Premijer Liga Round 6 (Regular Season): Cibona defeats Split in the game between Top 4 teams

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

An interesting game for Cibona (6-0) which played road game in Split against 3rd ranked Split (4-2). Top-ranked Cibona managed to get a 12-point victory 93-81. Cibona outrebounded Split 47-25 including a 31-18 advantage in defensive rebounds. Cibona looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. It was a good game for American guard Rickey McGill (188-1997, college: Iona) who led his team to a victory with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists. International forward Antonio Sikiric (201-2003) contributed with 18 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Cibona's coach Ivan Rudez used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Guard Vito Kucic (190-2002) replied with 19 points and 4 assists for Split. Undefeated Cibona have an impressive six-game winning streak. Defending champion keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Zadar. Split at the other side keeps the third place with two games lost. They share the position with Kvarner and Dinamo. Cibona's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Zagreb Dinamo.
Samobor's fans can finally celebrate the first win of their team after five consecutive losses. The victory is especially important as it came on the road game in Zagreb, where they defeated Virtus ZG (3-3) 97-89. American power forward Brandon Garrett (206-1990, college: Murray St.) had a double-double by scoring 15 points and 11 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) to lead the charge for the winners and Borna Kapusta chipped in 14 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists during the contest. Samobor's coach Petar Babic allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. The best for the losing side was the former international Mate Kalajzic (189-1998) with 18 points and 5 rebounds. Samobor (1-5) left bottom position moving up to tenth place, which they share with Alkar. Virtus ZG at the other side dropped to the sixth position with three games lost. They share it with Skrljevo. Samobor will play against higher ranked Split (#4) at home in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Virtus ZG will play against Skrljevo and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Bottom-ranked Dubrava is still unable to win any game. This time they lost on the road their sixth consecutive match to seventh ranked Kvarner (4-2) 95-81 on Saturday evening. Luka Krajnovic notched 27 points and 7 rebounds to lead the effort. Even 23 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists by Pavao Paic did not help to save the game for Dubrava. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Kvarner have a solid four-game winning streak. They moved-up to third place, which they share with Split and Dinamo. Loser Dubrava still closes the standings with six games lost. Kvarner will meet league's second-placed Zadar on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Dubrava will play against Zabok (#9) and hopes to get finally their first victory.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 6: Skrljevo was beaten by Zabok on the road 84-68. Dinamo won against Alkar on its own court 85-75. Zadar outscored Dubrovnik in a road game 105-71.



Zabok - Skrljevo 84-68:
There was a small surprise when ninth ranked Zabok (2-4) beat at home 6th ranked Skrljevo (3-3) 84-68 on Saturday. Guard Petar Ogrizovic (182-1999, agency: Players Group) notched 22 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists to lead the effort and guard Emir Sabic (190-1996, college: Lyon, agency: Players Group) supported him with 19 points and 6 assists. Zabok's coach Damir Milacic used a ten-player rotation and allowed the starting five to rest. Even 17 points and 7 rebounds by forward Davor Konjevic (197-1990, agency: Octagon Europe) did not help to save the game for Skrljevo. Forward Patrik Jambrovic (202-1996) added 9 points and 9 rebounds. Four Skrljevo players scored in double figures. Zabok moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Dubrovnik. Newly promoted Skrljevo keeps the sixth position with three games lost. They share it with Virtus ZG. Zabok will meet bottom-ranked Dubrava (#12) in the next round. Skrljevo will play against Virtus ZG (#7) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Zabok: O.Petar 22+5reb+5ast, S.Emir 19+3reb+6ast, C.Dino 18+6reb+1ast, D.Malcolm 8+4reb+1ast, B.Luka 6+6reb+1ast, A.Crnjevic 5+3reb+3ast
Skrljevo: D.Konjevic 17+7reb+2ast, L.Anzulovic 13+1ast, A.Robertson 10+2reb, B.Nsiah 10+6reb+1ast, P.Jambrovic 9+9reb, L.Mrsic 5+3reb+1ast

Virtus ZG - Samobor 89-97:
Samobor's fans can finally celebrate the first win of their team after five consecutive losses. The victory is especially important as it came on the road game in Zagreb, where they defeated Virtus ZG (3-3) 97-89. Samobor made 16-of-17 charity shots (94.1 percent) during the game. Samobor outrebounded Virtus ZG 34-23 including 25 on the defensive glass. American power forward Brandon Garrett (206-1990, college: Murray St.) had a double-double by scoring 15 points and 11 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) to lead the charge for the winners and international point guard Borna Kapusta (182-1996) chipped in 14 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists during the contest. Samobor's coach Petar Babic allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. The best for the losing side was the former international Mate Kalajzic (189-1998) with 18 points and 5 rebounds and forward Luksa Buljevic (199-2002) scored 19 points. Four Samobor and five Virtus ZG players scored in double figures. Samobor (1-5) left bottom position moving up to tenth place, which they share with Alkar. Virtus ZG at the other side dropped to the sixth position with three games lost. They share it with Skrljevo. Samobor will play against higher ranked Split (#4) at home in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Virtus ZG will play against Skrljevo and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Samobor: M.Qadir 19+2reb+1ast, M.Jakov 16+2reb+3ast, G.Brandon 15+11reb+1ast, K.Borna 14+5reb+5ast, B.Mislav 9+5reb, B.Glen 9+3reb+3ast
Virtus ZG: L.Buljevic 19+3reb+2ast, M.Kalajzic 18+5reb+3ast, F.Kruslin 14+2reb+5ast, F.Paponja 11+2reb+5ast, D.Subasic 11+2reb+1ast, L.Pesic 8+3reb

Split - Cibona 81-93:
An interesting game for Cibona (6-0) which played road game in Split against 3rd ranked Split (4-2). Top-ranked Cibona managed to get a 12-point victory 93-81. Cibona outrebounded Split 47-25 including a 31-18 advantage in defensive rebounds. Cibona looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. It was a good game for American guard Rickey McGill (188-1997, college: Iona) who led his team to a victory with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists. International forward Antonio Sikiric (201-2003) contributed with 18 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Four Cibona players scored in double figures. Cibona's coach Ivan Rudez used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Guard Vito Kucic (190-2002) replied with 19 points and 4 assists and American guard Nick Johnson (191-1992, college: Arizona) added 16 points and 5 assists in the effort for Split. Cibona have an impressive six-game winning streak. Defending champion keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Zadar. Split at the other side keeps the third place with two games lost. They share the position with Kvarner and Dinamo. Cibona's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Zagreb Dinamo.
Top scorers:
Cibona: B.Roko 20+2reb+3ast, S.Antonio 18+7reb+2ast, M.Rickey 15+7reb+9ast, H.Kamaka 13+7reb+2ast, S.Renato 7+7reb+1ast, M.Tre 7+7reb+2ast
Split: V.Kucic 19+3reb+4ast, N.Johnson 16+3reb+5ast, D.Bajo 14+7reb, T.McLaughlin 8+2reb+3ast, M.Kacinas 8+2reb+1ast, L.Runjic 7+2ast

Dinamo - Alkar 85-75:
Rather expected game when 9th ranked Alkar (1-5) lost to seventh ranked Dinamo (4-2) in Zagreb 75-85 on Friday. American guard Taye Donald (188-2002, college: Seward County, agency: Players Group) notched 21 points and 6 assists to lead the effort and swingman Filip Bjelanovic (200-2002) supported him with 19 points and 4 assists. Even 16 points and 8 rebounds by forward Ante Brzovic (208-2000, college: Charleston) did not help to save the game for Alkar. Fabian Sisko (200-2003, agency: AltusBasket) added 15 points and 4 assists. Four Alkar players scored in double figures. Alkar's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Dinamo moved-up to third place, which they share with Split and Kvarner. Alkar lost fourth consecutive game. They dropped to the tenth position with five games lost. They share it with Samobor. Dinamo's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Zagreb to the arena Cibona.
Top scorers:
Dinamo: D.Taye 21+4reb+6ast, A.Luke 20+4reb+2ast, B.Filip 19+4reb+4ast, R.Matej 9+3reb, A.Frane 8+8reb, A.Matic 4+1reb+1ast
Alkar: A.Brzovic 16+8reb+2ast, F.Sisko 15+4reb+4ast, J.Mirko 13+3reb+1ast, T.Burden 11+2reb+6ast, P.Marcinkovic 7+6reb+1ast, E.Domazet 7

Dubrovnik - Zadar 71-105:
Very predictable result when top-ranked Zadar (6-0) rolled over on the road 8th ranked Dubrovnik (2-4) 105-71 on Friday. Zadar made 23-of-26 free shots (88.5 percent) during the game. They shot the lights out from three sinking 14 long-distance shots on high 51.9 percentage. Zadar looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. American forward Mark Ogden (206-1994, college: Utah Tech) notched 15 points (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field) to lead the effort and forward Krsevan Klarica (200-2003) supported him with 16 points. Four Zadar players scored in double figures. Even 17 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists by Petar Dubelj (196-1997, agency: Players Group) did not help to save the game for Dubrovnik. North Macedonian point guard Viktor Tashovski (182-2001) added 19 points. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Zadar have an impressive six-game winning streak. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Cibona. Loser Dubrovnik keeps the eighth place with four games lost. They share the position with Zabok. Zadar will meet at home Kvarner (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Dubrovnik will play against Alkar (#10) in Sinj and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Zadar: K.Krsevan 16+3reb+1ast, O.Mark 15+3reb+2ast, W.Ross 13+2reb+3ast, B.Luka 12+2reb+5ast, V.Ivan 11+2reb+1ast, M.Andro 10+3reb+3ast
Dubrovnik: V.Tashovski 19+1reb+3ast, P.Dubelj 17+6reb+6ast, M.Loncovic 15+4reb, L.Francesevic 6+2reb+1ast, J.Toni 5+3reb+1ast, F.Vujicic 5+6reb+1ast

Kvarner - Dubrava 95-81:
Bottom-ranked Dubrava is still unable to win any game. This time they lost on the road their sixth consecutive match to seventh ranked Kvarner (4-2) 95-81 on Saturday evening. Kvarner shot the lights out from three sinking 15 long-distance shots on high 51.7 percentage. The former international Luka Krajnovic (196-2004, college: Gonzaga) notched 27 points and 7 rebounds to lead the effort and point guard Lovre Basic (185-1995, agency: BIG) supported him with 19 points and 8 assists. Four Kvarner players scored in double figures. Even 23 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists by power forward Pavao Paic (205-1998) did not help to save the game for Dubrava. ex-international Karlo Uljarevic (190-1998, agency: AltusBasket) added 23 points, 5 assists and 4 steals (went 8 for 8 at the free throw line). Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Kvarner have a solid four-game winning streak. They moved-up to third place, which they share with Split and Dinamo. Loser Dubrava still closes the standings with six games lost. Kvarner will meet league's second-placed Zadar on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Dubrava will play against Zabok (#9) and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Kvarner: K.Luka 27+7reb+2ast, B.Lovre 19+3reb+8ast, B.Marko 17+8reb+1ast, B.Josip 11+5reb+6ast, J.Martin 5+4reb, L.Matej 5+3reb+1ast
Dubrava: P.Paic 23+6reb+4ast, K.Uljarevic 23+4reb+5ast, K.Karahodzic 8+2reb+1ast, M.Klepo 8+1reb+1ast, M.Perkovic 8+8reb, L.Dixon 5+6reb+1ast