The coach of the Student Center did not fall into euphoria after the victory against Partizan in the first match of the playoffs.
The student center achieved sensational victory against Partizan in the “Aleksandar Nikolić” hall, with which he took the lead in the quarter-final series of the ABA playoffs. The team of the Slovenian coach Andrej Žakelj shockingly won the “match ball” to qualify for the semi-finals, and Partizan now has the task of returning the series in front of its fans in Belgrade.
The second game will be played on Thursday, and the people of Podgorica will not talk much about it on Monday, because they want to celebrate the biggest victory in the club’s history.
“Everything is still very fresh… I have to congratulate the guys. We played the last game a month ago as far as the ABA League is concerned, and it was not easy to maintain focus and training during this period. As I mention in almost every game, these guys have character and that saves them. The lack of quality they put in the fight, the desire to win and that is the great quality of this team. We are doing a lot, you can see progress in the two years since I have been here. I am very satisfied. Making it to the playoffs was a big reward, and this one is even biggerŽakelj said at the press conference.
“I congratulate Partizan for the Euroleague season, but also to my boys, they gave every atom of strength and it was seen especially in the jump, we came very close and this was the main thing that went in our favor. Today we celebrate a little and tomorrow in the hall. The second game awaits us and there is no relaxation. This match is great for the fans, the people who were in the hall, the incredible crowd. But it’s the first match and we’re going to the gym, to be just as engaged and energetic“, he added.
The Slovenian was also questioned about the decision for his team to play zone defense in the end.
“I assumed… We had problems in two or three attacks in a row with a low post, they attacked us when there was a ‘mismech’. I decided to play zone defense, some variant of the ‘matchup’ just because of that, to leave two tall ones under the basket due to the jump and in the end it paid off“.
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