In Dubai, scattered Olympia had a surprise at the fingertips
Ceditet Olympia basketball players had a big victory in the United Arab Emirates on the tray, but could not grip it. Despite the unprecedented performance, far from Friday from Stožice, they managed to keep a connection with Dubai, which eventually celebrated with 85:76. The defeat for the end of the regional season is far from the tragic, and some bitter taste remains due to missed opportunities.
Full of Elan after Friday’s victory before their fans, Olympia basketball players went on a 10 -hour journey to Dubai, where they did not even get a broken bus in a bad mood. They were determined to prepare a new surprise and get a semi -final duel with a partisan, and after the scattered game, they are finishing in the quarterfinals for the second season in a row in the ABA league.
The beginning indicated that this would not be the evening of the people of Ljubljana. They should not be blamed for energy, no approach, but you just can’t beat such a quality competitor with the magazine unforced mistakes. The ball bounced off their feet, the jumps were rolled out of their hands, and well before the end of the first half, they had already reached 11 balls – so many of them had all over Friday’s showdown.
Dubai basketball players also did not play a quality meeting, but were good enough to win. Photo: ABA
The dragons were rescued by Dubai, who did not take advantage of many donated attacks, several times he had the opportunity to knock, but they are basketball players Jurice Golemca Each time the people of Ljubljana were dropped back into the game. Who knows what it would be like to have at least some mood player in throwing from distance if captain Jaka Blažič would not miss two « zicers » under the basket, or if to put Devin Robinson I wouldn’t completely fail in the attack.
Judge Troika Z Ilija Bjelosevic She maintained a strict criterion at the forehead, and the free throws were maintained by Olympia to a lag of about 10 points, which still allowed a touch of hope for a turnaround. Troika from nine meters Davis Bertant For 68:55, at the beginning of the last quarter, she had not yet broken the resistance of the dragons, on the edge of the precipice they clicked on the last lifeline and tried to save them in the rocket, which they failed with triples. Above all, Olympia grew in defense. At 71:64 a good four minutes before the end of the match, they had two attacks and two open attempts for three, which would approach just four points behind, but did not want the ball through the ring.
The judicial criterion again provided some raised eyebrows on both sides, but in the end the key was not affected. Photo: Cedevita Olympia
The last fragment of hope was shattered by the basket NATO MASONA A good two minutes before the end, with which Dubai escaped at +10 again. In action before Brynton Lemarotherwise one of the best free throw contractors at Olympia, did not hit once in two attempts. With a basket of home captain Klemen Quail The match was over 100 seconds before the end, it was difficult to get rid of the feeling that the people of Ljubljana would not celebrate today, even if they played a whole half time.
The statistics also affirm Dubai’s superiority: Olympia is only 37 % from the game, lost 15 balls and missed ten free throws, and for a surprise, it should be almost impeccable in the basic basketball elements. The regional season has expired for the Dragons, can be labeled solid, the minimum goal was fulfilled by qualifying for the playoffs, especially the unfortunate first quarterfinal match and the below -average performance at the third professional staff offers enough starting points for summer work.
Dubai – Cedevita Olympia 85:76 (23:15, 20:18, 22:22, 20:21)
Mason 18, Abass 17, Quail and Bertans 12; Tastic and Lemar 14, Nikolic 13, Stewart 12.
