In a commanding performance, Buducnost Voli defeated Ilirija 86-66 in Ljubljana, securing their seventh victory in the ABA League. This win serves as a strong lead-in for their upcoming Eurocup match against Trento on December 22, 2023. The Montenegrin team showcased a solid defensive game, marking a notable improvement from their earlier encounter this season, where they won by a narrower margin of 84-78.
Buducnost’s head coach, Andrej Zakelj, utilized his entire roster of 12 players, with only Skylar Mays failing to score. This strategy highlighted the team’s depth and adaptability, which will be crucial as they prepare for the challenges ahead in European competition.
Strong Start and Defensive Dominance
The game began with Buducnost establishing an early lead, allowing Ilirija to score just four points in the first half of the opening quarter. With Boban Marjanovic, a former NBA player, reinforcing the Ilirija lineup, the home team struggled to find its rhythm. Buducnost quickly capitalized, jumping to a 12-4 advantage within the first four minutes. Despite a brief response from Ilirija, Buducnost ended the quarter ahead 23-15, thanks to a late surge.
Buducnost maintained their momentum into the second quarter, with Zoran Nikolic expanding the lead to double digits. Zakelj took two timeouts in the first half, demonstrating his commitment to keeping his players focused. The team reached a maximum lead of 17 points before heading into halftime with a comfortable 14-point cushion, 43-29.
The statistics reflected Buducnost’s dominance, as they outperformed Ilirija in field goal percentage, shooting 68.8% for two-point attempts compared to Ilirija’s 23.8%. The visitors also recorded more assists and steals, showcasing a well-rounded team effort.
Second Half Control and Key Contributions
In the second half, Buducnost continued to control the game with strategic plays and effective defense. After a strong start in the third quarter, they extended their lead to 20 points at 51-31. Although Ilirija managed to reduce the deficit, Buducnost remained composed, ending the quarter with an 18-point advantage at 65-47.
A standout moment came when Buducnost executed a 14-3 run, culminating in a three-pointer from Aksel Butej. This surge marked the largest lead of the game at 79-50 with just over five minutes left on the clock. While Ilirija improved in rebounding by the game’s conclusion, Buducnost’s earlier efforts proved decisive.
For Buducnost, Oleksandr Kovlijar led the scoring with 12 points, while Jogi Ferel added 11. Other notable contributions came from Džuvan Morgan, Džeri Butsijel, and Nikola Tanaskovic, each scoring nine points. Ilirija’s top performers included Edo Muric with 19 points and Vendel Džerom Grin with 14.
Buducnost’s upcoming match against Bec on December 22 is highly anticipated as they look to build on this momentum and solidify their position in both the ABA League and the Eurocup.
