Cibona finished the year 2005 with a home win in a dramatic match against big rival Partizan. Game was delayed for 45 minutes (referees were late) but that didn’t stop home players from demonstrating big desire and fighting spirit that clinched the 76:73 win. Little more luck and slightly biased refereeing in the very end of the match didn’t hurt either...
Guests had 62:67 lead six and a half minutes before the end but they turned to zone defense at that point. Cibona’s coach Drazen Anzulovic sent shorter lineup on the floor and Damir Rancic and Scoonie Penn responded with three-pointers. Important shots were also made by Damir Markota who also did great defensive job on Dejan Milojevic (failed to score from the field in the second half).
Dramatic ending began with Brown’s three-pointer for 72:73 only 1:40 before the end. In the next Cibona’s offense Markota answered to bring 74:73 lead to his team. In the last 40 seconds Partizan had two offenses. First Suput missed the shot and after him 4.4 seconds before the end referees called doubtful traveling to Tripkovic when he was just getting ready to attempt three-pointer shot.
“We got used to this,” Partizan coach Dusan Vujosevic said to Croatian sports writers after the match. “I’m not nationalist and I respect you writers but don’t write that Partizan is protected in Goodyear league.”
Partizan had one last chance to take the game into overtime after Kus scored both free-throws but Tripkovic’s attempt at the buzzer from 10 meters was too strong.
“We decided to defend last two offenses,” Anzulovic explained why we hadn’t seen Cibona’s players committing foul in the last seconds of the match. “Key to comeback in this game was shorter lineup in the end. I am pleased with desire and will of my players but not with their performance. In the rest of the season we will need a lot more disposed players.”
Young team of Partizan attracted a lot of fans in the arena. Game was delayed for 45 minutes because the referees got stuck in Slovenia but when it finally started Milojevic was the one who adapted quickest and scored 20 points in the first half.
Partizan had the lead in the first and third quarter while trailing in the second period. The biggest Cibona’s lead was 38:33 in 18th minute when Alen Trepalovac scored his only point shortly replacing Mate Skelin who played despite the fever.
Young Tripkovic woke up in the second half and scored five three-pointers (finished the game with 21 points). On the other side Davison was our team’s key player despite problems with Achilles tendon. The American finished the game with 17 points (11 in the third quarter), his countryman Penn added 18 while Rancic scored three important three-pointers.
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