Cibona is the new champion of Croatia! In a long and tense match, seasoned by the great atmosphere of Kreša’s hall, the Cibona players created a sensation by which they silenced the home stands, broke Zadar’s dominance and won the 21st national championship title. On the other hand, Zadar played a performance unworthy of a team that is a three-time national champion, unworthy of nine thousand fans in the stands.
The final of the Croatian basketball championship came down to one game, in 40 minutes of masterwork. Masters who played in the phenomenal backdrop of Krešimir Ćosić’s hall, which organized a real basketball festival. More than nine thousand fans cheered on Zadar against their eternal rival – Cibona from Zagreb. Even before the match, one thing was clear – the stands will play every defense and every attack with the Zadar players. The stands, which were white, filled to capacity, and the song never left his lips. The match opened with spectacular choreography, and the fans painted Kreša’s hall blue and white.
As in the previous four games of the final series, Cibona led with points from Markus Lončar. After two and a half minutes, Vladimir Mihailović put Zadar on the scoreboard, who later scored a three-pointer for the home team’s first lead (5:3). And the rest of the match was usual. We watched hard and solid basketball, with tensions and a “sea” of fouls, while both teams used the bonus after less than five minutes. There was a fight and there was insulting, just as the visiting strategist Ivan Rudež wanted! Of course, everything in a moderate and relatively sporting framework, both on the field and in the stands.
Home coach Danijel Jusup rotated the standard eight players, but more, more often and fiercer than usual, wanting to preserve the intensity of the game. The people of Zadar imposed their own tempo, briefly sailing to a double-digit advantage (20:10) through Lovra Mazalin, but then a counter-rhythm followed. Two reasons had a hand in this – the first was the “Juga” stand, which every now and then threw pieces of choreography onto the floor, so there were constant short breaks. But the second reason was much more dangerous – already in the 13th minute, Mihailović earned a third foul, so Zadar’s best player played only seven minutes in the first half. The defending champions are simply not the same team without him, which was taken advantage of by Cibos, who went to the big break with a decent six points behind (36:30).
The Cibona players played a great defense, and Zadar managed to preserve the lead only thanks to Borna Kapusta, who connected the lines to some extent and a very good offensive jump. But the hand was stiff, too hard considering the atmosphere that carried them.
In the remaining 20 minutes, which decided the champion, Zadrani ran a bit more decisively, and Karlo Žganec made two free throws for the biggest ever +11 (41:30). However, the hand still did not listen, and Cibona was tough and did not give up. Simply, the team from Zagreb had more motivated players, Justin Roberson played, and Renato Serdarušić scored a three-pointer for only -1 (48:47). Local players lined up on the lively American Cibona, but no one managed to “lock” him, and he played around and was the author of the tie (55:55), which was entered in the last 10 minutes. And there right at the start, after a long time, Serdarušić returned the lead to the “Wolves” (57:55).
Apart from Roberson doing what he wanted, Zadar had no idea how to attack. The shot was completely missed, and only Mihailović delivered his, along with Kapusta, who still had three fouls.
The solid play of the guests often sent the hosts to the free throw line, but they did not take advantage of that either. Jusup’s troops were under some blockade. This is also confirmed by the fact that at Cibona, as many as 10 players registered as scorers, and at Zadar, only six. And so, while the game was coming to an end, the visitors burst into flames, taking over the rebound and Žan Mark Šiško scored a three-pointer three minutes before the end for a big +7 (76:69). And Cibona already had one hand on the trophy.
Mihailović extended Zadar’s hope with a layup for -3 (76:73), but after a foul on Jan Palokaj, who left the game due to wrist pain, Vigo Bart came in to replace him, who hit both shots and put Cibona’s other hand on the prestigious trophy. Zadar ended the season without a trophy, and Cibona returned to the throne!
