb+4ast, M.Crnogorac 5+4reb
Jazine: S.Viktor 26+11reb+1ast, P.Vito 20+8reb+13ast, G.Roko 20+6reb+6ast, B.Josip 15+5reb, O.Yaw 10+3reb, B.Frane 5+1reb+3ast

Mladost ZG - Radnik 75-105:
But Mladost ZG was not able to use a home court advantage and was smashed by the opponent from Krizevci 105-75 on Saturday night. Radnik forced 20 Mladost ZG turnovers and outrebounded them 35-24 including a 26-15 advantage in defensive rebounds. Radnik shot the lights out from three sinking 15 long-distance shots on high 51.7 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 35 assists comparing to just 18 passes made by Mladost ZG's players. Forward Luka Petranovic (195-2006) notched 28 points to lead the effort and power forward Dorian Jelenek (203-1995) supported him with 13 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Even a double-double of 10 points, 5 rebounds, 11 assists and 4 steals by guard Roko Graso (186-2008) did not help to save the game for Mladost ZG. Roni Seba (197-2007, agency: AltusBasket) added 16 points for the hosts. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Radnik will meet at home Marsonia in the next round where they are favorite. Mladost ZG will play against Jazine in Zadar and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Mladost ZG: R.Seba 16+1reb+1ast, E.Mesic 11+4reb, P.Ivan 11+3reb+1ast, G.Roko 10+5reb+11ast, J.Josip 7+4reb+1ast, V.Ante 5
Radnik: P.Luka 28+3reb, J.Brkic 15+6reb+2ast, L.Frzovic 13+3reb+1ast, J.Dorian 13+5reb+6ast, I.Svoboda 9+2reb+6ast, F.Guzvinec 7+2reb+2ast

Marsonia - Crikvenica 68-72:
Very predictable result when Crikvenica won against Marsonia in Slavonski Brod 72-68 on Saturday. Guard Luka Vucic (197-1999) notched 22 points and 6 rebounds to lead the effort and guard Fran Dosen (192-1999) supported him with 17 points and 8 rebounds. Even 26 points and 8 rebounds by Leon Sljivaric (204-2004, agency: AltusBasket) did not help to save the game for Marsonia. Center Ante Sustic (209-1997, college: Central Mo.) added 11 points and 11 rebounds for the hosts. Four Marsonia players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Crikvenica will meet at home Sibenka in the next round. Marsonia will play against Radnik in Krizevci and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Marsonia: L.Sljivaric 26+8reb+1ast, P.Cosic 13+2reb+7ast, A.Sustic 11+11reb, K.Vladovic 10+6reb+1ast, S.Luka 5, P.Sven 2
Crikvenica: L.Vucic 22+6reb+2ast, F.Dosen 17+8reb+2ast, D.Cvitkovic 11+7reb+1ast, L.Dosen 8+1reb+2ast, L.Jugovac 6+1reb+2ast, V.Smojver 4+5reb+4ast

Sibenka - Zagreb 79-74:
The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Zagreb in Sibenik on Sunday night. Visitors were defeated by Sibenka 79-74. Forward Fran Jacovic (199-1999) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 25 points and 11 rebounds. Forward Henrik Sirko (199-1993) contributed with 13 points and 4 assists for the winners. Four Sibenka players scored in double figures. The former international forward Ivan Novacic (201-1985) replied with 34 points (!!!) and 6 rebounds and guard Sime Lisica (190-1998) added 9 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists in the effort for Zagreb. Sibenka is looking forward to face Crikvenica on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Zagreb's supporters also look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Zagreb Novi Zagreb.
Top scorers:
Zagreb: I.Novacic 34+6reb+2ast, S.Lisica 9+7reb+5ast, M.Jukic 8+5reb+2ast, J.LeBlanc 8+6reb+1ast, K.Lebo 8+5reb, F.Bundovic 7+8reb+2ast
Sibenka: F.Jacovic 25+11reb+2ast, S.Henrik 13+4reb+4ast, M.Karlo 12+3reb+2ast, D.Marin 11+5reb+2ast, K.Gabriel 9+4reb+5ast, M.Hrvoje 4+8reb+2ast

Novi Zagreb - Kastela 71-68:
A very close game took place in Zagreb between Novi Zagreb and Kastela. Novi Zagreb got a very close home victory over Kastela. Novi Zagreb managed to escape with a 3-point win 71-68 on Saturday evening. Host team only slightly avoided a big embarassment. Novi Zagreb looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. Guard Roko Zdrilic (186-2006) notched 12 points and 5 assists to lead the effort and guard Jurica Zagorsak (203-2005, college: Ball St.) supported him with 15 points. Five Novi Zagreb players scored in double figures. Even a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds (on 10-of-12 shooting from the field) by the former international center Mario Delas (207-1990) did not help to save the game for Kastela. point guard Ivan Nazor (183-2002) added 16 points and 6 assists for the guests. Novi Zagreb's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Zagreb to the arena Zagreb.
Top scorers:
Kastela: M.Delas 20+10reb+2ast, N.Ivan 16+3reb+6ast, M.Salamunic 9+3reb+1ast, V.Josip 8+1reb+3ast, M.Petar 6+3reb, V.Marin 6+3reb+2ast
Novi Zagreb: Z.Jurica 15+3reb+1ast, R.Zdrilic 12+4reb+5ast, L.Roko 11+3reb+4ast, M.Vucic 10+5reb+3ast, L.Bilokapic 10+3reb+3ast, A.Madunic 5+1reb

Omis - Djakovo 81-88:
But Omis were not able to use a home court advantage and lost to the opponent from Djakovo 88-81 on Saturday night. Robert Kujundzic (202-1994) notched a double-double by scoring 25 points and 15 rebounds to lead the effort and forward Martin Vedris (-2000) supported him with 27 points. Four Djakovo players scored in double figures. Even 31 points and 6 rebounds by guard Lovre Tvrdic (196-2000, agency: Interperformances) did not help to save the game for Omis. American guard Shawn Summers (193-2001, college: GMC) added 23 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for the hosts. Djakovo will meet at home Puntamika in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Omis will play against Kastela in Kastela Sucurac and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Omis: L.Tvrdic 31+6reb, S.Summers 23+5reb+4ast, P.Saric 10+2reb, C.Tomislav 6+5reb+3ast, L.Kotrulja 5+4reb+1ast, C.Ante 4+7reb
Djakovo: M.Vedris 27+4reb+2ast, K.Robert 25+15reb+1ast, B.Vojedilov 11+9reb+6ast, B.Veljko 10+5reb+4ast, F.Filipovic 9+2reb+1ast, S.Hajdukovic 4+2reb+1ast

Puntamika - Hermes 84-60:
Very important is a road loss of Hermes against Puntamika on Saturday night. Visiting Hermes were crushed by Puntamika in Zadar 84-60. Guard Mario Fantina (196-2000, college: CMU) scored 16 points and 7 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and power forward Dominik Zelanto (203-2000, agency: Players Group) chipped in 12 points and 8 rebounds during the contest. Luka Ljubicic (200-1996) responded with 17 points and 7 rebounds and center Lovro Prkacin (204-2004) scored 14 points and 6 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Puntamika will play against Djakovo on the road in the next round where they are favorite. Hermes will play against Gorica to get more than just one victory in their record.
Top scorers:
Hermes: L.Ljubicic 17+7reb+1ast, P.Lovro 14+6reb+1ast, H.Domagoj 10+5reb+3ast, K.Lukacic 8+5reb+2ast, C.Tin 6+8reb+1ast, S.Timur 4+2reb+2ast
Puntamika: F.Mario 16+7reb+2ast, Z.Dominik 12+8reb+2ast, G.Karlo 12+1reb, P.Marko 11+3reb+1ast, G.Valenti 7+1reb+1ast, J.Marin 7+1reb+3ast