Buducnost Voli secured a convincing victory against Ilirija with a score of 86-66 during their match in Ljubljana. This win marks a strong preparation for Buducnost’s upcoming Eurocup game against Trento on December 22, 2023. The team from Podgorica celebrated their seventh win in the ABA League, showing marked improvement over their previous encounter with Ilirija, which they won by just six points.
The match, held at the Tivoli Hall, showcased Buducnost’s exceptional defensive play. Coach Andrej Zakelj utilized all twelve players on his roster, with the exception of Skaylar Mayes, who did not score. The loss left Ilirija with two wins and seven defeats in Group B of the league.
Buducnost established an early lead, allowing only four points in the first half of the opening quarter. With a significant performance, they built an early advantage of eight points (12-4). Following a three-pointer from Ilirija’s Kures, Buducnost responded with a 9-0 run capped by a fast break from Đorđije Jovanovic, extending their lead to as much as 14 points (21-7). Although Ilirija improved their scoring efficiency towards the end of the quarter, Buducnost concluded the first ten minutes with a 23-15 lead.
As the game progressed, Buducnost maintained their shooting accuracy, hitting 12 two-pointers against Ilirija’s eight. Despite Ilirija having a rebounding edge, particularly in offensive rebounds, Buducnost excelled in assists and steals, further solidifying their control over the game.
In the second quarter, Buducnost’s lead remained in double digits. Coach Zakelj called two timeouts to refocus his team after Ilirija managed to close the gap. The largest lead of the first half came with a three-pointer from Nikola Tanaskovic just before halftime, bringing the score to 43-29.
As the second half began, Buducnost continued to control the pace of the game, reaching a 20-point advantage (51-31) early in the third quarter. Although Ilirija managed to reduce the deficit to 12 points at one stage, Buducnost responded effectively, ending the third quarter with a significant lead of 65-47.
With a decisive 14-3 scoring run, Buducnost reached their largest margin of the match at 79-50 with just under six minutes remaining. They later eased off the gas, allowing Ilirija to slightly reduce the final scoreline, but the outcome was never in doubt.
In terms of individual performances, Buducnost’s notable contributors included Oleksandr Kovlijar with 12 points and Jogi Ferel with 11 points. Other key players included Džuvan Morgan, Džeri Butsijel, and Tanaskovic, who each scored nine points. On the opposing side, Edo Murić led Ilirija with 19 points.
Looking ahead, Buducnost will host Beč in their next matchup of the ABA League, aiming to continue their strong form following this impressive victory.
