Liga OTP banka Round 23 of Regular Season

The games at this stage are more interesting as they can be crucial for the final standings in Regular Season. Despite we already know who is stronger and who is weaker, there may be still last minute surprises and upsets. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Round 23 most important game was a victory of Zlatorog over 6th ranked Sentjur 65-64 on Saturday night. 25 personal fouls committed by Sentjur helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. American point guard Nigel Scantlebury (183-2000, college: CCSU) saved the victory by scoring 20 points and 6 assists. Alen Zulic (192-2004) contributed with 8 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists for the winners. The former international Luka Lapornik (195-1988, agency: PEPI SPORT) answered with 19 points and 7 rebounds for Sentjur. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Zlatorog (9-14) moved-up to sixth place. Sentjur at the other side dropped to the seventh position with 15 games lost. They share it with Hopsi Polzela and Rogaska. Zlatorog are looking forward to face bottom-ranked Terme Olimia (#10) in Podcetrtek in the next round. Sentjur will play at home against the league's leader Krka and is hoping to win this game.
An interesting game for Krka (22-1) which played road game in Kranj against 3rd placed Sencur Gor. (15-8). First ranked Krka had an easy win 86-66. It ended at the same time the seven-game winning streak of Sencur Gor.. It was a great evening for American point guard Khalil Brantley (185-2001, college: OK State, agency: Octagon Europe) who led his team to a victory scoring 19 points and 4 assists. Kriss Helmanis helped adding 13 points and 6 rebounds. point guard Jan Novak (193-1995) responded with 15 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Krka have an impressive series of eleven victories in a row. They maintain first place with 22-1 record. Sencur Gor. at the other side keeps the third position with eight games lost. Krka will play against Sentjur (#8) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Sencur Gor. will play against Hopsi Polzela (#7) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
An interesting game was also surprising home defeat of 4th ranked Helios Suns in a game in Domzale versus Hopsi Polzela (#8) 75-71. It was an exceptional evening for Ziga Fifolt who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 10 points and 17 rebounds. Jan Zemljic came up with 16 points and 5 rebounds for Helios Suns in the defeat. Hopsi Polzela (8-15) moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Sentjur and Rogaska. Loser Helios Suns keep the fourth position with ten games lost. Hopsi Polzela will meet higher ranked Sencur Gor. (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Helios Suns will play against the league's second-placed Ilirija and will have a slim chance for a victory.

In the last two games of round 23 Triglav was beaten by Ilirija on the road 98-91. Rogaska destroyed Terme Olimia on its own court 106-73.



Helios Suns - Hopsi Polzela 71-75

An interesting game was also surprising home defeat of 4th ranked Helios Suns in a game in Domzale versus Hopsi Polzela (#8) 75-71. Hopsi Polzela made 18-of-23 free shots (78.3 percent) during the game. It was an exceptional evening for center Ziga Fifolt (210-1993) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 10 points and 17 rebounds. The former international power forward Dino Muric (201-1990) accounted for 20 points and 8 rebounds for the winning side. Four Hopsi Polzela players scored in double figures. point guard Jan Zemljic (192-2004) came up with 16 points and 5 rebounds and Mark Mahmutovic (197-2007) added 13 points, 6 assists and 4 steals respectively for Helios Suns in the defeat. Hopsi Polzela (8-15) moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Sentjur and Rogaska. Loser Helios Suns keep the fourth position with ten games lost. Hopsi Polzela will meet higher ranked Sencur Gor. (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Helios Suns will play against the league's second-placed Ilirija and will have a slim chance for a victory.
Top scorers:
Hopsi Polzela: M.Dino 20+8reb, H.Kameron 16+4reb+1ast, F.Ziga 10+17reb+2ast, V.Miha 10+3reb+1ast, D.Vujasinovic 7+4ast, U.Nik 6+4reb
Helios Suns: J.Zemljic 16+5reb+2ast, M.Mahmutovic 13+2reb+6ast, C.Dorsey 10+1reb+1ast, A.Malovcic 8+5reb+7ast, L.Ian 7+2reb+2ast, D.Jon 7+4reb+3ast

Ilirija - Triglav 98-91

No shocking result in a game when second ranked Ilirija (18-5) beat 5th ranked Triglav (10-13) in Ljubljana 98-91 on Thursday. Ilirija made 30-of-32 free shots (93.8 percent) during the game. It was an exceptional evening for the former international forward Tim Tomazic (199-1999) who led the winners and scored 17 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists. International guard Mark Padjen (196-2006) accounted for 19 points (was perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line) for the winning side. Naturalized Belgian forward David Kralj (202-1999, college: Coastal, agency: Players Group) came up with 21 points and center Uros Sikanic (201-2001, agency: Players Group) added 16 points and 5 rebounds respectively for Triglav in the defeat. Five Ilirija and four Triglav players scored in double figures. The victory was the sixth consecutive win for Ilirija. They maintain second place with 18-5 record having four points less than leader Krka. Triglav lost their fourth game in a row. They keep the fifth position with 13 games lost. Ilirija will meet at home Helios Suns (#4) in the next round. Triglav will play against Rogaska in Rogaska Slatina and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Ilirija: M.Padjen 19+2reb+2ast, T.Tomazic 17+6reb+9ast, G.Wendell 15+2reb+5ast, P.Petar 14+2reb, J.Robert 13+8reb+1ast, K.Luka 8+1reb+1ast
Triglav: D.Kralj 21+4reb+3ast, U.Sikanic 16+5reb+2ast, C.Crt 14+1reb, N.Klavzar 13+3reb+3ast, M.Miha 12+6reb+1ast, A.Orel 7+2reb+1ast

Rogaska - Terme Olimia 106-73

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 10th ranked Terme Olimia's (4-19) road loss to ninth ranked Rogaska (8-15) in Rogaska Slatina 73-106 on Monday. Rogaska shot the lights out from three sinking 16 long-distance shots on high 55.2 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. It was an exceptional evening for Tadej Colnaric (202-2005) who led the winners and scored 9 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. Canadian Yaw Obeng-Mensah (202-2000, college: Niagara) accounted for 14 points and 6 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) for the winning side. Naturalized Bosnian forward Simo Atanackovic (207-1990) came up with 6 points and 16 rebounds and forward Luka Tekavcic (211-2002, college: Coppin St., agency: PEPI SPORT) added 14 points respectively for Terme Olimia in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Rogaska moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Hopsi Polzela and Sentjur. Terme Olimia lost their eighth game in a row. They stay at the bottom position with 19 games lost. Rogaska will meet at home higher ranked Triglav (#5) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Terme Olimia will play against Zlatorog (#6) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Rogaska: C.Ankit 19+1reb+1ast, O.Yaw 14+6reb+2ast, C.Nick 14+2reb+1ast, J.Ronald 13+4reb+2ast, F.Tadej 12+1reb+3ast, C.Tadej 9+10reb+5ast
Terme Olimia: P.Rok 16+1reb, L.Tekavcic 14+3reb+3ast, D.Bostick 14+4ast, G.Tribble 9+3reb+2ast, S.Atanackovic 6+16reb+3ast, S.Ziga 5+4reb+1ast

Sencur Gor. - Krka 66-86

An interesting game for Krka (22-1) which played road game in Kranj against 3rd placed Sencur Gor. (15-8). First ranked Krka had an easy win 86-66. It ended at the same time the seven-game winning streak of Sencur Gor.. Krka made 18-of-20 charity shots (90.0 percent) during the game. They also forced 23 Sencur Gor. turnovers. Krka players were unselfish on offense dishing 26 assists. It was a great evening for American point guard Khalil Brantley (185-2001, college: OK State, agency: Octagon Europe) who led his team to a victory scoring 19 points and 4 assists. Latvian Kriss Helmanis (209-2002) helped adding 13 points and 6 rebounds. point guard Jan Novak (193-1995) responded with 15 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists and American guard Brandon Murray (196-2002, college: McNeese St.) scored 12 points and 4 assists. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Krka have an impressive series of eleven victories in a row. They maintain first place with 22-1 record. Sencur Gor. at the other side keeps the third position with eight games lost. Krka will play against Sentjur (#8) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Sencur Gor. will play against Hopsi Polzela (#7) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Krka: B.Khalil 19+3reb+4ast, H.Kriss 13+6reb+1ast, Z.Smrekar 11+2ast, S.Leon 10+2reb, M.Blaz 9+2reb+5ast, R.Jan 8+3ast
Sencur Gor.: J.Novak 15+6reb+7ast, B.Murray 12+4reb+4ast, A.Frane 10+5reb, N.Frelih 7+3reb, P.Domen 6+6reb+4ast, B.Lovro 6+2reb+3ast

Sentjur - Zlatorog 64-65

Round 23 most important game was a victory of Zlatorog over 6th ranked Sentjur 65-64 on Saturday night. 25 personal fouls committed by Sentjur helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. American point guard Nigel Scantlebury (183-2000, college: CCSU) saved the victory by scoring 20 points and 6 assists. Alen Zulic (192-2004) contributed with 8 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists for the winners. The former international Luka Lapornik (195-1988, agency: PEPI SPORT) answered with 19 points and 7 rebounds and the former international Urban Durnik (204-1997) added 10 points and 13 rebounds in the effort for Sentjur. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Zlatorog (9-14) moved-up to sixth place. Sentjur at the other side dropped to the seventh position with 15 games lost. They share it with Hopsi Polzela and Rogaska. Zlatorog are looking forward to face bottom-ranked Terme Olimia (#10) in Podcetrtek in the next round. Sentjur will play at home against the league's leader Krka and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Zlatorog: S.Nigel 20+1reb+6ast, H.Filip 11+8reb+1ast, P.Taij 8+2reb, A.Zulic 8+6reb+8ast, P.Timon 7+8reb, K.Emir 6+5reb
Sentjur: L.Lapornik 19+7reb+1ast, P.Jure 14+3reb+4ast, U.Durnik 10+13reb+3ast, M.Domen 7+3reb+2ast, N.Belko 6+2reb+3ast, J.Span 3+2reb+2ast